tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10497839254064049762024-02-20T06:56:26.593-08:00A SOUL'S JOURNEY: A COLLECTION OF WRITINGSYasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-46408641233325080202011-09-09T12:02:00.000-07:002011-09-09T12:02:53.162-07:00The Little Prince<span style="font-size: small;">So like many other things in life, this story isn't what it seems, and the depth of its meaning is beneath the surface. I love the whole book, which I read in French the first time, but here are a few of my favorite parts:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: "What does his voice sound like?" "What games does he like best?" "Does he collect butterflies?". They ask: "How old is he?" "How many brothers does he have?" "How much does he weigh?" "How much money does his father make?" Only then do they think they know him. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> **** </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">If you tell grown-ups, "I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof...," they won't be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them, "I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs." Then they exclaim, "What a pretty house!" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> **** </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">"That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge yourself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself, it's because you're truly a wise man." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">"If I were to command a general to turn into a seagull, and if the general did not obey, that would not be the general's fault. It would be mine." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"><br />
"For millions of years flowers have been producing thorns. For millions of years sheep have been eating them all the same. And it's not serious, trying to understand why flowers go to such trouble produce thorns that are good for nothing? It's not important, the war between the sheep and the flowers?... Suppose I happen to know a unique flower, one that exists nowhere in the world except on my planet, one that a little sheep can wipe out in a single bite one morning, just like that, even without realizing what he's doing - that isn't important? If someone loves a flower of which just one example exists among all the millions and millions of stars, that's enough to make him happy when he looks at the stars. He tells himself, 'My flower's up there somewhere...' But if the sheep eats the flower, then for him it's as if, suddenly, all the stars went out. And that isn't important?'" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">But no one believed him on account of the way he was dressed. Grown-ups are like that. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"What are you doing here," he asked the drunkard... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"Drinking," replied the drunkard, with a gloomy expression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"Why are you drinking?" the little prince asked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"To forget," replied the drunkard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"To forget what?" inquired the little prince, who was already feeling sorry for him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"To forget that I'm ashamed," confessed the drunkard, hanging his head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"What are you ashamed of?" inquired the little prince, who wanted to help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"Of drinking!" concluded the drunkard... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"> ****<span style="font-family: ARIAL;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">"Nothing's perfect," sighed the fox. "My life is monotonous. I hunt chickens; people hunt me. All chickens are just alike, and all men are just alike. So I'm rather bored. But if you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. I'll know the sound of footsteps that will be different from all the rest. Other footsteps send me back underground. Yours will call me out of my burrow like music. And then, look! You see the wheat fields over there? I don't eat bread. For me, wheat is no use whatever. Wheat fields say nothing to me. Which is sad. But you have hair the color of gold. So it will be wonderful, once you've tamed me! The wheat, which is golden, will remind me of you. And I'll love the sound of the wind in the wheat..." </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">****</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. <b>You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.</b>" </span><span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"> "You're lovely, but you're empty," he went on. "One couldn't die for you. Of course an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But my rose, all on her own, is more important than you altogether, since she's the one I've watered. Since she's the one I put under glass. Since she's the one I sheltered behind a screen. Since she's the one for whom I killed the caterpillars (except for two or three for butterflies). Since's she the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she's <i>my</i> rose." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">****</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;">****</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for..." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"They don't find it," I answered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">"Of course," I answered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">And the little prince added, "But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;">****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: ARIAL;"></span></span>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-10140271200810778972011-09-01T19:50:00.000-07:002011-09-01T19:51:28.935-07:00<br />
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<h3 class="post-title"> A Speech To Tell the World </h3><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2391/2305/1600/Horizon%20Sunset-UnfLg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2391/2305/320/Horizon%20Sunset-UnfLg.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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I wrote this when I was 17. I guess there's a part of our soul that never changes...:<br />
