The Way of Illumination

The way of illumination

Is the path that leads to God,

May ye seek that revelation

Forever this pathway trod.

And behold! the Light Eternal

When the end is drawing nigh,

It's rays spread forth upon ye all

As a crown to glorify.

Love, Human and Divine

O, Love, human and divine

Thou, inspirer of my soul.

Thy tales of love unite me

With the object of my goal.

Thou didst descend from heaven

To illuminate the way

For earthly souls that stumbled

In the dark and went astray.

The Inner Life

The Inner Life is a journey divine

Passing scenes of wondrous beauty,

Where heavenly flowers and fruits outshine,

Sustained by the Light of unity.

And when e'er is reached the eternal goal,

Closed are the lips from explaining

The pure upliftment of the heart and soul,

Merged into Love, all pervading.

In an Eastern Rose Garden

In an eastern rose garden full in bloom,

Privileged be the few that walketh there,

But to pluck the roses of sweet perfume

Is, from the heavens, an answered prayer.

O ye blinded souls seeking earthly gain,

A moment that lasteth and from ye flee,

Go to that garden in quest - and obtain

the one Divine gain of Eternity.

Pearls from the Ocean Unseen

O Pearls from the ocean unseen

Priceless and beyond compare,

Long sought by many a marine

In earnest unceasing prayer.

Thro' the depths of the waters pure,

Various divers plunged to seek

Ye Pearls, untill at last secure

In the hands of Him, so meek.

And He giveth ye to the world

To enlighten some few souls,

With hearts waiting to be unfurled,

By the Message that consoles.

A Birthday in Despair (1927)

O Beloved in all these fourteen years,

N'er did a birthday bring such bitter tears,

Without Thee or Thy poem from afar,

To heal my heart from wounds that leave their soar.

But now instead Thou sent Thy daughter fair,

At early morn, beneath my tangled hair

She lay a poem, as from Thee of yore,

A gift unearned, from Thy Jewels Four.

From this day on n'er could I conceive,

Of any birthday gift from friend receive,

For what is left to celebrate for me,

Since I am less than naught away from Thee?

Eighth Birthday

June 3rd, 1927

Khairunnisa, so sweet and fair,

With hazel eyes and auburn hair,

Abba's in heaven this birthday, 

But He will always lead your way,

He seems so far but He is near,

And to our hearts, is ever dear,

Yes, He will guide you from above,

Just with His magic wand of love,

To all around you sunshine give,

Blest by Abba, long may you live.

Amma

Noorunnisa

A bud from the stem of Divinity

With petals eager to unfold

To the fullness of God's vast beauty,

A lovely Sufi rose foretold.

With a heart full of loving forgiveness

And mind from the highest abode,

An inspired soul of saintliness,

With talents lavishly bestowed.

Endowed with heavenly inheritance,

From a Father of rarest birth,

His arms surrounding you in guidance

Thro' many happy years on earth.

14th birthday

Jan 1st, 1928

Amma

Eleventh Birthday

June 19th, 1927

Vilayat, your Father's eldest son

Eleven years old this day,

Continue the Message He has begun,

His image may you portray.

And may each new year disclose to you

More and more your privileged life,

Forget not, to Him, all praise is due,

He sacrificed all in strife.

He will ever guide you from above

Thro' all your tasks most arduous,

Inspiring you with His deepest love,

Long life be yours victorious.

Amma

Vilayat

ELEVENTH BIRTHDAY

June-19th, 1927

One early morn, Allah sent down

A baby boy, Abba to crown,

Eleven years ago this day

Carried by a glittering ray,

But now Abba has flown above

And with His guiding hand of love,

He holds a torch, that you may see

The way that leads to purity.

What birthday gift more wonderful

Then Abba's chair most worshipful

Naught so high this world can give

Blest by Abba, long may you live.

Amma

Tenth Birthday

August 6th, 1927

Hidayat, your worthy Father's son

Just ten years of age this day,

You with your brother, in unison

Will spread the 'Message', I pray.

Your sacred duty you will fulfil,

Value more precious than gold,

Your great heritage by Allah's will,

Son of a Father foretold.

May your life be showered with success,

All praise to Him, you'll give,

He sowed the seed for your happiness,

Long years of peace may you live.

Amma

In India

Far across the seas to the land divine,

Where mystery reigns supreme,

God carrieth there each thought of mine,

And every wondrous dream.

Under the warm sun, in a golden tomb,

Resteth Thy beautiful form,

Midst the fragrant roses that round Thee bloom,

Sheltered from the wind and storm.

With unceasing peace for many an age,

O Holy one, Thou art blest,

Numberless souls to pay Thee homage,

And kneel at Thy feet to rest.

India

India, knowest Thou, God hath blest

Thee with His diadem!

Ah, 'tis hidden far within Thy breast

From all who would contemn.

But to ye that seeketh Truth above

Disclosed is the hiding place,

Lo! it's sparkling rays bring light and love

To all, with God's own grace.

The Pilgrimage

Ocean of love, O sympathetic sea,

To Thee do I bow in humility,

For Thine won compassion carrieth me,

To the land of my dreams, my life's safety.

