Universal Anthems. Aadil Farook

a personalistic conception

      In a universe governed by change and relativity

      The only absolute constant is light's velocity

      Thus light is a metaphor for God but doesn't mean omnipresence

      Unlike the perception of other Muslim thinkers of prominence

      Even the word 'infinity' doesn't signify spatial extension

      But intensity of which this universe is a mere expression

      Since the cosmos is dynamic, God is essentially creative

      In the affairs of all creations, He is always active

      The Ultimate Self is omniscient and All-knowing

      but His knowledge isn't like that of a finite being

      It is not discursive that passes from subject to subject

      But He himself forms the ground of the known object

      Omnipotence is undoubtedly His Divine Wisdom's consequence

      It isn't only reflected in miracles but in everyday experience

      There is no clash between it and evil's immensity

      For life to be a challenge, it is man's propensity

      A Muslim should believe in goodness's eventual victory

      Although it's in contradiction with the present history

      God lives in both serial time and eternity

      The glorious Quran affirms its possibility

      Iqbal was not just a philosopher but also a true lover of God

      No wonder his thoughts were in cohesion rather than discord!

      The Pride of Islam

      Many great individuals have walked on this planet

      Yet they couldn't claim resemblance to a prophet

      One man holds such a high station

      whose worth is beyond imagination

      Even before entering the fold of religion

      His was a story of moral perfection

      But when he acknowledged Muhammad's prophethood

      Between him and God, no veils stood

      His later life, many biographies have captured

      By his existence, God Himself was flattered

      If I start counting the virtues in this special person

      The dictionary runs out of words for a description

      Whatever lied in Muhammad's heart was poured into his

      No spiritual transformation can ever match this

      When Treaty of Hudaibia aroused immense frustration

      His character calmed down the critical situation

      When Muhammad's tragic death made Muslims restless

      Only his intervention turned them speechless

      When Muslims were clueless about caliphate's legacy

      His appointment gave them bliss and sanity

      When Muslims witnessed the emergence of false prophets

      He ordered the extermination of such Satan's puppets

      When Muslims needed Quran's compilation in the form of a book

      the collection of different parts of it, he undertook

      In the small tenure of three months and two years

      He systematized the caliphate to run the affairs

      When payment of Zakat was being refused by people

      He declared a holy war to turn them feeble

      Arabia was divided into provinces under his administration

      Scrutiny of officials was a part of his constitution

      Under his rule, there was no growth of Biddah

      Every act was analyzed according to Sunnah

      An epitome of Quran's standard of the word, "taqwa"

      On Judgment Day, he will cool down the anger of Allah

      I am compelled to make this humble confession

      My verses can't do justice to this human

      O' Abu Bakar, you used to have admiration for poetic skill

      I hope your soul accepts this small gift from Aadil!

      The Gate of Knowledge

      Many companions were enlightened by Muhammad's radiant aura

      Yet none was granted as much supervision as Ali Al-Murtaza

      At 10, he was mature enough to accept Islam

      Who knew what wonders lied in his palm

      He grew into a man of innumerable shining traits

      Whether deep philosophy or high mystical states

      As a holy warrior, he was the most lion-hearted

      Those who fought him had their souls departed

      As a judge, he was hailed by Muhammad as the best

      No baffling case could ever put him to test

      As an orator, he was par excellence

      His speech induced awe and reverence

      As a commentator of Quran, no interpretation was free from his opinion

      As an expert of jurisprudence, he understood divine will with reason

      For 6 months, Khalid Bin Waleed had failed to spread Islam in Yemen

      When Ali was sent, the tables were turned within days by his acumen

      About his character's caliber, there are no 'buts' and 'ifs'

      He belonged to the league of 4 rightly guided caliphs

      Prophetic guidance had endowed him with immense wisdom

      Yet critics blame him in the name of intellectual freedom

      So much negativity has been written about his role as a leader

      Not a single historian acknowledges how much he had to suffer

      Enemies of the first two caliphs were outright disbelievers

      But Ali had to face the wrath of his own believers

      Thus he was challenged by the worst circumstances

      An ordinary Muslim would've been out of senses

      About his greatness, how can there be any disagreement or debate?

      Muhammad said, "If I am the city of knowledge, Ali is its gate"!

      Just a small thought

      Since the advent of Adam and Eve,

      Mystics have asked us to believe

      that the highest achievement is self-annihilation

      Yet since we are captivated by self-actualization

      this idea doesn't appeal to us at all

      It is only when we break down and fall

      we realize that how feeble we truly are

      for us to work and shine like a star

      each and every iota of our very complex body

      should be in a state of perfect tranquility

      To such an unbelievable