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A Speech To Tell the World<br />
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If I had a speech to give the world tomorrow, it would go like this:<br />
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"World, open your eyes. Look beyond yourselves and find the Truth. I have found it but am too weak to own it. Never be weak. But if you are strong, do not be proud. Look beyond the surface of things, deep in to their meaning. For the secrets of life are found beneath every hardship and every smile. Do not cry for what has passed you by. Learn not to yearn for what can never by yours. Understand that even prayer is not magic. A man's body may bow without his soul. Do not be so arrogant as to believe that God will knock on your door, for He has no need for you or I. You must strive toward God, who will then, and only then, come towards you. You must strive and struggle for all that you want. Know that this life was not meant to be easy, for then what would the next be called. Understand that happiness is like a tree. God gave you the seeds, the sun, and the rain, but only you can make it grow. Do not wait your whole life for a dream. Make the most of every moment of every single day, for truly it may be your last. Finally, know that the life of this world is but play and amusement. So fear a day when no father shall prevail for his son, and no son for his father. Fear a day when all will remember, 'but how will that remembrance profit them then (89:23).'"Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-28984108839474003742011-08-08T05:40:00.000-07:002011-08-08T05:40:12.217-07:00I Grieve<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">11/20/03<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12:25 am</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>I Grieve</u></div><div class="MsoNormal">By: Yasmin Mogahed</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I lifted my head </div><div class="MsoNormal">Once more</div><div class="MsoNormal">Only to see</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sun had set,</div><div class="MsoNormal">The trees had slept,</div><div class="MsoNormal">And they’d all gone home</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I grieve. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sky that was clear</div><div class="MsoNormal">is now covered with fog.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My path, I no longer see.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why try…when it’s all so gray? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I grieve.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today I grieve</div><div class="MsoNormal">For what’s been lost.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My forgotten people,</div><div class="MsoNormal">still on their knees</div><div class="MsoNormal">before a snow god in spring</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I grieve.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They’ve forgotten that prayer</div><div class="MsoNormal">And to whom they should call.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Essence replaced</div><div class="MsoNormal">by mundane ritual,</div><div class="MsoNormal">empty symbols.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Their hearts… so tired,</div><div class="MsoNormal">jaded and worn</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I grieve.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are a people</div><div class="MsoNormal">defeated…but not conquered.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And somehow </div><div class="MsoNormal">I feel my blood return.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will stand.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will try.</div><div class="MsoNormal">And from beyond my grief,</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will see…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are a people you can’t enslave.</div><div class="MsoNormal">A loyalty…you can’t buy.</div><div class="MsoNormal">For a land may be occupied…</div><div class="MsoNormal">but never a soul.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">From beyond my tears</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ll understand…</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today my people weep.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But tomorrow…Death will die,</div><div class="MsoNormal">as their tears give birth to a land</div><div class="MsoNormal">where…“on them shall be no fear</div><div class="MsoNormal">nor shall they grieve” (2:262).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-19223940232224125582011-08-05T00:55:00.000-07:002011-08-05T01:03:31.902-07:00Castle or Cage<div class="MsoNormal">July, 2002</div><div class="MsoNormal">Castle Or Cage</div><div class="MsoNormal">By: Yasmin Mogahed<br />
<br />
I saw you dancing in the snow.<br />
I saw you walking late at night,<br />
along paths of steep walkways<br />
and thorny branches.<br />
you spent your whole life searching,<br />
but what you found<br />
was it castle or cage?<br />
where is your world?<br />
Of it, are you prisoner or prince?<br />
who are your parents?<br />
did not the moon divorce the sun?<br />
<br />
i saw it all in a dream<br />
i thought.<br />
the voices seem clearer now.<br />
every poem is a path<br />
every hardship a journey.<br />
it ends with the crown<br />
made of twisted pain,<br />
withered petals.<br />
are you writing a song with your life?<br />
who do you think will listen?<br />
who do you think is watching? <br />
<br />
i think you got lost<br />
in your own mind,<br />
amid your own thoughts.<br />
you lost your way <br />
somewhere between<br />
pleasure and pain.<br />
it got fogged<br />
somewhere between<br />
here and there,<br />
between snow and sun.<br />
i wish the cold had waited.<br />
<br />
i'm sorry.<br />
<br />
there's a world<br />
below the world,<br />
beyond and deeper yet.<br />
you and i can see<br />
but not they.<br />
there's a pain <br />
beyond tears,<br />
a speech <br />
beyond thought.<br />
there's a land of hope<br />
untouched by words.<br />
there's a heart <br />
understood by none.<br />
<br />
i left you alone<br />
to search.<br />
I'm sorry.<br />
What you found<br />
