Hear Those Who Call
O Allah, hear those who call:
the refugees, the small,
and those who cannot speak.
Hear them and help with blessings from above;
and for me…
give me love.
I know I’m weak.
A life that sometimes weighs
to others would be sweet.
Help the victims of war, and prisoners of speech:
feed them, care for their wounds…
and for me… bring a heart that beats.
For my people in Palestine,
in Syria, in Burma, I weep.
Give them freedom and a new day.
And if there’s one stray soul
searching for me, Ya Allah,
then show her the way.
If You think I’m arrogant,
then break me down.
Bring me low to praise You above.
And if You think it’s right,
if I’ve grown as You want me to grow,
if You look inside
and see a soul
sincere as a dove,
new and ready to be born…
then bring me love.
Wael Abdelgawad
September 9, 2012
Wael Abdelgawad is an Egyptian-American living in Fresno, California. He is the founder of several Islamic websites, including Zawaj.com and IslamicAnswers.com, and also of various technology and travel websites. He is a writer and poet, and has been a web developer since 1997.
This project, IslamicSunrays.com, is very dear to his heart, as it has allowed him to express ideas that have growing inside him for many years.
Wael is divorced and has one lovely young daughter. He practices and teaches martial arts (somewhat obsessively), and loves Islamic books, science fiction, and vanilla fudge ice cream. Wael is an advocate for human rights and blogs about these issues at AbolishTorture.com. He is also a volunteer with the MyDeen Muslim youth organization in Fresno.
As salamu alaykum,
Masha´Allah, beautiful poem. Thank you very much for sharing.
Wasalam,
María
Assalamu Alaikum,
Even though I am not into poetry, I like reading this poem as it is straight forward. It is like a “dua poem”.
But brother Wael, when you say: ” If You think I’m arrogant,
then break me down”, I do not get it. I prefer to skip that part as it sounds negative, to me.
That is my opinion. I am sure other readers who are experts in poetry will give you a more constructive feedback.
May Allah hear your call and everyone’s call. Ameen ya Rab al alameen
Reader
You read it right, bro (or sister). Arrogance is a sin and is an obstacle on the road to Jannah. So I’m saying to Allah, that if He sees that I am arrogant, then put me through difficulties, make my life hard, in order to humble me and make me learn.
Poetry is not written for experts. It is written for ordinary people.