The First Time

Be it from the moth to the flame or the cup to the wine, the first time is indeed the testing time of Love and Loyalty— writes Mujeeb Jaihoon

The joy of the nightingale
Had no limits,
When it saw the rose
For the first time.

Moth had no words
To describe its ambition,
When it met the flame
For the first time.

The cup, out of love,
Became intoxicated,
When filled with the wine
For the first time.

Majnun kept his
Senses aside,
When he saw Leila
For the first time.

The sky began to cry
With excitement,
When the moon appeared
For the first time.

Hey seeker! The first time
Is indeed the testing time
Of Love and Loyalty,
Only time is the first time.

I asked Gabriel,
The Chief of the angelic host,
Of the greatest joy and pride
When was your time first?

Came the reply,

“As I descended
Towards the Mount Blessed
And had the vision
Of His Beloved first.

Then did I praise
My Lord the most,
Who chose Mustafa
His dear most.

Unfound is anyone
Of his like,
On earth and heaven
None alike.

Adam’s repentance,
Noah’s perseverance,
Abraham’s sacrifice,
David’s praise,
Moses’ patience,
Jesus’ forgiveness.

Lord made him
The Sultan of Goodness,
Perfection of form
And spirit his rareness.

A glimpse of him
Will suffice you in life,
A glimpse of him
Will save you after death.

He is the signboard
To paradise,
Humanity’s path
To progress.

Of science and arts,
He’s the teacher,
For the poets and
Philosophers, the rapture.

Hey Jaihoon! Lord alone
Knows this secret,
A mystery hidden
Since the beginning of Time.”

December 9, 2011. Edit Feb 2024