Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 44. ALLAH-AL-RAKIB, by EDWIN ARNOLD


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PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 44. ALLAH-AL-RAKIB, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The book of the wicked is in sijjin
Last Line: In that book lying near to thee.
Subject(s): God; Islam


Allah-al-Rakîb! praise ye "the Watchful One,'
Who noteth what men do and leave undone.

The book of the wicked is in Sijjîn,
A close-writ book:
A book to be unfolded on the Awful Day,
The day whereto men would not look.

What Sijjîn is
Who shall make thee know?
The Black Gaol. Under Jehannum,
Under Lathâ, the "red glow,"
Under Hutamah, "the fires which split;
Beneath Sa'hir, the "Yellow Hell,"
And scorching Sakar, lieth it,
And Jahîm, where devils dwell.
Lower from light and bliss
Than Hâwiyeh, "the abyss:"
Sijjîn is this.

But the books of the righteous are in Hilliyûn,
And what shall make thee see
The glory of that region, nigh to God
Where those records be?
Joy shall their portion: they shall lie
With the light of delight upon their faces,
On soft seats reclining
In peaceful places;
Drinking wine, pure wine, sealed wine,
Whose seal is musk and rose;
Allayed by the crystal waves that shine
In Tasmîn, which flows
From the golden throne of God:—at its brink Angels drink.

Oh, "Watcher!" grant our names may be
In that Book lying near to Thee.





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