MUHAMM7D
Muslim
A new night
of the sacred month
the thin slice of the moon; the crescent
visible only a few minutes
to the naked eye
A sight beautiful
signaling new,
fresh
Greetings one to the other: Ramadhaan Mubaarak
And a few hours later
A sound comes
Wake up! Wake up!
have a meal,
a simple glass of water!
Before the first light,
before you begin the fast,
make the intention
Wake up! Wake up!
And the day progresses, a slowing down;
restaurants closed, coffee houses empty.
And workers begin their trek home early
Late afternoon, the specialty stores open
selling the special once a year snacks,
crowds flocking and moving hurriedly
collecting their Iftar (break fast)
And mothers prepare the traditional meals
taking extra time
for the fasting family
Only an hour before the sun sets
city streets empty,
as in a curfew,
And now only a few minutes,
family and friends gather around the table
making small talk
awaiting the moment...silence...
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
(God is great)
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah
(I witness that there is no God except Allaah)
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allaah)
Hay-ye alas-slat
Hay-ye alas-slat
(Hurry up for prayer)
Hay-ye alal falah
Hay-ye alal falah
(Hurry up for prosperity)
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Laa illaaha illallah
Laa illaaha illallah
And the siren, signaling the sun dipping below the horizon
And together, some with dates, some with a pinch of salt
"We take this food in the name of Allaah, most gracious, ever merciful"
Prayers given
and later friends and family
mill around, some content
others tired, but all happy
on this day of Ramadhaan...
Peace
of the sacred month
the thin slice of the moon; the crescent
visible only a few minutes
to the naked eye
A sight beautiful
signaling new,
fresh
Greetings one to the other: Ramadhaan Mubaarak
And a few hours later
A sound comes
Wake up! Wake up!
have a meal,
a simple glass of water!
Before the first light,
before you begin the fast,
make the intention
Wake up! Wake up!
And the day progresses, a slowing down;
restaurants closed, coffee houses empty.
And workers begin their trek home early
Late afternoon, the specialty stores open
selling the special once a year snacks,
crowds flocking and moving hurriedly
collecting their Iftar (break fast)
And mothers prepare the traditional meals
taking extra time
for the fasting family
Only an hour before the sun sets
city streets empty,
as in a curfew,
And now only a few minutes,
family and friends gather around the table
making small talk
awaiting the moment...silence...
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
(God is great)
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah
(I witness that there is no God except Allaah)
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allaah)
Hay-ye alas-slat
Hay-ye alas-slat
(Hurry up for prayer)
Hay-ye alal falah
Hay-ye alal falah
(Hurry up for prosperity)
Allaah-hu Akbar
Allaah-hu Akbar
Laa illaaha illallah
Laa illaaha illallah
And the siren, signaling the sun dipping below the horizon
And together, some with dates, some with a pinch of salt
"We take this food in the name of Allaah, most gracious, ever merciful"
Prayers given
and later friends and family
mill around, some content
others tired, but all happy
on this day of Ramadhaan...
Peace