was it castle or cage?</div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-23443356681003534472011-08-04T00:30:00.000-07:002011-08-04T00:36:08.118-07:00Long After the Euphoria Has PassedSomething I wrote many years ago...I think I wrote all of it with my eyes closed (literally) :)...<br />
<br />
<br />
Long After the Euphoria Has Passed<br />
<br />
This time, sadness. not urgency. just sadness.<br />
<br />
i know. <br />
<br />
but what's the point of explaining? what's the point<br />
in trying anymore? where's the reason for that<br />
awareness? where's the point? what can it change to<br />
know why? and to capture the reason, embody it, and<br />
explain it beautifully? what path will change? what<br />
reason will depart?<br />
<br />
and yet, i waste my words. my effort to think. the<br />
energy to lift my head, when i'm so tired. so tired<br />
inside. so depleted, although unused. depleted without<br />
being taken. lost without ever having known my way. <br />
broken before being whole. how can something break<br />
that never even was?<br />
<br />
long after the euphoria has passed, what's left? no<br />
sentences, just fragments of broken thoughts. the fear<br />
of being right. it's almost strong enough to make you<br />
break the truth you know. and after having broken it<br />
with your own hands, believing the lies it tells. we<br />
all lie. we all lie. i'm lying now. i'm not okay. my<br />
words are nothing but a transparent bravado. <br />
<br />
i don't even have anything to say anymore, but i'm<br />
still writing. why? who's listening anymore? who's<br />
even listening? not even me. not even you. no one.<br />
does nothingness exist? it does here. in this quite<br />
space in my mind, it exists. and i'd like to keep it<br />
that way. i don't want to be here anymore. i'm tired.<br />
<br />
<br />
only sadness this time. not urgency. only sadness long<br />
after the euphoria has passed. but i'll still be<br />
standing here. i'll still be here. wondering if<br />
it's all just a shadow of a dream i forgot to<br />
remember. stop. please stop. i'm just a shadow of a<br />
dream i forgot to forget. <br />
<br />
and i refuse, oh, i refuse, to be anything more. <br />
<br />
if you don't like it, let me be. let me be. long<br />
after the euphoria has passed, that's all i'll be. the<br />
thing i refuse to accept, the lies i refuse to<br />
believe, the faces i refuse to hide. the words are<br />
passing through holes in my mind. i built them for<br />
you. they're just holes in my mind. holes. it's<br />
alright. it's not alright. it just is.<br />
<br />
and i refuse, oh, i refuse, to be anything more...long<br />
after the euphoria has passed. <br />
<br />
i'll still be standing here. <br />
i promise.<br />
i promise. <br />
i promise.Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-36121005436482860652011-07-18T05:09:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:11:23.306-07:00On the struggle of life…On the struggle of life…<br />
By: Yasmin Mogahed <br />
<br />
I thought of you today<br />
I thought of you and remembered those words you told me<br />
In the most perfect way<br />
You calmed my beating heart<br />
And eased my breath<br />
You told me those words and I carry them still<br />
They lift me, fill me, undo the wear<br />
Because more than pain, I am worn<br />
I feel like I’ve lived this story for a thousand years<br />
And I’m ready now to sleep <br />
I’m ready to let go<br />
I’m ready for the story to end now<br />
I’m ready to feel your peace<br />
And the sound of your voice<br />
Telling me I’m done, I’ve won, I’m there<br />
But I know I know this place<br />
I’ve been here before<br />
I’m going to sleep now<br />
I’m going to sleep<br />
Please don’t ask<br />
Please don’t ask<br />
Just let me sleep<br />
Just let me sleep with your words upon my tongue:<br />
‘Oh mankind, indeed you are ever toiling towards your lord, painfully toiling…<br />
But you shall meet Him’ (84:6)Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-53679966660625139012011-07-15T09:01:00.003-07:002011-07-15T09:01:34.643-07:00Mei love my friends, i have a tendency to care too much about people, if you wrong me, i'll probably forgive you, i see through people, i give too much, i'm overly idealistic, which often translates to utter stupidity and the complete inability to let go of what i hold dear, i think peanut butter and chocolate were made for each other, my name is sona if you're special, i'm newly IN LOVE with Lifehouse, i think mecca is a piece of heaven on earth, God is my air and writing, my breathing, i wish i could figure skate and play the violin, i can't stand macho apathetic men, i think smoking should be outlawed, i like people who admit they don't have it all figured out, there's almost nothing i wouldn't do for my sisters, i love to understand people that no one else does, i'm moved by rain, i think it takes strength to cry, i'm still hopeful, i strive for wisdom and insight, i'm overly emotional and intense, i value empathy, sincerity, humility, and honesty, i ask that you don't lie to me...and if i could...i'd be watching Niagara fall right now.Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-4347450874091258872011-07-15T08:56:00.001-07:002011-07-15T08:56:45.032-07:00Have Mercy on Me My Soul<h2 class="title">Have Mercy On Me My Soul</h2><em>By Khalil Gibran</em><br />
<br />
Why are you weeping, my Soul?<br />
Knowest thou my weakness?<br />
Thy tears strike sharp and injure,<br />
For I know not my wrong.<br />
Until when shalt thou cry?<br />
I have naught but human words to interpret your dreams,<br />
Your desires, and your instructions.<br />
Look upon me, my Soul;<br />
I have consumed my full life heeding your teachings.<br />
Think of how I suffer!<br />
I have exhausted my life following you.<br />
My heart was glorying upon the throne,<br />
But is now yoked in slavery;<br />
My patience was a companion,<br />
But now contends against me;<br />
My youth was my hope,<br />
But now reprimands my neglect.<br />
Why, my Soul, are you all-demanding?<br />
I have denied myself pleasure<br />
And deserted the joy of life<br />
Following the course which you impelled me to pursue.<br />
Be just to me,<br />
Or call Death to unshackle me,<br />
For justice is your glory.<br />
Have mercy on me, my Soul.<br />
You have laden me with Love until I cannot carry my burden.<br />
You and Love are inseparable might;<br />
Substance and I are inseparable weakness.<br />
Will e’er the struggle cease between the strong and the weak?<br />
Have mercy on me, my Soul.<br />