O India, land of splendour divine,

Salutations flow from this heart of mine

Whil'st I enter Thy border of mosque and shrine,

And trod o'er this sacred soil of Thine.

Delhi, my Delhi, so richly inlaid

With a priceless jewel from God that strayed

To illuminate souls that have watched and prayed

aye o'er all mankind, its rays hath sprayed.

thro' scenes of wonder I roam at far, in quest,

speechless and breathless, of the world divest,

With eyes cast downward, I kneel to be blest

At the foot of the sweetest rose strewn nest.

Return from the Journey Pilgrimage

Harken! the gong of duty's call, Alas,

The hour of farewell has come to pass,

But this heart is left buried 'neath the grass,

Nourished by fragrant soil, beyond surpass.

These eyes are dim with tears, this head bent low,

These lips refuse to utter thoughts that flow,

Thro' the silent air, sympathetic breezes blow,

And rays of light spread forth their brilliant glow.

A sacred bond awaits across the sea,

That dares to link this piece of clay with Thee,

O Thine own strength pour on a frail trustee,

That mouldeth a true and worthy devotee.

This life is pledged to every faithful friend,

Those selfless service to our Murshid lend,

Thence, in humbleness, their loving call, I tend,

Storing within, this yearning 'till the end.

Forevermore

In India, land of my dreams,

Ah, where my heart's vision gleams,

May I be blest.

O, Death, come take me by my hand

And lead me to my loved one's land,

From life distressed.

Alas, for Thee, long years I weep,

O sing me peacefully to sleep,

Gently caressed.

Then lay me at Beloved's feet

And with the dust, my form secrete,

There let me rest.

I know not why

I know not why this strength is in these bones,

Nor why beats this bleeding heart,

How doth this earthly form live through its groans,

Alas, since Thou didst depart!

'Tis a mistery hidden from my sight,

But Lo! with the tide of time

My fiery love, itself shall light

The candle of truth sublime.

O Lord, once more to see Thy face so sweet,

No sacrifice could I spare,

Just once to throw myself before Thy feet,

God of mercy grant my prayer.

If only dreams were true

Again I'd run and leap in glee,

My Father eagerly watching me,

No sweeter joy could ever be,

If only dreams were true!

Again the golden lane we'd strole,

My fears and tears He would console,

An answered prayer to thrill my soul,

If only dreams were true!

Again those melodies, I'd sing,

My Father's voice accompanying,

Gladness in our home t'would bring,

If only dreams were true!

Again I'd sit down at His feet,

His ancient tales to fondly greet,

An earthly paradise complete,

If only dreams were true!

Oh! Envious World

Oh, envious World, oft' Thou tried in vain

o tear asunder or to put in twain

Our love, which naught but Death can separate,

Nay, even Death is left disconsolate.

Despair

This bleeding heart, forlorn,

Cruel fate hath tossed untill

In thousand fragments torn,

Is left to suffer still.

From this poor form entrapped,

All life, all hope hath gone,

Pale with Death's garment wrapped,

And yet must linger on...

Descend, Most Holy One,

And with Thy helping hand,

Pray, let all grief be shun,

And take me to Thy land.

Can this be true

Can this be true or am I tossed by a snare

That findeth it's way from a dreaded nightmare,

A year passeth by without once a gleam

of my adored One, O heart of Love supreme,

Tell me, I pray, have I lived upon this earth,

Under these darkened clouds, weary of my birth;

Ah! Dare I to weep, wet tears refuse to fall,

I cannot speak: Aye my lips are closed to all.

O Death

O Death, my comforter art Thou,

The healer of my wounds enow,

Thy yielding glance do I beseech

And for Thy soothing hand I reach.

I yearn for Thee, years pass me by,

Thou comest not, but from my cry

I hear an echo o'er the hill,

'A sacred duty first fulfil'.

My beloved Land

Land of wonder, land of dream,

Noble and of high esteem,

Land where chosen jewels gleam,

Guarded by the God supreme.

Land of priceless ancient scroll,

Land of my despairing soul,

With Thy love, my grief condole,

Unto life's eternal goal.

If only I had wings

O'er hill and dale and mountain peak

And o'er the seas, for Him I'd seek,

Thro' dazzling stars there would I sneak

If only I had wings.

Then upward through the turquoise sky,

Till the Gates of Paradise espy,

There thro' all wonders would I fly,

If only I had wings.

No time nor space e'er would I spare,

In search of Him, a Father rare,

No hardship could I not forbear,

If only I had wings.

The heavens far beyond I'd soar,

Seeking the One whom I adore,

At last I'd find Him as afore,

If only I had wings.

Struggle between beloved and duty

Thou hast warned me of my duty,

Which I can't forget,

And Thou sayest, if I listen,

I shall not regret.

For duty's sake, hence I am bound

To this world of grief,

And n'er untill I go to Thee,

Shall I find relief.

Thou didst say when duty's done

I may follow Thee,

What a blessing, O Beloved,

When Thou callest me.