Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 20. AL-'ALIM, by EDWIN ARNOLD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 20. AL-'ALIM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: If ye keep hidden your mind, if ye declare it loud
Last Line: With hearts unveiled on thee we call.
Subject(s): Angels; God; Islam


Al-'Alim! the "All-Knower!" by this wora
Praise Him Who sees th'unseen, and hears th'unheard.

If ye keep hidden your mind, if ye declare it aloud,
Equally God hath perceived, equally known is each thought:
If on your housetops ye sin, if in dark chambers ye shroud,
Equally God hath beheld, equally judgment is wrought.

He, without listing, doth know how many breathings ye make;
Numbereth the hairs of your heads, wotteth the beats of your blood;
Heareth the feet of the ant when she wanders by night in the brake;
Counteth the eggs of the snake and the cubs of the wolf in the wood.

Mute the Moakkibât sit this side and that side of men,
One on the right noting good, and one on the left noting ill;
Each hath those Angels beside him who write with invisible pen
Whatso he doeth, or sayeth, or thinketh, recording it still.

Vast is the mercy of God, and when a man doeth aright,
Glad is the right-hand Angel, and setteth it quick on the roll;
Ten times he setteth it down in letters of heavenly light,
For one good deed ten deeds, and a hundred for ten on the scroll.

But when one doeth amiss the right-hand Angel doth lay
His palm on the left-hand Angel and whispers, "Forbear thy pen!
Peradventure in seven hours the man may repent him and pray;
At the end of the seventh hour, if it must be, witness it then."

Al-Alim! Thou Who knowest all,
With hearts unveiled on Thee we call.





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