Poem: My Striving is in the Way of Allah
by Mustapha Kemal Hydal (Trinidad)
The Light (Pakistan), 24th February and 1st March 1976 Issue (Vol. 56, Nos. 8–9, p. 14)
O give me the Quran and Solitude,
And I’ll spend my life in prayer.
This life is but an interlude,
That’s prolonged from year to year.
But for the Grace of the Almighty God,
We’d be mere grains of sand.
Then lead me along that path, O Lord,
The Path of that Perfect man.
Though dust I am, a bird may become
And fly to the heavens on high,
On wings of knowledge and Divine wisdom,
When only on Allah I rely.
I follow a path that’s filled with thorns,
And pitfalls numberless.
Yet with faith in Allah, I’m not forlorn,
But assured of great success.
In the way of Allah I travel alone,
To champion the cause of Truth.
Nor man, nor aims, diversions none
This firm resolve can uproot.
I’ve given up all for the love of One,
And even relations dear.
While taking my faith from the Light-giving Sun
I’m freed from grief and fear.
In the light of the moon, I’ve taken an oath.
To place ‘Deen’ [Religion] above the world.
In tempestuous times ‘tis only Noah’s boat
Which keeps Islam’s flag unfurl’d.
Then pray for me, O stars up there,
Pray for a victorious war,
With my weapon — Quran, my armour as prayer,
Jihad fee sabeel lillah [striving in the path of Allah]