The world listens when his name, with love, I utter
And I play with its awe when I speak of Haider
I speak of his virtues, the world drowns in silence… yearning his stories, twitch the ears of the listener
I find myself standing, as the world watches me… I’m left in a paradox as Ali’s writer
The virtues of Ali can’t be confined to words… can I describe his words, actions or his nature?
So I take a deep breath, and I swallow my fears… I speak the unspeakable love of the lover
I speak as the proud student of the greatest school… and feeds the ink of my words the greatest teacher
And just when I think that writing about him is impossible
He speaks to my mind, reminding me nothing’s impossible
And he reassures my inspiration, saying, it’s possible
To understand me through words, don’t ask me why, it just is
Infinity can’t be confined, but for me it just is
Because if words couldn’t hold me, it wouldn’t be justice
To the people I was sent to guide, for I am a motional
Quran that walks and talks and heeds and thinks and does, a motional
Beacon of love that guides hearts and leaves them for me, emotional
So I speak to you now the virtues of Ali… in war, feared by even the greatest warrior
In speech, his sentences, the peak of eloquence… his patience a wood invincible to fire
His charity known only by the dark of night… his prayer became the soul-mate of this worshipper
His justice embarrassed the straightest of scales… his wisdom would topple the greatest oppressor
Ali was the soldier, the leader, the trader… the teacher, preacher, the believer, the father
Ali, he was the first two letters of leader – L, E
Ali, the last two letters of every battle – L, E
For the last man standing in battle was always Ali
Ali won, Ali’s one, Ali none
Has come near him upon the field of battle… for he’d teach even in the whirling dust of war
And if you’re sceptical of my words than listen now… look at his battles and become a believer
When faith was at the hands of the highest bidder
Ali was challenged by each and every bidder
And his sword left each of them buried in Badr
Thinking that Badr was a fluke, they faced him at Uhud
His sword smiled at their anger saying to them, I had
All of you at your heels at Badr, just like I had
Mercy on an army that we didn’t face at Jendel
They robbed and thieved, but ran away when we came to Jendel
They feared me even when I was sheathed, harmless and gentle
Yet there came those who would have no knowledge of our conduct
Amr Ibn Wudd who has a strike that no-one can duck
Ali killed him, but still, left his gold and wealth at Khandak
For Ali didn’t care for worldly things, at Khaybar
No-one could lift the gate, except for Ali, at Khaybar
Who does this when he only eats hardened bread? None can, bar
Ali, who never had pride, he wasn’t a man insane
Even though many basked in their pride as though they’re insane
Which is why many suffered but Ali won at Hunayn
And he won battle after battle, just like at Ta’if
The last battle he fought with Mohammed was at Ta’if
To usurp Ali’s golden position none would try, if
Someone did, his army was cursed by Mohammed, so if seen
Was a sword raised against Ali they’d be cursed, and so if seen
Was Muawiya fighting Ali, he’s cursed at Soffeen
Which shows that Ali’s sword, gifted by God, was a gem, all
Swords of diamond, gold and silver jealous of this gem, all
Would see its justice and valour when he fought at Jamal
And every historian and observer would know he won
Every Islamic battle that he partook in, know he won
And he proved this with the last battle of his life, Nahrawaan
And in each battle he didn’t just fight, he taught… entering even the plains of battle a preacher
He would not strike Amr Ibn Wudd when angry… the greatest warrior, yet feared his own anger
He’d not let his sword kill a single human being… were he to be a kind, good man in his future
He only fought in defence, and fought when attacked… he stood for justice against each unjust leader
A symbol of the free on the battlefield… he brought love to goodness and left evil in fear
On the battlefield, the lion of your Lord… off the battlefield who knows who you are?
Ali, the voice of human justice for all men… Ali, who the greatest thinkers on him ponder
Ali, whose words are the peak of eloquence… Ali whose speech contains oceans of wonder
Ali, he who governed a third of today’s world…. yet could not bear to see even a Christian poor
Ali and I could praise him till the end of times… and I’d still find lessons to delve in and explore
Ali
Ali’s greatness, Ali’s fairness, Ali’s braveness
Ali’s fearless, Ali’s selfless, Ali’s priceless, Ali’s flawless, Ali’s ageless, Ali’s endless
Ali
Ali’s wonder, Ali’s grandeur, Ali’s Badr, Ali’s Haider, Ali’s higher
Than every number one after him, immortal… transcendent of time and of space is this figure
No, Ali can’t be confined to any poem… but a glimpse of Ali can last for forever
* * *
(London – 03/11/12)