Heaven and Earth celebrate… a marriage that’s meant to be
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali
* * *
Descends from the Heavens, roses… and around their feet they scatter
She who is made from Heaven’s dust… for the one born in the Ka’ba
On her wedding she taught us all… when that beggar had approached her
You can only have an Ali… if you are a Fatima
The Ka’ba and the Heavens… both give their children away
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali
* * *
A man born in the house of God… a woman made from paradise
In her eyes he saw only care… in his eyes she saw sacrifice
Like Ali lifted Khaybar’s door… she lifted off his shoulders, vice
In return he gave her his soul… hoping that this soul would suffice
The eyes windows to the soul… in her eyes, his soul he’d see
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali
* * *
They are perfect for each-other… because only God each eye sees
Two lights became one forever… just like the greeting of two seas
I’ll tell you why their household has… the greatest of family trees
As the leader of all women… had the simplest of all dowries
When men would ask Mohammed… he’d reply, “it’s destiny,
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali”
* * *
Ask yourselves, when Ali proposed… would Mohammed have turned his face
If he wasn’t Bani Hashim… or was of a different race
Look how simple it was for him… shyness to his face you could trace
Yet when Ahmed heard he loved her… he pulled Ali towards his embrace
He takes Ali by his hand… and asks him, “are you ready?
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali”
* * *
Look how beautiful it all is… she accepts him with her silence
And when they steal what is his… her voice is of loud defiance
The meeting of Earth and Heaven… an infinite, divine balance
As Ali, the father of dust… married Heaven’s fragrance
The meeting of divine worlds… cries the Lord that made this day:
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali
* * *
All men have had their wife’s name… at birth, written on their foreheads
But today Shia see written… ‘Ali’ and ‘Zahra’ on their heads
There won’t be another Ali… and a Fatima no man weds
But in the service of these lights… each Shia newlywed treads
In every Shia wedding… cries both the mind and body:
No-one could marry Zahra… if there was never Ali
* * *
(London – 04/02/14)