Mujeeb Jaihoon reveals how poetry reconnects with the divine, while recharging our hearts and souls through the power of written words.
Sometimes, people ask me when I find time to write. They wonder whether I do it when I’m free from work, social media, or spending time with my family. But most of the time, my answer is that I work when I’m free from writing. Writing is my priority—I do it most of the time, and in between, I travel, work, and spend time with my daughter.
I heard that you all had the option of not coming, so I’m genuinely surprised—and honestly, quite impressed—that so many of you chose to be here today.
I’m not here to praise you, so don’t expect everything I say to be pleasant. We’re here for a literary discussion, and literature isn’t just about making you happy. Sure, it often does, but not always—because humans are made of many emotions. Some may say that the soul is the part of us with the most chemical activity, yet beyond science, we all recognize something deeper: a soul, a heart, and something greater—God. We believe we come from God, and we carry something divine within us, whether it’s His love, energy, worship, or something else. Even an atheist, in a moment of struggle, might unknowingly call out to God. Because whether we believe or not, when life shakes us—even an atheist—the first words that escape our lips are, “Oh God!” So, in one way or another, humanity acknowledges something beyond itself—something both natural and supernatural.
Think of the heart like a mobile phone. For it to beat, to rejoice, and to cry, it needs life. A mobile phone is a wonderful device—helpful and important—but without charge, it’s useless. And the moment its battery runs low, we panic and rush to recharge it. Now, take that same idea and apply it to our relationship with God. Our heart is the phone, and we need to recharge it with the divine. When we pray and talk to Him, our hearts regain their energy. And literature? That’s the charging cable between us and the divine. Poetry, especially, is the strongest connection—the one that links us to the most powerful being in existence.
For me, poetry is something I deeply cherish—not because I’m a poet, but because it’s my way of expressing myself. Sometimes, you don’t write just to share with the world; you write to understand yourself.
Highlights from Mujeeb Jaihoon’s session with the students of Zaitoon International Girls Campus on Nov 04 2024. Posted on March 2 2025.