I was rebuilt like the Sacred House
When my body was wrecked in floods of trial. I rose like a banner to the arches of union
Poetry
Poems by Akrom Malik, newest first. Pick one for your mood.
However much hurt and cruelty came from you,
I prayed for you, prayer upon prayer. Never did I say, “Be gone and be removed,”
When I imagine the great ones,
Their awe makes my heart tremble. Seeing the ruins in the world,
A young man sat there, full of sorrow,
When suddenly his master called him: “Come.” Before the grief could bring the disciple to ruin,
The words that leave my tongue are dressed in finery,
If you speak them, they seem to break into a dance. But heavy, heavy worries weigh me down,
Rather than see the faults of others, O God,
I would be content, content, even to be blind. As long as the tongue speaks of others’ flaws,
Let your mind be at ease, be at peace —
I have cast you into a dungeon you cannot leave. Do not worry, do not be anxious —
You rushed across the earth, you ran without end,
All four directions your qibla — no road in sight. Only veils had covered over your eyes,
Work in silence, never strive
To know what people hold within and without. When with dignity you have fulfilled your duty,
Let our foes stir up mischief, so be it,
Let them spread slander behind our backs. Whoever is of falsehood, so be it,
At times you miss me terribly,
At times you cannot forgive me at all. Rest assured: for a lifetime
Whatever calamity befell me,
I never said, “Kill me,” O God. Nothing but a good opinion of You
As long as you are a captive in the hands of ignorance,
As long as advice has no effect on you, Searching like the blind for flaws and errors,
If someone becomes a stranger to you, never quarrel,
Set yourself free from the chain of hatred. Leave the world and say only “God,”
The one who stood firm in your lonely days, who showed steadfastness,
Who lit a lamp in your dark nights, who showed the way to salvation — No one is as close as such a friend, no one as dear,
If I had the strength, if I were able,
If I were rare in reason and in wisdom, I would not say a word about my grief and pain,
If you love someone, be warned, O lover,
Closeness beyond measure will tear you apart. If you open your heart and place it in their hands,
When people say “Bravo!” and “Well done!”
Do not be fooled like a child sucking a candy rooster. The more you hear praises, puffed up with pride,
If to some broken-hearted stranger, O servant,
You should happen to show the slightest kindness, That kindness of yours will wait on your path like a flower,
O my Lord, make Your words a lamp within my heart,
Set an eternal parting between me and rebellion. Let me repent again and again, and give thanks and worship,
My Lord, to You be praise and endless glorification,
I am Your slave, and You Yourself are my Master. In this world the only thing that holds my body together
I am Your wretched servant, my compassionate Lord,
No one but You is my refuge. Without Your remembrance I am left lost and bewildered,
If you remember the Truth, if you recite the Quran,
Wondrous moments will surround you and embrace you. Intimacy and peace will rain down upon your heart,
The human being is himself a great battlefield,
The battle with the ego goes on without mercy. In this war the heart sheds blood,