You have shown me Fortune beyond my grasp.<br />
You and Fortune abide on the mountain top;<br />
Misery and I are abandoned together in the pit of the valley.<br />
Will e’er the mountain and the valley unite?<br />
Have mercy on me, my Soul.<br />
You have shown me Beauty,<br />
But then concealed her.<br />
You and Beauty live in the light;<br />
Ignorance and I are bound together in the dark.<br />
Will e’er the light invade darkness?<br />
Your delight comes with the Ending,<br />
And you revel now in anticipation;<br />
But this body suffers with the life<br />
While in life.<br />
This, my Soul, is perplexing.<br />
You are hastening toward Eternity,<br />
But this body goes slowly toward perishment.<br />
You do not wait for him,<br />
And he cannot go quickly.<br />
This, my Soul, is sadness.<br />
You ascend high, though heaven’s attraction,<br />
But this body falls by earth’s gravity.<br />
You do not console him,<br />
And he does not appreciate you.<br />
This, my Soul, is misery.<br />
You are rich in wisdom,<br />
But this body is poor in understanding.<br />
You do not compromise,<br />
And he does not obey.<br />
This, my Soul, is extreme suffering.<br />
In the silence of the night you visit The Beloved<br />
And enjoy the sweetness of His presence.<br />
This body ever remains,<br />
The bitter victim of hope and separation.<br />
This, my Soul, is agonizing torture.<br />
Have mercy on me, my Soul!Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-18919918674828454402011-06-22T13:12:00.000-07:002011-06-22T13:19:05.272-07:00NicheThis is a poem I wrote 10 years ago. Its a poem about the search for purpose and the paralyzing pain of not knowing it.<br />
<br />
<div id="yiv270870704" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h1 style="display: block; font-size: 2em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><u style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Niche</span></u></h1><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My bones want to melt</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My muscles want to let go</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My body wants to stop</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Walking,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Struggling</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fighting,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">for air,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">for life.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My mind painted a picture for me,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">But now it’s all in black and white.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The trees are bent, tired, closed.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My heart, the same</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">But still, my thoughts keep talking,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Walking,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Struggling,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fighting,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">For air,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">For life.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">How can you erase a picture so clear,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">So real?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Tell me how to erase myself from it,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">And lay, my own tired steps to rest.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I see</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m stumbling,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Not walking.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m tripping now</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Not talking.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">There’s a pain inside my chest</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Born of silence, grief, unrest</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Who’s there but me to claim it?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Who knows but me to name it?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m sorry for my apathy,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My lassitude at dawn.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m circling now through forests</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Trying to find my niche.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Has inspiration come to me?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Whose voice is it I hear?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">My own is sharp and deafening.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Who else could know my name?</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">It is only through His kindness</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">That the heart can speak</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">When the mind and body</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">are numb,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Only dragging.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Please come,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">If only to quiet my thoughts.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m circling forests</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">On wings</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Still searching for my niche.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’m no longer</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Walking,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Struggling,</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fighting.</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’ve won the air</span></div><div class="yiv270870704MsoNormal" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">I’ve won my life.</span></div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-9415786477236961102011-05-10T06:02:00.000-07:002011-05-10T06:07:06.209-07:00I Prayed for Peace TodayI Prayed for Peace Today<br />
By: Yasmin Mogahed<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">February 23, 2010 12:37 am</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span><br />
<br />
I found myself praying for peace today.<br />
I've been in and out of my mind a thousand times<br />
