Ode to my Father

by Ruhudeen Ali
July 29th, 2009

Among all the heroes of men
this simple man defies the acumen
how great is he who's love in our hearts
force to scatter our demons apart.

How humble and noble is he
who's resemblance in mirror faces me
And yet the tale of the oak tree and his seed
are as disparate as the foam and the sea!

And the substance that reigns in him
bars any complaint in him
though he fares among the simpletons
he withholds his discretion
to inform us of our ignorant impression.

Communion of angels - this is your proof
of why men were destined
to dwell upon heaven's roof!
Gangs of Iblees - admire and look closely
at why you have no right to be haughty!

For men such as these separate the degrees
of the blessed from the thieves
among the seeds of Adam and Eve
for this, my father was conceived.

Clement and magnanimous
he entails a character so tremendous!
Being the paragon of the selfless man
he is the fairytale with limbs and hands.

His gentle wisdom is always solicited
though his humility makes it elicited
in all honesty words do fail to convey
the glory and praise of his starlight's rays!

So thank you dear Lord for bestowing me my father
I would truly and sincerely ask for none other
he is my role model, my benefactor, my hero
were it not for our kin surely I'd be nothing.

Such a gift is beyond the son's pay
to thank the Lord for His Spirit in clay
for if not for the fraction of father in me
ignorant would I be to know and worship Thee!

Ran'dem Rhymes vol.#10

by Ruhudeen Ali
July 29th, 2009

I'm like a ceiling fan
cuz I'm going around in circles
I can't fake a smile man
so don't say 'cheese' like Steve Urkel
but the wind blows a refreshing air
I got plans like Hertzl
with a grain a salt like a pretzel
makin' blueprints with the pencil
map out my dreams like I stencil
producing is my art, I'm like a stem cell
I got ideas locked up doing life in my dome
trying to crack the code like the human genome
while others try to find a wife and a home
I'm contemplating the knife in chrome
but that's only when I'm hurt and alone
sometimes wishin I was in the dirt and unknown
dear God I'm a jerk and its shown.

Failing in stealth
I'm ailing in health
size 34 and not wearing a belt
feelin like I'm waiting to melt
but patient when hating is dealt
to me and myself
but I'm just being stupid
like I'm debating an elf
contemplating the self
confiscating the shelf
seeking books of wisdom
though investigating ain't help
I'm instigating a yelp
praying cuz I feel like a prey
like I'm imitating an elk
cuz I need a helping hand to be felt
I'm asking G-O-D
cuz that's how His name is spelt.

Does this ring a bell?
Yes I'm going through hell
but it wasn't like you crawled in my shell
and asked me how I fell
my life I try to compute like a Dell
but I can't understand the language
like its in braille, my mind is frail
I'm feelin like I'm facing termination
but I seek salvation like Christian Bale
evil world wanna touch me like a friskin jail
but that's gay like Sodom & Gomorrah
cuz they fell to briskin hail
my lifestyle's risking hell
I'm not thinkin well
find myself in sticky situations
like knappy frickin jell
while you're laughing
like I'm Steve Carell
my sins I'm not supposed to tell
but I confess to it all
cuz we were fathered from the Fall
when I dropped this your girdle broke
and your fat belly fell
one day I'll be like Grandmaster Melle Mel
rhyming on the tele tel
and if that ain't my fate
all I can say is "oh well"
cuz its all good
in other words its all swell!

The Vanguard

By Ruhudeen Ali
July 22nd, 2009

As-sabiqoon, the foremost
you are ill-equipped in worldly armor
but of all people, you will be Heaven's hosts
for you are equipped with a mettle like none other.

Selfless, though you have your needs
you are out looking for others to feed.
And though you were tired and exhausted
you tended to your duties and never boasted.

Burdened to defend our everything
others turn to you for you are their shepherd.
And all your effort pays off when the staple of sheep fall asleep
For this, your sword of strength is raised, for the meek!

An invisible strength you have that none comprehend
a helping hand you lend because you are God's friend.
Poise and tranquil, your services go unnoticed
pressing times shrink not your capacious character
while divine words prevent you from being unfocused.

You may not see it yourself but others rely on your fortitude
your example, in one word, is simply 'gratitude.'
Like the vanguard, you are everyone's shield
though you wither away yourself, you care not how you feel.

You are one in a thousand but a thousand in one.
Alone, your worth should have you encased.
But when bravery is called upon at the forefront, you are second to none
though danger tempts you to flee you aboutface.

Putting yourself down doesn't suit your grandeur
conducting yourself with humble modesty and polite gesture.
A thousand servants should be crafting a throne for you
but you would rather be unknown, not alone in view.

