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Laysal Ghareeb – The Stranger Is Not | A Poem by Zaynul ‘Aabideen ‘Alee bin Husayn bin ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib (RH)

Published

This is not new, but worth sharing and spreading far and wide. The translation has been touched up a bit. A beautiful heart-softener. The translation was done by Sister Amirah and Mawadah (according to this page on LI Islamic forum)

The Stranger Is Not…

[youtube WaqFSn5ZwpE nolink]

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English Translation:

  1. The stranger is not the stranger to Yemen or Shaam [Syria]
    • But the stranger is the stranger to the grave and the coffin
  2. Verily the stranger has rights for his absence
    • Over the residents of the dwellings & homelands.
  3. Don’t chase away the outlander in his state of unfamiliarity
    • For time is also chasing him with hardship & distress
  4. My travels are far and my provisions will not suffice me
    • My strength has weakened and death is calling unto me.
  5. I still have sins which I know not of
    • Allah knows of them; those made in secret & in manifest
  6. How merciful has Allah been to me by giving me respite
    • And I have increased in sins but Allah has always shielded me
  7. The hours of my days pass by without regret
    • No crying, no fear, no sadness
  8. I am the one who closes the doors with fatigue
    • On disobedience, & The Eye of Allah watches over me…
  9. O that which was written in a moment of heedlessness
    • O the sorrow which remains in my heart is burning me.
  10. Leave me to bewail myself and weep
    • And pass the time in sadness and remembrance.
  11. Leave off your Blaming of me O you who do so…
    • If you were but to know my situation you would have excused me…
  12. Let me cry out tears that have no ending to them
    • For there will be no lesson that will set me free
  13. It is As though I am with that family, laying…
    • Upon the mattress with their hands turning me over.
  14. And they came to me with a doctor that he may cure me…
    • But of today I think not that medicine will benefit me..
  15. My sufferings increased and death began to pull at me…
    • From every vein, without ease or comfort…
  16. My soul was then removed from me with a gurgle…
    • And my saliva became bitter at that point…
  17. They then shut my eyes and left me…
    • After a long moment of despair… they hurried to the purchase of the shroud
  18. And he who was dearest to me got up in a hurry…
    • To summon the person who was to wash me…
  19. He said: O my people we have attained a washer who is skillful,
    • Clever, bright & intelligent…
  20. So then one of the men came and removed my clothing…
    • He undressed me and uncovered my body…
  21. They then placed me on top of a board
    • And the sound of water above me, [the water that] began to clean me
  22. He poured the water on top of me and washed me…
    • Three times, before calling out to the people for the shroud…
  23. They shrouded me in a sleeveless garment…
    • And my provisions became the balm in which they embalmed me
  24. They bore me towards my journey out of this world, oh how sorrowful!
    • Will be this journey for which I have no provisions to take along with me?
  25. Upon their shoulders, they carried me, Four…
    • Men, and behind me are those who come to bid me farewell
  26. They set me before the mihrab then turned away from me
    • Behind the Imam they went and he prayed on me then bade me farewell
  27. They prayed over me a prayer consisting of neither rukoo’ nor sujood
    • Asking that Allah may have Mercy upon me.
  28. They lowered me into my grave slowly
    • And one of them came forward to place me in the lahd
  29. He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me
    • And the tears spilled from his eyes awashing me
  30. Then he stood, honoring me, firm and resolute
    • And lined the bricks on my body then left me
  31. And he said “Throw the dirt upon him and reap
    • The great rewards from Ar-Rahmaan, the Most Gracious”
  32. In the darkness of the grave, no mother is there nor
    • Is there an affectionate father, or a brother to comfort me
  33. Alone… The only inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
    • Am I on parting the world bearing no deeds to provision me?
  34. And a sight which beheld my eye struck terror into me.
    • From a place of terror it came and startled me…
  35. Munkar and Nakeer, what shall I say to them?
    • The thought of them strikes terror into me, it causes me fear
  36. And they made me to sit and put forth their questions
    • I have none other than You now, O Lord, to deliver me!
  37. So bestow upon me from Your Mercy, O Lord, how I hope in You!!
    • For verily I am fettered in my sins, I am confined by them
  38. The relatives have divided my wealth amongst them after leaving me.
    • And my sins are now upon my back, burdening me
  39. My wife has taken another husband in my place
    • And she has appointed him as overseer over my wealth and my home
  40. She has made my children into servants to bid unto her needs
    • And my wealth has become to them a worthless means of enjoyment
  41. So let not this World and its adornments deceive you.
    • And look at its [evil] effects in your family and homeland
  42. And look at the one who collects the wealth of this Dunya in abundance
    • Will he depart from this world bearing other than the death shroud and balm?
  43. Take from the dunya that which suffices you and be contented with that
    • Even if you were to have naught but good health
  44. O you who sows good, you will reap the fruit of your efforts.
    • O you who sows evil you will find yourselves overcome with grief
  45. O soul of mine, abstain from sinning and attain instead
    • Deeds which are beautiful, for which Allah may be merciful towards me
  46. O soul of mine, Woe upon you! Turn towards your lord in Repentance, and do that which is good
    • So that you will be recompensed after your death with that which is delightful
  47. Lastly sending prayers upon the Chosen one, Our Sayyid (leader)
  48. All praise is unto Allah, May he fill our days and nights with that which is Good, with forgiveness

