Thoughts of Ibrahim Hakim al-Shaghouri

 Ya Muhammad – Salla Allahu ‘alayk 

A stranger in the land I was born in

Born with a veil over my vision of my origin 

Is it the fragrant breeze that blows from your living-quarter

Which wakes me from my slumber to my forgotten interior? 

Or is it the cloud-covered full moon that brings out what is hid

Signaled by the lone wolf craving for its beloved? 

Love of him came to me before I knew what love was

Stricking an empty heart, rooting firm in its new house 

How is it then that these foreign shadows enter in and trespass,

Making what was fresh gone, creating fear that it wont last? 

Born in mercy and by mercy, I emanated from you

Yet im shackled and chained, blinded from seeing you 

Ya Muhammad – Salla Allahu ‘alayk

Ya Muhammad – Salam Allahi ‘alayk 

I am told I am an honored creation, molded and formed from lowly clay

My wish and ardent aim is to merge with the dust beneath your feet’s pathway 

Why, in my honored status, was I not given wings to fly to you?

Why does not the earth fold up, carrying me with its quakes of passion towards you? 

Ya Muhammad – Salla Allahu ‘alayk

Ya Muhammad – Salam Allahi ‘alayk 

The deep breath and sigh of the lover cut-off consumes all trees in its fire

The throws of the ocean, the tides of its yearning, YOU are their only desire 

When will this veil be removed from my eyes, cooling them with your luminescence? 

When will this heart be freed from its shackles, allowed to enter your holy presence? 

Ya Muhammad – Salla Allahu ‘alayk

Ya Muhammad – Salam Allahi ‘alayk 

This helpless slave stands poor at your door, knocking with his chained arms

O Praised One! O Beloved of Allah! Intercede on his behalf with your psalms! 

The dogs are not fit to eat at the master’s table, nor to enter upon the King

Yet they beg and are given a morsel, allow me within your merciful wing 

Ya Muhammad – Salla Allahu ‘alayk

Ya Muhammad – Salam Allahi ‘alayk