Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 24. AR-RAFI, by EDWIN ARNOLD Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Whom hath he chosen for his priests and preachers Last Line: Nor any low whom he doth call. Subject(s): God; Humility; Islam | ||||||||
Ar-Râfi! the "Exalter!" laud him so Who loves the humble and lifts up the low. Whom hath He chosen for His priests and preachers, Lords who were eminent, or men of might? Nay, but consider how He seeks His teachers, Hidden, like rubies unaware of light. Ur of the Chaldees! What chance to discover Th' elect of Heaven in Azar's leathern tent? But Allah saw His child, and friend, and lover, And Abraham was born, and sealed, and sent. The babe committed to th' Egyptian water! Knew any that the tide of Nilus laved The hope of Israel there? Yet Pharaoh's daughter Found the frail ark, and so was Moses saved. Low lies the Syrian town behind the mountain Where Mary, meek and spotless, knelt that morn, And saw the splendid Angel by the fountain, And heard his voice, "Lord Isa shall be born!" Nay, and Muhammad (blessèd may he be!), Abdallah's and Amînah's holy son, Whom black Halîmah nursed, the Bedawee, Where lived a lonelier or a humbler one? Think how he led the camels of Khadijah, Poor, but illumined by the light of Heaven; Mightier than Noah, or Enoch, or Elijah, Our holy Prophet, to Arabia given. Man knew him not, wrapped in his cloth, and weeping Lonely on Hirâ all that wondrous night; But Allah for His own our Lord was keeping: "Rise, thou enwrapped one!" Gabriel spake, "and write." Save God there is none high at all, Nor any low whom He doth call. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 1. ALLAH by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 10. AL-JABBAR by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 11. AL-MUTAKABBIR by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 12. THE CREATOR by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 13. AL-BARI by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 14. AL-MUZAWWIR by EDWIN ARNOLD PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 15. AL-GHAFFAR by EDWIN ARNOLD |
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