لَيْسَ الغَريبُ غَريبَ الشَّأمِ واليَمَنِ *إِنَّ الغَريبَ غَريبُ اللَّحدِ والكَفَنِ
إِنَّ الغَريِبَ لَهُ حَقٌّ لِغُرْبَتـِهِ * على الْمُقيمينَ في الأَوطــانِ والسَّكَنِسَفَري بَعيدٌ وَزادي لَنْ يُبَلِّغَنـي * وَقُوَّتي ضَعُفَتْ والمـوتُ يَطلُبُنـي
وَلي بَقايــا ذُنوبٍ لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُها * الله يَعْلَمُهــا في السِّرِ والعَلَنِ

مـَا أَحْلَمَ اللهَ عَني حَيْثُ أَمْهَلَني * وقَدْ تَمـادَيْتُ في ذَنْبي ويَسْتُرُنِي
تَمُرُّ سـاعـاتُ أَيّـَامي بِلا نَدَمٍ * ولا بُكاءٍ وَلاخَـوْفٍ ولا حـَزَنِ

أَنَـا الَّذِي أُغْلِقُ الأَبْوابَ مُجْتَهِداً * عَلى المعاصِي وَعَيْنُ اللهِ تَنْظُرُنـي
يَـا زَلَّةً كُتِبَتْ في غَفْلَةٍ ذَهَبَتْ * يَـا حَسْرَةً بَقِيَتْ في القَلبِ تُحْرِقُني

دَعْني أَنُوحُ عَلى نَفْسي وَأَنْدِبُـهـا * وَأَقْطَعُ الدَّهْرَ بِالتَّذْكِيـرِ وَالحَزَنِ
كَأَنَّني بَينَ تلك الأَهلِ مُنطَرِحــَاً * عَلى الفِراشِ وَأَيْديهِمْ تُقَلِّبُنــي

وَقد أَتَوْا بِطَبيبٍ كَـيْ يُعالِجَنـي * وَلَمْ أَرَ الطِّبَّ هـذا اليـومَ يَنْفَعُني
واشَتد نَزْعِي وَصَار المَوتُ يَجْذِبُـها * مِن كُلِّ عِرْقٍ بِلا رِفقٍ ولا هَوَنِ

واستَخْرَجَ الرُّوحَ مِني في تَغَرْغُرِها * وصـَارَ رِيقي مَريراً حِينَ غَرْغَرَني
وَغَمَّضُوني وَراحَ الكُلُّ وانْصَرَفوا * بَعْدَ الإِياسِ وَجَدُّوا في شِرَا الكَفَنِ

