TAQWA (PIETY), A POEM.

Left ajar, it gets rusted

Kept high, it becomes glinted.

Deep in the very cistern of the heart

Manifested by acts of the body, clear-cut

I long to have it running in my lungs.

Sparkling, dazzling, candling like brine.

Refinery for the soul, distillery for the faith and sublime

Uplifts a wretched soul to a level so benign

Not obtained by race, color, creed nor tribe

Rather bestowed unto a nafs by Al-Rahman the most high

He who has it is the greatest amongst you

As the Quran said “Inna Akramakum inda llaahi atkaaakum”

At-taqwa, the prophet said “fee suduurikum”

Further hinted by a hadith that is pabulum

That inna llaaha laaa yanzuru ilaa ajsaamikum

Neither suwarikum rather deep down the kullubikum

(Allah looks at the intent and not the form)

Without Taqwa, our Islam will fall and scatter

For the lack of it, Iman will sink into Nima gutter

Without Taqwa evil will enslave man

In its absence, our soul will be wan like grains of sand

Without Taqwa, the might of our deen will be undone

For its beauty Rabbi Zidnii

I crave for more laa tanqusnii

TAQWA, we need for Janna

For that is the absolute Ni’ma

Polished with Allah’s Rahma

Wa man yaqul inni swagiiru asbiruu

Hattaa akhaafu llaaha heena akbaruu

Fa inna zaaka garrahu ibleesu

Fa qalbuhu muugaffalun matmuusii

(He who says let me grow before I gain Taqwa,

has his soul taken by Shaitaan, the accursed animal)

Wa tub ilaa mawlaaka ya insaanu

Min qabli an yaa fuutaka zamaan.

(Repent unto your lord O’ slave before you are lowered into your grave

And have no one to blame on the blameless day)