The Ocean of My Being

Last Monday was the 12th day of Rabi ul-Awal in the Hijri (Islamic) Calendar. It was my sister's Hijri birthday and, more especially and importantly, it was the 1480th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) . This day is called Maulidan Nabi in Arabic. It is a very special day, but we do not really celebrate it. What we do is try to look within ourselves and see how much of a guide and model the Prophet is to all of us as we live our days. The day is spent, as much as possible, in remembrance of the Prophet. I would like to share my most favorite story about the Prophet. It is said that the Prophet respected life in all forms. He was the perfect personification of kindness and benevolence. One of the facts known about him was that he liked cats and he actually had a pet cat. There was this one time, it is said, that he was about to perform salat (prayer) and, as he was about to get his praying carpet, he saw that a cat was sleeping on the carpet. Of

Silence Words. People said, " You have the gift of words! " That was long ago. Words. Give me them And I would give you poems, Stories and songs. Words. My good friends. With them I was at ease. That was long ago. Words. They fail me. As I sit watching you, All words are lost. Words. They, it seems, Are all you need right now. I find them not. Words. I beckon. In mid-air, they stay and I sit in silence.