.:Bullet Proof Read:.

I first read this translation of a painfully honest lament attributed to Zain al-Abidin when I’d begun practising some 8 years ago. And I’d return to it time and again, just to get me started on some of my du’as to Allah… And every single time it really helps in building up consciousness and humility. Just the powerful ending alone can bring about many a humble realisations. What better time to recall it then than in these last ten nights of Ramadan, one of which is the night of all nights, Laylatul Qadr.

O Allah, the stars of Your sky have sunk
The eyes of Your creatures have shut in deep slumber
But Your doors are opened wide
For beggars of Your love.

I come before You,
seeking Your forgiveness
Begging for Your love
…

I swear by Your honour and Your might
I commit wrongdoings not because I oppose You
When I perform an evil deed
I perform not because I doubt You
Not because I disregard Your punishment
Not because I revolt against Your law
I do it because of the provocation of my desires
And because You offer Your veil to cover my shame

Now who will save me
From Your tortures
Whose rope should I hang on to
If You pull Your rope away from me
I will be so unfortunate then
When I kneel before You
When the light sinners are commanded
To run the bridge towards heaven
And when the heavy sinners are commanded
To descend to hell
Will I run with the light
Or descend with the heavy?

Oh am I ruined
As my age increases, my sins multiply
While I have not repented
Now I am ashamed towards You

Will You burn me with Your fire
Oh destination of all desires
Then, where do my hopes go
Where will my love end
I come to You
Carrying deeds so contemptible, on my shoulders
None is as evil as me

Oh Honourable One
You are defied as if You do not exist
You are always patient
Like You have never been defied
You shower Your love upon Your creatures
As if you need them
In truth, You, my Lord
do not need them.

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One of Imam al-Shafi’i’s beautiful poems. What follows is a fine translation of it.

 

من ذا الذي قد نال راحة سره * في عسره إن كان أو في يسره
فأخو التجارة خـائف مترقب * مما يلاقي من خسارة أمره
وأخو الوزارة حـائر متفـكر * مما يقاسي من نوائب دهره
وكذلك السلطـان في أحكامه * رهن الهموم على جلالة قدره
ولقد حسدت الطير في أوكاره * فوجدت أكثر ما يصاد بوكره
تالله لو عـاش الفتى من دهره * ألفا من الأعوام مالك أمره
متلـذذا فيهـا بكل مليـحة * متنعما فيها بنعمى عصره
لا يعتريـه السقـم فيها مرة * أبدا ولا تطرا الهموم بفكره
وصفت له الأيـام حتى إنـه * لا تنطق الأصوات عند مقره
ما كان ذلك كلـه ممـا يفي * بمبيت أول ليلة في قبره

 

Who has found true peace of mind

In better, or perhaps in worse?

The businessman is worn with fear

Of loss in his commerce

The statesman lives in fretful dread

Of times and tides adverse

The potentate, for all his power

In thrall to angst and fears

For after every glad report

Comes news that rocks his piers

I’d envy the birds, but the nest, I found

Is oft where the kill occurs

By Allah, if a man had to live, in control

Of his life, for a thousand years

Indulging in every beauty’s delight

In a bliss that for life endures

With never an illness obstructing his way

And he never a worry incurs

And tranquility reigns, and his days are serene

And no noise ever reaches his ears—

None of that would avail him the first night spent

In the grave, when he ends his years.

- (trans.) Abu Muhammad

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The deceiving icing… (dedicated to Mariya + her lovely pet spider)

I remember the day my uncle, Daddy’s oldest brother, passed away. We at home knew of it. Daddy didn’t. So when he came back from work, everyone was a bit apprehensive as to how to break the news to him. It was tacitly agreed that we’d at least let him be well seated. But my brother oh-so-casually went “Did you know…” and spilt the news - when he’d just entered!

Ahh, that broken look on his face. Perhaps only matched a few years later by our own when we found out he’d passed away.

But is there really a “correct” way to break any bad news? We have in the ahadith, the story of Umm Sulaym whose praiseworthy way of informing her husband Abu Talhah of the death of their son sets forth as a prime example. A wise way, full of patience, befitting its context… that we can only hope to mirror.

Thing is some people take a less devastating piece of news and sugar-coat it to the extent of excluding certain details. And this, I protest. You’re insulting the recipient that they can’t handle the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. (”You can’t handle the twos!”)

Example. An employer isn’t satisfied with your performance lately. Dude, you’re in charge. Let this subordinate know exactly what he’s failed to do or what he’s doing wrong. Why assume that your fair criticism will be taken badly unless it’s anything but constructive?

Or gosh, the case of rejection. If you sincerely wish well, please, help the person improve. Some people think it’s better to let others down the nice way. But while you may not be lying, covering up the truth isn’t exactly polite either.

It almost starts sounding like the biased news media or a politician pushing through their agenda. Sorry. But it’s a load of conniving bull.

Anyway, back to the issue of conveying bad news. Yes, help the person accept it in the best way by buffering it with some good stuff. In the end though, ensure you’ve covered the main points, not covered them up. Lace the truth with icing… but please, let us have it with the best of the cupcake too.

[I was going to do a thing on how Islam is very clear and the relationship between the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam and his Companions was based on full trust and open honesty... but yeah, not quite sidi-fied to do so.]

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Look at that pad blush! Heh.

As-salamu ‘alaykum!

Ahh, the hijrah from Blogspot to Puglu never quite worked out but this is lookin’ GOOD! Khair insha Allah. I look forward to further tweaking this baby. So far, I find having to Categorise posts awkward and cheesy. Well, ’tis enough for one day. Later then!

7 comments