I could not

write about you

For fear

Fear of your presence

And fear of

My hearts' brittleness

That I might die

In this pursuit

Yet wishing to die

In this state of intoxicated love

This is the conflict within me

Language cannot explain

Except the language

of tears and laughter

Even the molecules

Of my body

Shake and tremble

With awe and excitement!

I just can't explain!

Oh Messenger of God!

I can't explain you!

Sometimes I forget

To say "Prophet" before your name

Not from heedlessness

But from desirous haste

To just say your name!

Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad!

I just can't explain!

Oh Messenger of God!

I can't explain you!

Oh the mystery of how

You have captured my heart

As a Christian

I loved the Prophets

Before you

But with you

I get them all!

I can love

Abraham, Moses and Jesus

Just by loving you!

Without this love

Your nation falls

With it

They are purified and irresistible!

Let those who

Possess this love

Not be stingy

Take it to the marketplace!

The workplace

And especially the home

It's hard to explain!

Oh Messenger of God!

I can't explain you!

Seeing the land of your life

causes some to live

And seeing your grave

Causes some to die

Nothing is more difficult

Than you

In my youth

I have written easily

My love for many

But when I encountered you

The translator of my heart

Fell mute

Lost in inexplicable wonder!

That is hard to explain!

Oh Messenger of God!

I can't explain you!

You sacrificed for me

Before I was even born

How should I thank you

As I now walk upon the earth?

My heart holds your love

My tongue sends you blessings

But it is my limbs

That often fall short

All this controversy about you

A proof of the veil

On your enemies hearts

And a proof against those

Who only follow you with words

But don't turn your face from me

As I reach for a drink

From your soft hands

Because it's hard to explain!

Oh Messenger of God!

I can't explain you!

by Aaron Haroon Sellars

I heard one of my Teachers say that upon the poet is to write about the Messenger of God, may His peace and blessings be upon him. As a person who often writes things in a form that some call poetry, I have been haunted by the weight of this statement since hearing it!

I converted to the way of life called “Islam” because of an overwhelming sense of the divine origin and authority of the Quran and after a mere glimpse at the life of the Prophet Muhammad, may His peace and blessings be upon him.

So the feeling of love and debt is immense -yet every time I have tried to write something about him... I get stuck! I just sit there frozen with my pen hovering over a piece of paper that ultimately is left blank.

Then, one of my closest companions sent me a link to a YouTube video about the “Mahabbah Awards” which is a unique awards program done in the spirit of love for Allah and His Messenger.

Unexpectedly, this short and simple video clip opened a flash-flood of emotions and tears within me that I could not control or contain! I jumped up from my chair to try and regain my composure but felt a rumble inside like someone was boiling water in my chest! My knees started to buckle so I sat back down and felt a pressure in my head and heat in my heart that I knew from experience would lead to words!

“Finally!” I said to myself, I have a chance to say something about this amazing Messenger! I quickly grabbed my pen and an orange Post-it notes pad and started to scribble as fast as I could, the English translation of this stream of consciousness and love.

May the Giver of Gifts gift us with loving His beloved more than our own selves.

From the book, Ash-Shifa’ of Qadi ‘Iyad...

Anas said that a man came to the Prophet and asked, "When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "What have you prepared for it?" He said, "I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet said, "You will be with the one you love." (al-Bukhari)

It is related that a woman said to A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her), “Show me the grave of the Messenger of Allah.” She showed it to her and the woman wept until she died.