The Sweet Seller

A devotee’s yearning to serve a heavenly treat, symbolizing love for the Prophet, to all his followers in paradise.

I asked the Shaykh,
Why, in ways many,
We place hands
In prayer?

Some on the waist,
Others on the chest,
Why are hands kept,
On both spots?

“Hey little Jaihoon!”
Came the reply,

“This secret 
You are yet to grasp.
You are yet to rest
In love’s lap.

The ways of Beloved:
Manifold;
To all the believers
Paradise will be bestowed.

At times on chest, 
Or on the waist,
He may’ve placed hands 
In ways both.

These are the ways 
Of Amina’s son:
All the variant rays
Belong to the sun.

If this Caravan
Followed only one method,
The other practice 
May become abandoned.

Lord destined Beloved’s 
Every act to be preserved.
His deeds, words, nay, 
Silence shall be remembered.”

I beat my cheek,
Sighed at my ignorance.

How could I miss
This sugary bite—
When Medina’s candy is:
Far sweeter for humanity.

Each action of the Beloved 
Is to be imitated.
No doubt for him:
This world, created.

The gardens became fragrant 
From his scent.
Water got no-color tint 
From his matchless paint.

Thank God,
There is a ‘hereafter’:
To praise the Beloved
Sans any fetter.

Ya Rabb!
Your Beloved, 
The Love-filled tree,
Yusuf and Yaqub, 
Laila and Majnun,
Rumi and Tabrez, 
Nizamuddin and Khusru,
Leaves are they 
Of Meem dear.

Ya Rabb!
Make me the sweet-seller 
In paradise,
To rub Medina’s halwa 
On the lovers’ lips.

May 12, 2006. Edit June 2024