One of my favorite poems in praise of the Prophet is this gem from the Sudanese Sufi Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Qamar al-dīn al-Majdhūb (d. 1831) a friend and student of Aḥmad ibn Idrīs (d. 1837). Translation: Upon you be God’s blessing, and then His peace too O Messenger of God, I am so enamored…
Lament for Nigeria
Lament for Nigeria In response to the Lekki massacre, inspired by the words of Ṣeun Kuti and Aisha Yesufu dear god I come from two countries one is thirsty the other is on fire both need water -warsan shire A new moon rose up in the ember months over Nigeria A new spring burst forth…
Hard times
Skip James’ haunting depression-era blues song seems to only get more relevant with each passing day… Lyrics: Hard times is here and everywhere you go Times are harder than ever been before You know that people, they are are driftin’ from door to door But you can’t find no heaven, I don’t care where they…
The Iwan of Chosroes
The Iwan of Chosroes in Iraq is the only visible structure remaining of the Sassanid capital of Ctesphion (Madā’in in Arabic), about 35 km south of present-day Baghdad. Its Iwan, or arch, the largest vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world, is considered an architectural marvel. Possibly constructed during the reign of Anushirwan (Chosroes I)…
Words of Bewilderment…
Say: My Lord increase me in knowledge! قل ربّي زدني علماً Quran 20:114 My Lord increase me in bewilderment in Thee! ربّي زدني فيك تحيراً -Saying of the Prophet Muḥammad Rumi Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment for cleverness is mere opinion and bewilderment is vision. زیرکی بفروش و حیرانی بخر زیرکی ظنست و…