Grace glides on blistered feet

Sign outside of a San Francisco cafe [Photo: Baraka]

Somewhere on my spiritual journey, I lost my empathy.

My faith and trust in God were built up through years of harrowing illness. In the last few months, though, I’ve realized that faith has become a wall shielding me from feeling pain, my own and everyone else’s.

Reluctantly joining the wave

After months of defiance as one friend after another went over to the dark side, I finally joined Twitter. [The feed is also in my sidebar to the left]

At the MLT conference Shahed described it as a mini-blog post, which made it seem more interesting than just another status update, and a challenge to boot with its 140 character limit. Yet, still I hesitated.

But, yesterday when I found out that some of my favorite restaurants are now on-line with secret menu updates and specials, the foodie in me could no longer resist!

Sufficient is the Knowledge of my Lord

I was telling fatnurmaz yesterday about my spiritual crisis, and she offered up this beautiful poem.

Friends like her are truly a Divine blessing.

—

Sufficient is the Knowledge of my Lord

Qasida of Imam al-Haddad

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

For my du’a and my agonizing supplication
is a witness to my poverty.

For this secret (reason) I make supplication
in times of ease and times of difficulty

I am a slave whose pride
is in his poverty and obligation.

O my Lord and my King
You know my state.

And what has settled in my heart
of agonies and preoccupations.

Save me with a gentleness
from You, O Lord of Lords.

Oh save me, Most Generous
before I run out of patience (with myself)

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

O One who is swift in sending aid
I ask for aid that will arrive to me swiftly

It will defeat all difficulty
and it will bring all that I hope for

O Near One Who answers
and All-Knowing and All-Hearing

I have attained realization through my incapacity,
my submission and my brokenness

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

I am still standing by the door, so please my Lord
have mercy on my standing.

And in the valley of generosity, I am in i’tikaf (solitary retreat)
So, Allah, make my retreat here permanent.

And I’m abiding by good opinion (of You)
For it is my friend and ally.

And it is the one that sits by me and keeps me company
All day and night.

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

There is a need in my soul, O Allah
so please fulfill it, O Best of Fulfillers

And comfort my secret and my heart
from its burning and its shrapnel

In pleasure and in happiness
and as long as You are pleased with me

For joy and expansion is my state
and my motto and my cover.

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing.