3rd: Mahdi Gabriel Rouani
2nd: Umm Ali
Dearest Beloved,
I have been so afraid to start;
To bleed right through this page–
Unworthy, lost, and unrefined–
These barren words I’ve caged.
“Do you approach,” the mind demands,
“An endeavour of this kind?
What claim have you to such a love?
What do you think you’ll find?”
My taunted heart withdraws once more,
Tormented by this pain.
Barbed thoughts begin to stir a storm
Of unrelenting shame.
How dare a spoiled, bankrupt soul
Approach your precious name?
How could a sinful slave like me
Make such a weighty claim?
But separation is the noose
That fuels this blazing flame;
And distance is the troubador
That sings the starved insane.
I throw myself down at your door,
Where broken hearts convene;
That I might catch a glimpse you,
In waking and in dream.
So here I stand beneath your gaze,
In hope of just one chance,
To have your light embrace this heart;
To celebrate your glance;
To hear you call me by my name,
With those whose love is true;
To drink directly from your hands;
1st: Mostafa Azzam
Bismi Llahi lRahmani lRahim,
Alhamdu liLlahi rabbi l`alamin, Wa lsalatu wa lsalamu `ala ashrafi lanbiya’i wa lmursalin, Wa `ala alihi ltahirin, Wa sahbihi lmuhtadin, Wa ltabi`ina lahum bi’ihsanin ila Yawmi lDin, Wa `anna ma`ahum bi rahmatika ya arhama lrahimin.
Alsalatu wa lsalamu `alayka, ya habibi, ya Rasul Allah.
Who am I to write to such perfection as yours…
With hands so sinful as mine?
Who am I to speak to such perfection as yours…
With a tongue so sinful as mine?
Who am I to gaze upon such perfection as yours…
With eyes so sinful as mine?
Who am I to love such perfection as yours…
With a heart so sinful as mine?
Who am I to…
Who am I…
I am…
Yours.
That is who I am.
No more. No less.
I am yours.
I belong to you.
These hands belong to you…
Unworthy as they are.
This tongue belongs to you…
Unworthy as it is.
These eyes belong to you…
Unworthy as they are.
This heart belongs to you…
Unworthy as it is.
So take me.
Accept me.
Embrace me…
Worthy as you are
To embrace
Even the most unworthy
Of you.
Unworthy as I am,
And worthy as you are,
I am yours,
And you…
You are mine.
Alsalatu wa lsalamu `alayka, ya habibi, ya Rasul Allah.
Your boy,
Mostafa Azzam.