WE will not that the truth of God by prophets brought to earth Shall be o'erlaid by dreams and thoughts of none or little worth; We will not that the noblest Man, that ever lived and died, Should be for canting, cozening, Saints in reverence set aside. While God was uttering through his lips, and writing through his pen, Mohammed took his lot with us, a man with other men; And thus in our due love to him, and awe for God alone, We bless his memory as the chest that holds the precious stone. So, though 'tis well that where entombed, his holy body lies, Praises and prayers from faithful crowds to Allah's name should rise. The best of Mosques is still the tent where earnest Muslims meet, The best of Minarets is the rock that desert tempests beat. We all have Mekkeh in our hearts, who speak and act the truth; We all are Saints who read the Book and worship from our youth. Men are no happier than they were for all El-Azhar's lore, And if our Faith wins Paradise, can knowledge win us more? We will not that the gifts of God, so good when used aright, Should leave their wholesome natural ends and turn to His despite; That men should change the sweetest flowers to bitter poison weeds: The Book has said that "everyone is hostage for his deeds." Man should be man; the world is his to conquer and command, No pipe or downy bed for him, but horse and sword in hand; Let they who will consume their lives in joys of vicious ease, -- The Prophet's word will scarce prevail with Preachers such as these. Let women love Damascus silk, give us Damascus blades, The shawls of rich Cashmere look best on our Circassian maids; We wear the homely woolen woof, such as Mohammed wore, Nor steal from herbs the drunken dreams that he with wine forswore. We know that time is worst than lost, which is not used for gain, For Life is not a jest, and God will not create in vain, -- And thus we will not rest while earth has idols still to fall; Till Islam is indeed Islam, and Allah God for all! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 83. BARREN SPRING by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI HYMN OF THE WEST by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN MY CREED by HOWARD ARNOLD WALTER TWO SONGS FROM THE PERSIAN: 1 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 33 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT TO A LADY IN ILLNESS by SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES PSYCHE by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER THINKING OF SAINTS AND OF PETRONIUS ARBITHE by MARY BUTTS (1890-1937) |