وَقـامَ مَنْ كانَ حِبَّ لنّاسِ في عَجَلٍ * نَحْوَ المُغَسِّلِ يَأْتينـي يُغَسِّلُنــي
وَقــالَ يـا قَوْمِ نَبْغِي غاسِلاً حَذِقاً * حُراً أَرِيباً لَبِيبـاً عَارِفـاً فَطِنِ

فَجــاءَني رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَجَرَّدَني * مِنَ الثِّيــابِ وَأَعْرَاني وأَفْرَدَني
وَأَوْدَعوني عَلى الأَلْواحِ مُنْطَرِحـاً * وَصـَارَ فَوْقي خَرِيرُ الماءِ يَنْظِفُني

وَأَسْكَبَ الماءَ مِنْ فَوقي وَغَسَّلَني * غُسْلاً ثَلاثاً وَنَادَى القَوْمَ بِالكَفَنِ
وَأَلْبَسُوني ثِيابـاً لا كِمامَ لهـا * وَصارَ زَادي حَنُوطِي حيـنَ حَنَّطَني

وأَخْرَجوني مِنَ الدُّنيـا فَوا أَسَفاً * عَلى رَحِيـلٍ بِلا زادٍ يُبَلِّغُنـي
وَحَمَّلوني على الأْكتـافِ أَربَعَةٌ * مِنَ الرِّجـالِ وَخَلْفِي مَنْ يُشَيِّعُني

وَقَدَّموني إِلى المحرابِ وانصَرَفوا * خَلْفَ الإِمـَامِ فَصَلَّى ثـمّ وَدَّعَني
صَلَّوْا عَلَيَّ صَلاةً لا رُكوعَ لهـا * ولا سُجـودَ لَعَلَّ اللـهَ يَرْحَمُني

وَأَنْزَلوني إلـى قَبري على مَهَلٍ * وَقَدَّمُوا واحِداً مِنهـم يُلَحِّدُنـي
وَكَشَّفَ الثّوْبَ عَن وَجْهي لِيَنْظُرَني * وَأَسْكَبَ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنيهِ أَغْرَقَني

فَقامَ مُحتَرِمــاً بِالعَزمِ مُشْتَمِلاً * وَصَفَّفَ اللَّبِنَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وفـارَقَني
وقَالَ هُلُّوا عليه التُّرْبَ واغْتَنِموا * حُسْنَ الثَّوابِ مِنَ الرَّحمنِ ذِي المِنَنِ

في ظُلْمَةِ القبرِ لا أُمٌّ هنــاك ولا * أَبٌ شَفـيقٌ ولا أَخٌ يُؤَنِّسُنــي
فَرِيدٌ وَحِيدُ القبرِ، يــا أَسَفـاً * عَلى الفِراقِ بِلا عَمَلٍ يُزَوِّدُنـي

وَهالَني صُورَةً في العينِ إِذْ نَظَرَتْ * مِنْ هَوْلِ مَطْلَعِ ما قَدْ كان أَدهَشَني
مِنْ مُنكَرٍ ونكيرٍ مـا أَقولُ لهم * قَدْ هــَالَني أَمْرُهُمْ جِداً فَأَفْزَعَني

وَأَقْعَدوني وَجَدُّوا في سُؤالِهـِمُ * مَـالِي سِوَاكَ إِلهـي مَنْ يُخَلِّصُنِي
فَامْنُنْ عَلَيَّ بِعَفْوٍ مِنك يــا أَمَلي * فَإِنَّني مُوثَقٌ بِالذَّنْبِ مُرْتَهــَنِ

تَقاسمَ الأهْلُ مالي بعدما انْصَرَفُوا * وَصَارَ وِزْرِي عَلى ظَهْرِي فَأَثْقَلَني
واستَبْدَلَتْ زَوجَتي بَعْلاً لهـا بَدَلي * وَحَكَّمَتْهُ فِي الأَمْوَالِ والسَّكَـنِ

