Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAHABHARATA: THE MORNING PRAYER, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Our lord the prophet (peace to him!) doth write Last Line: Read fatihah forth beneath the mehrab-board Subject(s): Hinduism;india;prayer;religion; Theology | ||||||||
Our Lord the Prophet (peace to him!) doth write Súrah the Seventeenth, intituled "Night" "Pray at the noon; pray at the sinking sun; In night-time pray; but most when night is done; For daybreak's prayer is surely borne on high By angels, changing guard within the sky; And in another place:"Dawn's prayer is more Than the wide world, with all its treasured store." Therefore the Faithful, when the growing light Gives to discern a black hair from a white, Haste to the mosque, and, bending Mecca-way, Recite Al-Fâtihah while 'tis scarce yet day; "Praise be to AllahLord of all that live: Merciful King and Judge! To thee we give Worship and honor! Succor us, and guide Where those have walked who rest Thy throne beside; The way of Peace; the way of truthful speech; The way to Righteousness. So we beseech." He that saith this, before the East is red, A hundred prayers of Azan hath he said. Hear now a story of ittold, I ween, For your souls' comfort by Jelal-ud-din. In the great pages of the Mesnevî; For therein, plain and certain, shall ye see How precious is the prayer at break of day In Allah's ears, and in his sight alway How sweet are reverence and gentleness Shown to his creatures. Ali (whom I bless!) The son of Abu Talibhe surnamed "Lion of God," in many battles famed, The cousin of our Lord the Prophet (grace Be his!)uprose betimes one morn, to pace As he was wontunto the mosque, wherein Our Lord (bliss live with him!) watched to begin Al-Fâtihah. Darkling was the sky, and straight The lane between the city and mosque-gate, By rough stones broken and deep pools of rain; And there through toilfully, with steps of pain, Leaning upon his staff an old Jew went To synagogue, on pious errand bent: For those be "People of the Book,"and some Are chosen of Allah's will, who have not come Unto full light of wisdom. Therefore he Alithe Caliph of proud days to be Knowing this good old man, and why he stirred Thus early, e'er the morning mills were heard, Out of his nobleness and grace of soul [whole Would not thrust past, though the Jew blocked the Breadth of the lane, slow hobbling. So they went, That ancient first; and in soft discontent, After him Alinoting how the sun Flared nigh, and fearing prayer might be begun; Yet no command upraising, no harsh cry To stand aside;because the dignity Of silver hairs is much, and morning praise Was precious to the Jew, too. Thus their ways Wended the pair; Great Ali, sad and slow, Following the graybeard, while the East, aglow, Blazed with bright spears of gold athwart the blue, And the Muezzin's call came "Illahu! Allah-il-Allah!" In the mosque, our Lord (On whom be peace!) stood by the Mehrab-board In act to bow, and Fâtihah forth to say. But as his lips moved, some strong hand did lay Over his mouth a palm invisible, So that no voice on the Assembly fell. "Ya! Rabbi 'lalamîna" thrice he tried To read, and thrice the sound of reading died, Stayed by this unseen touch. Thereat amazed Our Lord Muhammed turned, arose, and gazed; And sawalone of those within the shrine A splendid Presence, with large eyes divine Beaming, and golden pinions folded down, Their speed still tokened by the fluttered gown. GABRIEL he knew, the spirit who doth stand Chief of the Sons of Heav'n, at God's right hand: "Gabriel! why stayest thou me?" the Prophet said, "Since at this hour the Fâtihah should be read." But the bright Presence, smiling, pointed where Ali toward the outer gate drew near, Upon the threshold shaking off his shoes And giving "alms of entry," as men use. "Yea!" spake th' Archangel, "sacred is the sound Of morning-praise, and worth the world's wide round, Though earth were pearl and silver; therefore I Stayed thee, Muhammed, in the act to cry, Lest Ali, tarrying in the lane, should miss, For his good deed, its blessing and its bliss." Thereat th' Archangel vanished,and our Lord Read Fâtihah forth beneath the Mehrab-board. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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