My Shahadah

Contributed by Aliyah Sutherland

Ashhadu an la ilâha illallâh[2]
On the edge of a cliff
I sat and reflected
The soul of the universe
Devine recollection
It came to me first in the form of a man
Holding my heart in the palm of his hand.

I argued at first
Protested profusely
Unwilling to behold such recollection
I thought it tough
Restricting
I had been blinded
Materialistic.

I wanted to learn
Understand what had grasped them
Why they kneeled and prayed
In one direction.

So I studied
I learnt
I reflected
Returned to my decisions
Returned to my birth
Heavenly submission.
I saw beauty
I saw knowledge
I saw truth
I saw forgiveness
I found love.
A while it took
For my heart to behold
All that I’d discovered
Messages told.
One morn I woke
Tears streaming down
First time since birth
Removed was my invisible frown
Tears on my face
I said my Shahadah.

Jasmine’s scent sensual
Intoxicating
As eve set in
Darkness crawled across the land
Shadows moved outside my window
And I prayed to Him.

Now each morn
Before the sun rises
I awake
I wash
I pray
For His sake.

I like to return to the edge of that cliff
I sit and reflect
The soul of the universe
Knowledge collected.
El Humdu Lillah[3]

Shahadah: Testimony. [2] I bear witness that there is no God but Allah. [3] All Praise to Allah.

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