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THE MONTH OF FASTING
Ramadan, the month of fasting,
And abstinence, is in the air,
Another candle lights up memories,
Of generosity, kindness and care.
I find myself out of sync,
With many, throughout the year,
Yet when Ramadan comes,
I am well tuned to spiritual cheer.
Hollow feelings from hardened hearts,
Shallow smiles on painted mouths,
Custom-made greetings of hello, hi,
Vanish as faith blunts selfish darts.
However, the rich and the haughty,
Remain unmoved and show off,
Their pomp and their vanity,
As at poverty they scoff.
The month of piety does not change,
The materialists of this age,
Their goodness lacks the spirit
Of God-consciousness and purity.
As in display of rituals they engage.
Islam is not a set of rituals only,
Nor does it urge militancy,
It is a complete code of life,
And its essence is inward piety.
Its true followers are those few,
Men and women, whose virtue,
Acts as the best example,
Of obeying God Almighty.
These few lamps of bright light,
Are like stars in a hazy night,
Unseen and rare are such people,
Yet seekers of truth possess the sight,
To reach out to them and imbibe,
The true values of God's guidance,
And inner peace while shunning fight.
I miss my loved ones and good friends,
More so during this Ramadan,
Some of them have gone to blend,
In alien soil and ever new trends.
Ah, if only I could manage to share,
My "sehri" and "Iftar" with some one,
Who can be a semblance of old-gold,
I would not find any sigh to spare!
Let the crescent take my tears,
Mingled with the joy and the wounds
My pre-dawn moments and evenings,
To the realm where there are no jeers.
Like Omar Khayyam* and Ghazali*,
I believe in the true goodness within,
The genuine spirit of Islam,
The 'golden mean' of truth-beauty.
(Written and posted by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed/Emmenay on August 02, 2011).
