A Drop of Moonlight

If I was given the key to travel through time for one night, I would go back to the valleys of Madina, to witness your arrival, as you brought light along with you. My heart would overflow with praises as I would rejoice, in awe, in shukr*. My eyes would look up to the sky and for the first time, the moon would not seem as bright and the stars would shy away, knowing they could not compare to the beauty of your being. For sure, my mind would catch up on the moment, and I would ask myself:

"Why am I looking at the sky, at the moon, the invisible stars, when I have the best of all creation in front of me?"

And my heart would provide an answer, to the naïve thoughts of my young mind.

"How could I dare look at him, knowing the darkness my soul carries? How could I look directly at the one whom trees and rocks, petals and leaves, all beings, from the tiniest to the mightiest, chant praises for, when you listen with the hearing of your soul? How could I bring my eyes to him, without shame? Shame for the times I have dared complain when stepping on a pebble, when love emanated from his heart, while rocks were thrown at him. Shame, for when I sigh for stepping into a puddle, when he was engulfed in oceans? Not even a sigh escaped his blessed lips, not a single complaint was heard from his blessed voice.

Only praises, for The One; only love, for his ummah*."

At that very moment, a drop of moonlight would fall into the palm of my hand. As I would try to comprehend the silver droplet swivelling around there, I would remain oblivious to the change in my surroundings; how I was transported to another place, surrounded by your blessed companions. I would question my presence there, among the people who were blessed by your acquaintance.

I have no place here, I should walk away.

And out of shame, I would.

I would walk out and look up at the sky again. Except, my eyes would not make it up to the sky this time. They would stop on their way, as they would meet the nur* of your being, right in front of them. They would fill up with tears, as your beauty would take my breath away.

يَا حَبِيْبَ الْقَلْبِ*

My heart would whisper.

A smile would make its way to your lips and your eyes would radiate with Love and Light.

My heart would feel lighter, almost like floating on a cloud of stardust.

I would have to catch my breath, and it is at that moment that my eyes would open, back to where I was, before the key was given to me. I would smile, and perhaps let some tears fall, before remembering the drop of moonlight that fell into my hand before the encounter.

As I look down and open my closed hand, I see a rosebud, as white as snow on a winter morning.

Bringing it up to my lips, placing a gentle kiss upon it, my heart yearns for our next meeting, sweet Beloved.

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* shukr: Arabic term denoting thankfulness, gratitude or acknowledgement by humans, being a highly esteemed virtue in Islam

ummah: the Muslim ummah is that which believes in the guidance of One Allah and in the prophethood of Muhammad

nur: Arabic term for light

يَا حَبِيْبَ الْقَلْبِ: "O lover of the heart"