وَصَيَّرَتْ وَلَدي عَبْداً لِيَخْدُمَهــا * وَصَارَ مَـالي لهم حـِلاً بِلا ثَمَنِ
فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الدُّنْيــا وَزِينَتُها * وانْظُرْ إلى فِعْلِهــا في الأَهْلِ والوَطَنِ

وانْظُرْ إِلى مَنْ حَوَى الدُّنْيا بِأَجْمَعِها * هَلْ رَاحَ مِنْها بِغَيْرِ الحَنْطِ والكَفَنِ
خُذِ القَنـَاعَةَ مِنْ دُنْيَاك وارْضَ بِها * لَوْ لم يَكُنْ لَكَ إِلا رَاحَةُ البَدَنِ

يَـا زَارِعَ الخَيْرِ تحصُدْ بَعْدَهُ ثَمَراً * يَا زَارِعَ الشَّرِّ مَوْقُوفٌ عَلَى الوَهَنِ
يـَا نَفْسُ كُفِّي عَنِ العِصْيانِ واكْتَسِبِي * فِعْلاً جميلاً لَعَلَّ اللهَ يَرحَمُني

يَا نَفْسُ وَيْحَكِ تُوبي واعمَلِي حَسَناً * عَسى تُجازَيْنَ بَعْدَ الموتِ بِالحَسَنِ
ثمَّ الصلاةُ على الْمُختـارِ سَيِّدِنـا * مَا وَصَّـا البَرْقَ في شَّامٍ وفي يَمَنِ

والحمدُ لله مُمْسِينَـا وَمُصْبِحِنَا * بِالخَيْرِ والعَفْوْ والإِحْســانِ وَالمِنَنِ

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Abu Reem is one of the founders of MuslimMatters, Inc. His identity is shaped by his religion (Islam), place of birth (Pakistan), and nationality (American). By education, he is a ChemE, topped off with an MBA from Wharton. He has been involved with Texas Dawah, Clear Lake Islamic Center and MSA. His interests include politics, cricket, and media interactions. Career-wise, Abu Reem is in management in the oil & gas industry (but one who still appreciates the "green revolution").

22 Comments

22 Comments

  1. Mehedi Islam

    August 11, 2009 at 8:42 AM

    Jazakallah Khair for sharing. Just added it to: http://muslimways.com/islamic-poetry/

    Reply

  2. Hanaa

    August 11, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    Mashaallah.Jazakumallahu khairaa brother for reminding us about our final destination.

    Yah Allah !!please give us death when you are utmost pleased with us .wash away our sins with ice ,snow and water.Make us utilize this coming ramadan and bring us closer to you by every passing second.

    Assalamualykum.

    Reply

  3. Sami

    August 11, 2009 at 9:01 AM

    Salam Amad,

    Are you sure this is written by Zaynul Abideen? I remember reading that this poem was written by Dr. Abdulrahman Ashmawi? Please clarify :)

    JAK for your posts bro,
    Sami

    Reply

    • Amad

      August 11, 2009 at 9:32 AM

      w/s
      This is what Shaykh Google research tells me… if you have alternative proof, perhaps from Shaykh Yahoo, then please feel free to share :)

      Regardless, whoever wrote it, did a grand job mashalah!

      Reply

      • Sami

        August 11, 2009 at 12:12 PM

        no- you are right! sorry for that :)

        ร˜ยตร˜ยฏร™โ€š ร˜ยงร™โ€žร˜ยดร™ล ร˜ยฎ ร˜ยฌร™ห†ร˜ยฌร™โ€ž :)

        Reply

  4. Ibn Masood

    August 11, 2009 at 11:08 AM

    SubhanAllah… Rahimullah… that poem tore up my soul and heart… may Allah swt forgive me and my brothers and sisters.