I know You heard me.<br />
I know I wasn't alone in that room,<br />
shaking with the fear of fear,<br />
the harrowing loneliness.<br />
I cried out to You on my hands. On my knees.<br />
With my face pushed down against the ground.<br />
If I could have gotten lower, I swear I would.<br />
Because that is helplessness, the truest kind…<br />
The kind that knows nothing, not one leaf, or tear, or smile can be<br />
without Him.<br />
I learned something today.<br />
Again.<br />
This is dunya. Dunya. Not a place of ease. Only glitter.<br />
The place where you have to feel cold and hungry.<br />
The place where you have to worry and feel scared.<br />
The place where it gets cold.<br />
So cold, sometimes.<br />
The place where you have to leave the people you love.<br />
Where you can’t get attached, because even if you do, it doesn’t make it stay, it just makes it hurt when it doesn’t.<br />
The place where happiness and sadness are only players, waiting for their next line in a play…<br />
Competing for their place on stage.<br />
The place where gravity makes you fall, and frailty makes you bleed.<br />
The place where sadness exists, because it must.<br />
And tears fall to remind you of a place where they don’t.<br />
Where they just don’t.<br />
<br />
And isn’t that just it? Isn’t jennah that place after all,<br />
that place that Allah describes over and over and over in 2 ways?:<br />
La khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanoon…<br />
On them shall be no fear…nor shall they grieve.<br />
<br />
But I’m still here, aren’t I?<br />
The scar on my flesh reminds me of that.<br />
The burn on my arm left a scar that I love.<br />
I love it because it reminds me how weak I am.<br />
How human.<br />
That I burn. That I bleed. That I break. That I scar.<br />
Yes. It is here that I am. Here that I fall. Here that I cry.<br />
Here, just the same, that You filled that room, and lifted me to humbleness, and an acute knowledge of my own powerlessness and excruciating need for You.<br />
And then you took care of it.<br />
Of course You did.<br />
Of course.<br />
Like Younus, and Musa, and his mother. You took care of it.<br />
You are the Peace of the peaceful.<br />
The Strength of the strong.<br />
The lighthouse of Truth in this storm of lies.<br />
So, I found myself praying for peace today.Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-13227708455517791122011-04-06T08:02:00.001-07:002011-04-06T08:02:12.823-07:00Die before your death<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Die before your death</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">By: Yasmin Mogahed</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Tell me I can get lost</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Tell me I can lose myself in your Presence</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">In the overwhelming moment of real submission</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Tell me I can remain forever broken</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">In You</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">For You</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">With You.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Tell me I can remain here forever</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Away, while still here.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Did not the Prophet say: “die before your death”?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">At first I thought maybe it was only a reminder to remember our meeting with You.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">But then I thought how I wish I could die before my death:</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Have a soul that is no longer in this life—even while the body must remain.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">A heart that is freed from the shackles of dunya—even while the body must walk its streets.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Have a nafs that is in complete rest and satisfaction with its’ Lord, even while the crumbling shell remains.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">A soul that is already there—even before it is there.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">A soul detached .</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">A nafs mutmainah—in the truest and deepest and realest sense (Quran 89:27)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">For as the great scholar said, rahimahuAllah, “he who does not enter the paradise of this life, will not enter the paradise of the next.“</div><div><br />
</div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-54967651607812420462011-03-31T16:20:00.000-07:002011-03-31T16:20:03.408-07:00An Open Letter to the Dunya<div id="content-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 980px;">I wrote this on my phone while on a flight...</div><div id="content-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 980px;"><br />
</div><div id="content-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 980px;">An Open Letter to the Dunya</div><div id="content-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 980px;">By: Yasmin Mogahed</div><div id="content-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 980px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s hard to explain the freedom. It’s so deep and so real. Looking through the confusion, the empty boxes and hollow images, I saw you – Dunya. You place veil after veil over my eyes. Trying to win me, deceive me, enslave me to your lies. When the truth is you couldn’t give me even a drop of water when I stood at your door begging. I was on my knees before you, desperate for you to fill me.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What I see now is a glimpse of clarity that only the stab of perpetual disappointment could carve. And I sit here surrounded by your henchmen, your army of liars sent to keep me in chains. But I won’t be your prisoner anymore. I will no longer be that little girl lying awake at night thinking of you. I am no longer that heartbroken child wasting her tears on you. My unrequited love can no longer break me. You won’t break me. I won’t bend to your glitter and false promises. I am no longer that faithful subject standing before your false throne. My tears are no longer yours to have. And my heart is no longer your sanctuary.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You can’t live here anymore.