#Culture

There Once was a Lad who Couldn’t Lower His Gaze

Published

April 2, 2015

Ammar Al Shukry

There once was a lad who couldn’t lower his gaze,

Distraught and disappointed he tried many ways,

Finally he decided to go to a shaykh well known,

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And ask him advice for his desperation had grown

The shaykh said to him, indeed but you’ve come to ask

About something great, first though I have a task,

I have a friend of mine, on the other side of town,

And I have a daily gift I give him before every sun down

It was a bowl of milk, almost filled to the top,

He said take this here bowl, and don’t spill a drop!

I am sending with you a friend with great vision

To make sure that you make no mistakes in your mission!

The lad began to walk with the bowl in his hands,

Wishing them steady, he dared not break a command,

For every step that he took, his guide watched with pierced eyes

As if waiting for any mistake to arise

When his task was over he return to the sage

And said, the task is done, now show me the way!

He said, ‘you have done well but first let me see,

Did you happen to see the house with the gigantic tree?

The lad said, no, I’m sorry, I was not aware,

Well, you passed my uncle’s street, did you see him there?

The lad said, no I did not see an uncle or tree,

The milk would have spilled if I looked upward you see!

And I was so nervous because your friend did not blink,

So I watched every step, and that’s all I could think!

The Shaykh smiled and said, leave now, for this task

Has answered the question you had wished to ask

The milk that you carried with focus throughout

Was your book of deeds, much more important no doubt,

If you were nervous by one who records your every mistake

Know that there are angels who write, if such allowance you make

Life is a similar journey, but to a different address

So be gone, and focus young lad, I wish you the best!

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Ammar Al Shukry

Ammar Al Shukry is the author of the Poetry Collection: "What the Pen Wrote." Ammar AlShukry is Content Director of FaithEssentials, a complete learning hub for the everyday Muslim. FaithEssentials can be found at www.faithessentials.online

16 Comments

Shahbaz MS

April 2, 2015 at 4:22 AM

Brilliant !!!!!!

Reply
Hira Amin

April 2, 2015 at 5:07 AM

Fantastic poem masha Allah…I think you should create a video version! It is so true, when you are focused on your ultimate task, everything else becomes easy.

Reply
- AHMAD
  
  April 16, 2015 at 7:48 PM
  
  Indeed…the kind of poem that takes you to that solitude and solace….alhamdulillah….insyaallah…..
  
  Reply
Hena

April 2, 2015 at 7:10 AM

Just brilliant. JazakAllah khair — excellent reminder for adults and kids too!

Reply
AbuMaryam

April 2, 2015 at 1:01 PM

Amazing mashaAllah. I second making this into a video.

Reply
curry_king

April 2, 2015 at 3:03 PM

I have to say, this site is pretty cool ! I’m not an American, but the stuff I’ve read here thus far, are great.. keep up the good work folks

With much love from the other side of the world -Sri Lanka :)

Reply
Mahdi

April 3, 2015 at 2:19 AM

Might be taking these articles for my own website. Requiring your permission

Reply
- Aly Balagamwala
  
  April 6, 2015 at 10:24 AM
  
  Dear Sir
  
  Please see http://muslimmatters.org/legal-disclaimer/ for more details on using content from our site.
  
  Comments Team
  
  Reply
ummfatima

April 3, 2015 at 11:22 PM

MashaAllah.Love the poem..But I feel like I read this & heard this somewhere.Even when I was a child I heard this story from hindu story books.I may be wrong.Just want to make sure about copyright issues.JazakAllahu Khairaa.

Reply
Al-Ghazali

April 5, 2015 at 1:54 AM

Ma Shaa Allah… Its really nice.. May Allah safeguard our deen day in day out Aamiin.

All the way from Nigeria, Assalamu Alaikum.

Reply
wb

April 6, 2015 at 6:01 PM

Allah Allah…marvelous once again ya ustaz!

Reply
vania

April 12, 2015 at 1:01 AM

brilliant :) MashaAllah

Reply
Ahmed

April 17, 2015 at 8:33 AM

BarakAllahu feek brother. This is what I go through at times as well. Being 28 and single in NYC has its disadvantages but all Hamd and Shukr be to Allah SWT for everything. This was a great reminder for me and many others insha’Allah. Keep focused on your mission. To please Allah SWT and earn His Paradise. May Allah reward all of us who try and accept our istighfar and replace our errors with good deeds. Ameen. Assalamualikum

Reply
Rafia Riaz

April 19, 2015 at 4:51 AM

Subhan Allah! A beautiful poem with a beautiful msg. Love it brother.

Reply
M.Mahmud

April 21, 2015 at 1:00 PM

I laughed…funny sweet and moral poem

Reply
Ali

July 8, 2016 at 11:11 AM

Wah wah Wah ! SubhanAllah. Beautiful, simple and truly inspiring !!!

Reply