@3"Grateful"—Ash-Shâkir—is He; praise Him so Who thanketh men for that He did bestow@1. So much hast thou of thy hoard As thou gavest to thy Lord; Only this will bring thee in Usance rich and free from sin: Send thy silver on before, Lending to His sick and poor. Every dirhem dropped in alms Touches Allah's open palms, Ere it fall into the hands Of thy brother. Allah stands Begging of thee, when thy brother Asketh help. Ah! if another Proffered thee, for meat and drink, Food upon Al-Kâuthar's brink. Shining Kâuthar which doth flow Sweet as honey, cool as snow, White as milk, and smooth as cream, Underneath its banks, which gleam— Green and golden chrysolite, In the Gardens of delight, Whence who drinks never again Tasteth sorrow, age, or pain— Who would not make merchandise, Buying bliss in Paradise, Laying up his treasure where Stores are safe and profits clear? But ye lend at lower cost, Whilst Ash-Shâkir offers most, Good returning seven times seven, Paying gifts of earth with Heaven. @3Allah, Who dost reward so well, What maketh man in sin to dwell?@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TEN YEARS OLD by LOUIS UNTERMEYER EPITAPH by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE LOVE AT SEA by THEOPHILE GAUTIER THE HIGHER PANTHEISM by ALFRED TENNYSON ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 14. TO THE HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND - FROM THE COUNTRY by MARK AKENSIDE |