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’ve traveled a long way to come here. Sometimes there were deserts where all I needed was a single drop of water that you couldn’t give. Sometimes storms, where all I needed was a flicker of light to guide my path. But I asked you again and again for what you could not give. For all you have is pomp, boasting and chattel of deception. And so I found myself again and again in deserts without water, in darkness without light. But I am no longer your slave for there was a man who came to liberate me from this. A man who came to liberate me from this slavery to the slave, and bring me to the slavery of the Lord of the slave.</div></span></span></div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-41769484076692888862011-03-28T13:54:00.001-07:002011-03-28T13:54:33.720-07:00The Stab<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">The Stab</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">By: Yasmin Mogahed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Don’t grieve at the stab.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">It’s only meant to free you.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">From the chains that bind you to the earth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">and shackle you to the shadows of people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">The mirage of water cannot quench.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">But is so beautiful to the thirsty.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">I’m afraid. Of never knowing another life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Different. So different.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">If I let go, will You take me higher?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Above grief, want, loss.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Above all that I’ve ever known.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Take me higher. Unbind me from the earth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Like a vaccine, it sickens, to make you stronger.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">The stab is temporary. The freedom, eternal.</span>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049783925406404976.post-24904725326526054632011-03-21T00:46:00.001-07:002011-03-21T08:58:41.142-07:00We buried a man today: a reflection on death<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I wrote this in the car on my way back home from the burial of a righteous soul. May Allah have mercy on him and his family. Ameen.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Jan 14, 2011 8:19 pm</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">We buried a man today: a reflection on death</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">By: Yasmin Mogahed</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">We buried a man today. And here I am now on my way home in the caravan of the living. For now.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">For now, you and I are in the caravan of the living. But not because we’re headed for a separate land. Not because they’re going and we are not. Only because our caravan lagged behind. Right now we’re driving back to our homes, our beds, our tvs, our stereos, our jobs, our exams, our friends, our facebook, and gchat. Right now we’re driving back to our distractions, our idols, our deceptive illusions. But that’s just it. I’m not driving back to my home, my bed, my tv and my stereo. I’m not returning to my job, my exams, my friends, my facebook and gchat. I’m not on my way back to my distractions, illusions and idols. I’m driving back to where I began. I’m driving now to the very same place he went to. I’m on my way to the same place. I just don’t know how long my drive will take.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I’m driving back to where I began: with God. Because God is Al-Awal (the Beginning) and God is Al-Akhir (the End).</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">My body is taking me there, but it’s only a vehicle. When I get there, it will stay behind. As he did today. My body came from the ground and it will go back to the ground, as it came. It was only a shell, a container for my soul. A companion for a while. But I’ll leave it here when I arrive. Arrive—not depart. Because that’s my home. Not this. That’s why when Allah is calling the back the righteous soul, He says, ‘irjiee’: return.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The beautiful, noble soul that we buried didn’t depart from life today. He just entered a higher—and God willing--better level of it. He only arrived home. But the body is made of the material world and so he had to leave it here. The body is of the lower world. The world where we need to eat and sleep and bleed and cry. And die. But the soul is of the higher world. The soul has only one need: to be with God.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And so while the body cries and bleeds and feels pain from the material world, the soul is untouched by these things. There is only one thing that can cut or stab or hurt the soul. There is only one thing that can kill it: depriving it of its’ only need: to be close to its’ Originator. To be near God. And so we should not weep for the arriving soul--It isn’t dead. We should weep instead for the one whose body is alive, but whose soul is dead because of its’ alienation from that which gives it life: God.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And so the believing soul races home, even while in this life.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Oh Lord, make my soul a sanctuary, a fortress within. That no one and nothing can disturb. A place of calm, silence, serenity, untouched by the outside world. The soul that Allah calls al-nafs al mutmaina. The soul that Allah calls back saying: ‘ya ayatuhal nafs ul mutmainnah, irjiee illa rabike radiyatan mardiya. Fadkhulie fee ibadee wadkhulee janatee.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">“(To the righteous soul will be said:) "O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction!"Come back thou to thy Lord,- well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him!"Enter thou, then, among My devotees!"Yea, enter thou My Heaven!” (89:27-30)</div><div><br />
</div>Yasminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12802662804627778502noreply@blogger.com3