Last night, the Shaykh
Shared with me a secret.
From then on, I learned
My life was sacred.

I realized the worth
Of my dust.
I recalled my pledge
Given at ‘Alast’.

“Siddiqa, one day, became
Much overjoyed,
Unable to rein her ecstasy,
She screamed.

Mustafa asked her
The cause for such a gala.
‘Today, I have won your
Special dua!’

The Lord’s Beloved then
Smiled, divulged—
‘Five times a day
I do same for my Umma’

Hey, Lord of the Worlds!
Hey, you who hear my words!

I am confused!

In what words,
In which tongue?
In what count?
How far, with this news,
Shall my joy reach?

He was not named
In jest or haste.
Never in Time shall
His name be lost.

Time’s radiant moments
Pass under his shadow.

Indeed, the Lord
Cheered him, saying,

“Your latter:
better than former.”

His degree rises
From good to better,
From the days of
Alast to Adam,
From Ardh to Barzakh,
From the days of
Wheel to paper,
Machines to chip.

We will find
His praised name
Whichever page
We turn in Time.