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Looking To Allah To Save Me : A Ramadan Poem

Ramadan entered softly, like a doe, and leaves like thunder: Ten nights and Laylat Al-Qadar…

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Looking to Allah to save me

Ramadan entered softly, like a doe, and leaves like thunder: Ten nights and Laylat Al-Qadr…

See the Story Index for Wael Abdelgawad’s stories and columns.

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Looking To Allah To Save Me

I.

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Gates of JannahThose who fast will enter
through the gate of Ar-Rayyan.
I’ll take any gate I can,
built for woman, child, or man.

A plot of land
the size of a postage stamp.
A firefly for a lamp.
Safety for my daughter.
A sip of Jannah’s water.

An earthly wife
turned to heavenly wife.
No weariness, no strife.
An eternal life!
SubhanAllah.
Allah forgive us on this night.

Ramadan entered softly, like a doe,
and leaves like thunder:
ten nights and Laylat Al-Qadr,
changing everything,
taking men low
and raising them like saints or kings.

II.

Some admire me.
You’re brave, they say.
We look to you to show the way.

I laugh.
That doesn’t even add up in new math.
Brave? Me?
I’m looking to Allah to save me.

Rocky pathI’ve been down and out
with nothing to my name but a shout.
I’ve been stuck in solitary
listening to my own commentary;

Down in prostration;
A pebble in Allah’s creation;
Praying for freedom and light;
For a way forward, for a wife.

I’m lost. Beaten and tossed,
still trying to figure the cost.
Brave? Me?
I’m looking to Allah to save me,
and looking to the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) to guide.
as I walk this rocky path
beneath the sky.

III.

I toe the Beloved’s line:
He, the torch-bearer of humanity’s time.
The Trustworthy one, the Truth-teller,
in this earth a temporary dweller,

a tower of strength, persistent.
Against evil resistant,
never giving in, free of sin.
Suffering, losing loved ones,
losing wife, uncle, daughter, son,

yet still on the path,
the mission fee-sabeel-illah,
mourning, bleeding, preaching.
That which he was given, speaking.

Yes, our Messenger ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him),
our deliverer and reckoner,
a man from men,
child of a woman,

the seal of Prophethood between his shoulders.
In his determination like a great boulder,
yet tender and kind,
gentlest of humankind,
sometimes afraid and in pain,
praying for relief; praying for rain.

A loving husband and parent
who spoke to angels on their errands;
who saw Paradise
yet sweated in heat and shivered in ice.
He could have been king, anointed and crowned,
yet touched his forehead to the ground.

Sahara desertHe left footprints in the dust,
fulfilling his trust,
delivering the word
and passing from this earth
like the passing of an age
now remembered in our following his way,
honoring him as we obey.

And as we speak of him here,
smiling and shedding tears,
we ask Allah to bless him forever:
his family, companions and whoever
follows his way
until the final Day.

IV.

Ramadan entered quietly
like still June air,
and leaves like a million angels in prayer.
Mercy and forgiveness fall like rain.
Here, O worshiper,
there is peace from pain.

As for me, I stumble,
trying not to fumble,
repeating, subhanAllah, alhamdulillah.
For I’m looking to Allah to save me
and looking to the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) to guide;
praying for help on the path
that is not wide.

 

Related Posts:

Please, Be Gentle With God’s Guests In Ramadan I Sh Mohammad Elshinawy

The Definition of Fasting – A Ramadan Poem

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Reader comments and constructive criticism are important to me, so please comment!

See the Story Index for Wael Abdelgawad’s other stories on this website.

Wael Abdelgawad’s novels – including Pieces of a Dream, The Repeaters and Zaid Karim Private Investigator – are available in ebook and print form on his author page at Amazon.com.

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Wael Abdelgawad's novels can be purchased at his author page at Amazon.com: Wael is an Egyptian-American living in California. He is the founder of several Islamic websites, including, Zawaj.com, IslamicAnswers.com and IslamicSunrays.com. He teaches martial arts, and loves Islamic books, science fiction, and ice cream. Learn more about him at WaelAbdelgawad.com. For a guide to all of Wael's online stories in chronological order, check out this handy Story Index.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Abu taalib

    April 19, 2023 at 11:38 AM

    Mashallah, so true. Ramadaan mubarak, may we all benefit from it’s last moments.

  2. Bint A

    April 30, 2023 at 9:29 PM

    Nice, br Wael, very relatable
    Liked the pace of the lines.

  3. abdullah salman

    August 18, 2023 at 6:34 AM

    Salam brother Wael

    Ive talked at length about my novel in your comments sections, and there are two things i need help with

    1) the MC is a muslim rebel who struggles with violent inclinations due to his traumatic past. Since you are an expert at writing these sorts of characters, like Zaid karim or hassan, i need to ask: How exactly do i make the protag overcome these? Do i need him to constantly make tawbah every second of the story?

    2) The lead hijabi character in the book has lost her daughter and as a result, become more stern and less emotional. How exactly can i introduce her to the MC or have her act in a way that doesn’t scream “angry hijabi”

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