THE AKHLAQ OF ZIYARAAT

01 January 2010 16:36

The Akhlaq of Ziyaraat  

Our heads turn up from prostration,  

And the caller approaches his black wired minerat,  

Ready to call out the Salaam to the Ahlulbayt,  

Those most pious of individuals and that most holy of houses.  

He opens his mouth, readying his poetic tune,  

And turns to begin.  

WAIT! Hold the Muezzin,  

Stop those children with their tub-thumping baskets,  

Slithering through the aisles stealing our mores,  

Distracting our thoughts with their blithe smiles,  

Do they not know the Akhlaq of Ziyaraat?  

Do they not know that when we say Salaam, it is incumbent for there to be a reply?  

Tell them to pause and turn, for we say Salaam to the Ahlulbayt!  

And then once they have turned and silenced the noise of their accumulation,  

Allow the Muezzin to continue.  

WAIT! Hold the Muezzin,  

Stop the mobile phones with their screaming tones,  

Ringing through the air till they penetrate our ears,  

Distracting our thoughts with their musical sounds,  

Does their ‘technology’ not comprehend whom we stand before?  

Silence their voices and put an end to their blabbering,  

Tell them to keep their messages and show respect to the Ziyaraat,  

Preempt their deceitful ringing and turn them off as you approach the sitting of God.  

And once their voices have been taken from them,  

Allow the Muezzin to continue.  

WAIT! Hold the Muezzin,  

Stop the clambering noise of jewelry and belts,  

Noisefully clipping and sliding into place,  

The paraphernalia of this world,  

Distracting ourselves from who we stand before,  

Do we not know that the Ahlulbayt are greater than our convenience?  

They will not gather dust for the passing of Salaam,  

And if they do, so what?  

And if we lose the passing of time, is this not better to earn the word of Salaam from them?  

Leave them on the floor as we look on,  

Ready to convey our Salaams.  

And once the hall has turned quiet and still,  

Allow the Muezzin to continue.  

WAIT! Hold the young Muezzin,  

Ask him to recite with meaning,  

Ask if he knows the meaning of what he recites?  

Tell him he calls the Ahlulbayt before us, and thus poetry is not needed.  

Sincerity, understanding and love are due. Tell him to fill his musical voice with this, till it becomes like the song of the birds.  

Then once he is ready, with tears in his and our eyes,  

Allow the Muezzin to start.  

“Asalaamunaylayka ya....”  

By a youth concerned for the sanctity of Ziyaraat