Gafil-ul- Ilm

Note: I am hoping to perform this poem in front of all the North American students, plus a few teachers next week… Will try to upload the audio if i can.

They say that the tips of our tounges should be sharper than a sword…
That our words will slice evil, and leaving begging upon all fours,

They say that if true ‘Ilm [knowledge] is what we seek
For our forgiveness the angels pray and plea
And spread their wings ‘neath our feet,

They say that the ummah is dying of thirst in every land
So we must answer to their screams and shouts
Take back water in the palms of our small little hands
And offer it like a cup to their mouth

They say with their voice cracking,
That in mud we have planted your seeds,
And if you hard enough, maybe some day the inks in your pens
Will be heavier on the scale… Than the blood of a Shaheed [martyr]

My bretheren … Students of Deen … Children of the West…

Do you remember, that the place that we came from,
Was the remains of a Waste dump,
And a poisonous ocean

Remember how the poison was slashing our flesh,
Gasping for breath,
We were drowing and choking…

Remember how we used to sit in the midst of the mist,
Trying to rip the stitch from our lips…
Screams Unspoken…

Remember how in the depth of the abyss,
We failed the slit the links from our wrists,
Our dreams were broken

Remember how we sold out our souls in the face of defeat,
To be Solely crushed beneath the soles of the feet of our enemies

But then… Just when we gave up hope…
Something beautiful happened…
“Akhrajana Allahu mina al-zulumaati ila al-noor”

Plucked out of this poisonous water,
Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala gave us a chance to start life once again..
To this madrasa he brought us,
Its high walls and many, many gates resisting all evils from coming in,
Where we will be trained how to tackle evil, and slice right through it’s skin
Where we will be trained how to unshackle people, And guide some light to come right in,
Where we are being crafted into the final bullets of this ummah, and there’s a war coming

From being the lowest of the lows, On the path of paradise we now surf,
From the filth of the west we did grow, Accompanied now by the prayers of the universe,
From the ashes we rose, and took upon Muhammad (Sallallahu Alihi wassalam’s) work…

But then they also say…
Be careful kids,
One slip and you will be back in the Abyss,
That if you contaminate the mission, of Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi wassallam
You will be the first ones to be dragged into the flames of Jahannam [hell]

They also say,
That we have placed the faith of this ummah upon you, So don’t betray us please
Or like a leach you’ll be sucking off the dreams of this Ummah, in the bottom of the sea

They also say…
That Siratul Mustaqim is a narrow path,
There are no redos if you fail this test,
That Donkeys carry books upon their backs,
While a Talib-ul-ilm keeps it in his chest,
Breathes it in his breath,
Seeks it till his death…
And reaches success..

Ya Allah… I used to think that your Ilm [knowledge] is like fruits upon a tree, just waiting to be picked,
But every day it’s seeming more and more like a mirage that may seem to exist,

For Your Ilm is pure like milk, And I am a dirty vessel,
Not worthy to take upon the responsibility, so I am cracking under the pressure
You took me out of the poison, but It’s taste still hasnt settled
My lungs choke in the fresh air, my instincts have severed
However the most knowledgable Aalim in our time, is the devil,
And now he has hopes upon my soul, so he perseveres and endeavors,
So he flirts with the secrets that I have burried, instigates the memories that I have levelled,
How can the drop of knowledge that I have, compare to the ocean gathered by this rebel…

But the funny thing is Ya Allah, I wouldn’t have it any other way…
For the good has never defeated evil, to this day..
With their own number of men,
With their own personal strength,
We have always asked you to lead the way…

So upon you I will depend,
That you’ll be my defense,
And won’t lead me astray…

Ya Allah I place before you calls of this Ummah,
That want You to make us the Leaders that the Ummah needs,
And not the leaders that we deserve to be…

Ya Allah i place before you the tears of that mother,
That flow endlessly without a stop,
And she calms herself by saying
I let him go for a good cause…

Ya Allah I place before you the helpnessness of this sinner,
Who has no body to else to go to if you turn him away,
Who needs You to give strength before he breaks,
Who needs your light, to see the way,
And needs you to answer this prayer today…

That Ya Allah, do not let me drown into that ocean once again,
Either let me see when the light will prevail once again,
Or let me sacrifice my life to you, let me fight this darkness till the end.