For this and more you deserve God's right-hand
bliss known to none but the most righteous and blessed.
Exceptional men and women - what a praiseworthy band!
Who got to their station because they are possessed
of a meticulous spirit that obeys God's commands.

So peace to the sabiqoon, the vanguard!
You are our pride and honor.
Humankind without you is illegitimate like the bastard
Please intercede for us on the Day of Clamor
when all will be at the mercy of the Almighty Master!

Star From Afar

by Ruhudeen Ali
September 11th, 2004

Glancing toward the heaven's twilight
I catch a glimpse of you; a lone star in the sky.
You send your signal to my eyes tonight
you tell me that your life may end tonight,
and suddenly the thought brings a tear to my eye.

It amazes me how, our great distance despite
I am still able to sense your plight.
Is it possible? Could it be
that our stories share similarities?
It makes me question and wonder why
do all beautiful things die?

How is it that a star
can communicate with me
while being away so incredibly far?
Your light finally reaches me.

You allow me to see
all the suffering you endure.
Your twinkling affects me
my heart you allure!

Or is it that you merely assert your existence?
Like all the clamor I make, for instance.
Or perhaps you fancy your observers can save you too
but unfortunately all we can do is merely look at you.

Your luminous twinkling indicates the painful chaos inside.
But sadly none among your peers can help you, the universe wide.
How you call attention to yourself makes me examine myself.

My dear star, you see, your situation perplexes me.
Could it be true?
That you are like me
and I am like you?

If this feeble servant is saddened upon hearing your cries
how then does the Lord react if I were to implore?
For the Lord is not affected by distant ties.
Nay! For the greater the distance, He gives the more!

My lovely star, seeing you now gives me a sense of peace
that if your pleas can even be detected from afar, so can mine
would that I might, like you, become deceased.
I rejoice, in that instead of being heard by a worthless servant
I am heard by One who is Divine.

So my twinkling darling, sadly I can do nothing for you
except that on your behalf I pray
that despite all the suffering, you persevere and make it through
and remain in this world of lights to stay.

You have taught me that if even a star from afar can communicate
and despite being light years away have one who observes.
My chances of being heard are far greater when I supplicate
because, as the Lord's vicegerent, that I deserve.

I am indebted to you for the lessons you teach me:
That there is no distance between the hearts of the grieved.
That even on the other side of the universe can one find sympathizers.
That our tears are seen - makes me feel relieved.
For you cry to me and I cry to my Lord, the Wiser.

I can do nothing for you, but for us He can do all
to Him shall we turn, for all must fall.
So my dear this I do say: let us not forget.
Let us move on forward, and cast aside the shackles of regret!

A Sinner's Tears (My Sad Thoughts)

by Ruhudeen Ali
April 5th, 2004

Brethren! I'm not fit for your world,
I can never be one of you.
Having corrupted the pearl
I am through.

Lamentable are my deeds
fruitless are my words.
Sadness I bleed,
on the wings of a bird.

Oh! What filth am I?
Being made by Your Hands
that in life I die
by ignoring Your Commands.

My aspirations are gone
I am lost.
Hope - I have none.
The limits I've crossed.

Destiny I believed
would carry me on
but now I'm deceived
I've forgotten Your Qur'an.

I've made many mistakes
but desire to repent.
I must awake
for this he (saw) was sent.

My Prophet is Muhammad,
blessed to be his ummati.
But forget about me,
of such a thing, who is worthy?

How can I follow
such a great man
when my heart is hollow
and I don't understand?

Blessed with blessings
I was a Magistrate!
No longer a king,
I've become an ingrate.

I'm given to sin,
by day and night I commit.
I cannot win
so I submit.

You tell me not to befriend
the accursed Satan.
But candy he promises and lends
to those who take him as patron.

You asked me to fight
to carry out Your will,
but blocked is the light
that shone my thrill.

You gave me sight
to marvel at Your wonders,
but I use that light
to focus on my blunders.

Sometimes I feel
confused and uncertain
that this life is real 
hiding the truth behind a curtain.

I used to feel calm
and from this world released
because I lived Islam -
The cloak of Peace.

But now my heart is dead
black and cold.
The thoughts in my head,
heretically bold.

My dreams are shattered
my goals denied,
my soul is battered.
Why can't I cry?

In such a state can one pretend
to fake a smile
only to suffer in the end?
Oh what denial!

