The Selfless Pilgrim

A touching story of selflessness during Hajj, celebrating the Creator’s compassion and the power of kindness.

Take a sip
From Jaihoon’s poetic cup
A slave once cried
“Accept my pilgrimage up”

He waited for a reply
From the skies above
His fellows joined in prayer
As a sign of love

Hearing their wail
Filled him with pity
“Let their prayer win
Even as mine falls empty”

A Voice replied
“Why such selflessness?”

Replied he,

“For my brethren’s mercy
I forgot my own wretchedness”

They cried
More than me
They traveled afar
To reach Your Home
One after another,
They suffered pain

I feel pity
For their sacrifice
Their acceptance:
For me suffice

The Voice again
Spoke in Command:
Another marvel
Was at hand

“I am the Lord
Who created Compassion
If I feel not for them,
‘Tis out of reason

If a slave of your kind
Is to them so kind
How then Your Creator
Can do them any torment?

If your heart beats
For accepting one’s Hajj
Lo! Be known that everyone’s
Do I hereby acknowledge.”

He is the Ultimate Artist
Whose love fills the universe
The proof of His Mercy
Is written in the sinner’s verse

Now and then
His thoughts pierce my veins
I become alive:
His Love fills my half-corpse

I wonder at my own image
In the mirror
I see the world
With new hue and color

His Beloved’s greetings
Dance on my lips
While joy fills the heart
Caged between the ribs

April 10 2005. Edit march 2023