Khalid Mukhtar

When you reflect on something
Let your sight
Glance upon it
Not collide with it

Squander upon it
In equal parts
“What’s wrong about it?”
“What’s right with it?”

Let your sight not judge
Or fight with it
Leave that part
Up to your heart

For reflection
Holds the weight
Of light

To fast on end for forty days
To bring your heart into a state
Then cleanse your mouth to help expel
The odors in your silent breath

And then you learn the Lord was pleased
With what you thought offensive smelled
So off you fast for forty more
Before your conference is held

The prophets don’t just spend their time
They give of it in ways sublime

‪Sometimes we get so passionate‬
‪To change a thing, so much so we‬
‪Forget our selves once we forget‬
‪The reason why it came to be:‬
‪To change our hearts‬ and change us through‬
‪If only we would to leave it to‬

You can’t take away this soul
Even if you bring me hell
And I couldn’t sell it to you for
It isn’t mine to sell

You can’t take away my home
That is built upon a prayer
Like the call of Lady Āsiya
Extinguishing despair

‎إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

If you’re happy be sad
For this joy will end
If you’re sad be glad
For this grief will mend

Let the ups and the downs
Fashion smiles and frowns
On the length of the arc’s
Where it’s at my friend

‪Try as hard as you like‬
‪The real treasure will be hid‬
‪From tongues that mock
‪And eyes that gawk‬
‪And hands that raise the bid‬

‪Posture all you want‬
‪But Khalid know the truth will win‬
‪The day when tongue‬s
‪And hands go numb‬
‪When eyes see all within‬

Sometimes it comes with ease
Like snow upon the trees
And everything’s just enough

Sometimes it’s voices rising
Enthralling, appetizing
And everything’s for the nafs

From the womb of a mother
To the womb of the earth
In the womb of Al-Qadr
Berthing for birth