Family

by Ruhudeen Ali
June 14th, 2006

Marriage is a blessing, full of lessons that we should heed.
It is a lesson, dear friends, in tawhid.
Shocking it seems that marriage and the Lord should compare
but God is One, while we are pairs.
We need consultation with our partners, while He needs none in His affairs.
We bicker and argue over each matter and decision
While alone He executes them with exact precision.
We grow together as one through love in affection
while He knew that the path to unity lies in this direction.
The woman covers the faults of men, while he covers the faults of women.
The Lord forgives our sins so long as we forgive our brethren.
Man and woman are day and night, together replete.
Lord and servant are together complete.
Marriage is duality, while Lordship is unity
but in principle, marriage is the same in all its purity.

Parenting is a gift from the Almighty.
It surely is a lesson in divinity.
From its fruit begins the first stage of civility.
Parents toil after their child ceaselessly
while the Lord loves His creatures unconditionally.
The child is a rascal - forever ungrateful for each of his parents' sacrifices
while in return, for the parent, a warm smile will suffice.
How similar is the matter with our Lord, while He gives us everything
when in return He only asks us for a few simple things?
The child is designed to drive the parents crazy
only to illustrate that to our Lord we are rebellious and savy.
The child is a resemblance of his parents when born
just as Adam was created upon His Lord's Form.
Seeds are like a man's deeds my friend,
at first you toil them with hardwork, 
to have them benefit you or bring you ruin in the end.

Siblings are a treasury
they reflect the community.
With parents acting as governing lords,
their children seek to either comply or deny their words.
The righteous friend is like the faithful sister or brother,
they will teach you the meaning of service to your father and mother.
Through their good example, you can also attain your parents' pleasure
only to obtain rewards without measure.
Together we should help each other in seeing
that through the family we can see our reason for being.
So you see, all of these lessons are hidden within the beautiful shell
known as the story of marriage; for each its left to tell.
Now you should better understand what the Prophet (saw) means
when he says that "marriage is half your deen."

Allahu Akbar (God is Great)

By Ruhudeen Ali
May 10th, 2004

How great is the Creator supreme!?
Who gives us what we want as in a dream.
How fortunate we are that Allah made us as humans
if He desired, He could have made us albumin!
But instead He created us and blessed us with lives,
He gave us health, wealth, parents, children, husbands and wives.
He blessed us with options and opportunities,
He honored us and made us Muhammad's (saw) community.

He put us on this earth as a Trust,
And because of that He created everything - just for us!
He created Father Adam (as) in the Garden,
but His plan was for him to fall to earth and be its warden.
From his rib He created his mate,
Mother Eve (as), so we could be grateful and appreciate.
He placed us on earth for a reason,
promising punishment for those who commit treason.
but for the righteous He promised the Home of Peace - the land of the blessed,
to those who worked in His cause, obsessed.
How undeserving we are of such a reward!
Nothing can I give in turn to pay off such a debt, I eternally can't afford.

There is no limit to the Lord's Mercy,
Despite our rebellion, He gives to the thirsty.
He gives us shelter, clothing, and food,
despite anyone's feelings or mood.
With Him is the blessed Treasure that no one can measure,
Which He promises to those who seek His Pleasure.
Things that are unimaginable, no heart has ever felt nor seen,
not even to those who are most keen.
The praises of the Lord can go on forever
who but His Majesty can endure such an endeavor?

Gaza: In The Hangman’s Rope

By Imam Zaid Shakir

They see no death, no blood, no pain;
too blinded by an ancient claim.
So take the land, destroy the man,
And bomb the babe in mothers’ hands,
Uproot the olive, kill the dove,
to Hell with charity and love.
When those twain die, so too does hope,
a victim of the hangman’s rope.
And who is there to fear the Reaper
when no one is his brother’s keeper.

Our tribe we must ourselves protect
with murder, which we must perfect.
So goes that atavistic claim,
To justify the bombs that maim,
to justify the phosphorous shells,
the fire of this worldly hell.
A worldly hell the Gazans know,
that testing ground, that weapons show.
But from that ground the will persists.
From pools of blood rise clench’d fists.
And then those fists hurl sticks and stones,
that smash the walls of stolen homes.

From mounds of rubble come the words,
of futile cries to just be heard.
Heard through the death, the blood, the pain;
that others have a valid claim.
And through the fog of war it’s clear,
no one alive would care to hear.
So kill them all so be their fate,
their claim is ours, but theirs can wait.
So take the land, destroy the man,
and bomb the babe in mothers’ hands,
Uproot the olive, kill the dove,
to Hell with charity and love.
When those twain die, so too does hope,
it’s Gaza in the hangman’s rope.