    Reply

  5. zalkhatib

    August 11, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    really disappointed that you took my translation – which i submitted by sending an email – but didn’t put any credit, and also changed it without asking permission. i suppose that comes under your editorial section, but nonetheless, i expected a lot more from your site.

    was-salam

    you can see the original translation here.

    http://zalkhatib.wordpress.com/2006/11/11/the-stranger/

    Reply

  6. arfsyd

    August 11, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    MashaAllah very good post. However I must say that while selecting articles from other sources, the original source with due credits must be mentioned otherwise it comes under copyright violation. I agree with my friend zalkhatib that his english translation has been used without proper credit and also some alterations made without informing him. This is really bad and goes to show that there is lack of honesty on the part of muslimmatters when it comes to publishing articles from other sources.
    I hope the editorial team at MM take proper notice and publish an apology to Mr. Zailkhatib as soon as possible.

    Reply

    • Amad

      August 11, 2009 at 8:39 PM

      Pls be careful with accusations, prior to giving us a chance to respond.

      Reply

  7. Amad

    August 11, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    salam
    Zalkhatib
    Jazakallahkhair for your message. I have reviewed the two translations (the one posted here has only the slightest of modifications for old english to new english), and it appears they are quite different.

    In fact, I was able to track down (following links) and shaykh google, and now the post is updated to give credit to a couple of sisters on an Islamic board (see the intro to the post).

    As for your claim that you sent this to us by email, perhaps you may have, to the general MM box, but I personally have no knowledge of it (esp. since MM didn’t start until 2007 and your translation was done in 2006).

    We have no problem giving credit where its due, in fact that is general editorial requirement as mentioned by your friend. You can find this translation on various pages without any credit so sometimes it was a task finding original translators. In fact, in this case, the translators are still kind of unknown!

    Please keep up the good work.

    Reply

  8. Amatullah

    August 12, 2009 at 10:15 AM

    SubhanAllah, one of my favorite poems. may Allah grant us a good end.

    Reply

  9. Abu Tawus

    August 12, 2009 at 1:46 PM

    Salam and thanks for sharing this classical poem!

    PS. Did anyone realize that the recitation of this poem is the same exact poem that is recited in the video posted in the story of the pretty woman ( http://muslimmatters.org/2009/03/18/the-story-of-the-pretty-woman/ )? It makes one wonder whether or not the one who compiled the video for “the pretty woman” did this deliberately or because of general negligence of the Arabic language. I was quite disappointed when I realized this, because I doubt that most non-Arabic speaking Muslims caught this mistake as well.

    Reply

    • Amatullah

      August 12, 2009 at 3:06 PM

      I noticed that as well.

      Reply

    • amad

      August 12, 2009 at 3:17 PM

      i didn’t notice until now… i guess i tuned out the words completely, while paying attention to the text!

      Reply

    • abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed

      August 13, 2009 at 8:46 PM

      Glad to know my ears are not playing tricks on me… or are they? :)

      Reply

    • Ibn Masood

      August 14, 2009 at 3:27 PM

      Interesting…

      Reply

  10. Kifayatullah

    August 15, 2009 at 3:16 PM

    Ajeeb. I came across the same poem from a total different source today.

    Here are the links:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa_jF_-u-sk&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD1S13QM5U8&feature=related

    Reply

    • Amatullah

      August 15, 2009 at 4:58 PM

      I believe they are just reciting it, as it is a famous and classic poem.

      Reply

    • Abu Tawus

      August 15, 2009 at 6:22 PM

      Absolutely brilliant recital by Shaykh Maxmuud Al-Misriyy in the second youtube link! I never cease to be amazed by the ease with which we can enjoy something as unique as the pious poetry of the Prophet’s (pbuh) great grand son after so many centuries. It leaves such an overwhelming impression about the extent our religion has been preserved from the time of the pious Salaf until today.

      Reply

  11. bin Zakariyya

    May 16, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    this is what everyone should always ponder about

    Reply

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  13. AHMAD ABDULHMID SULEIMAN

    April 9, 2018 at 7:53 AM

    GUD ISLAMIC POEM

    Reply

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