FRUITFUL TRAGEDIES by Syeda Alina Zahra

his poem is about the change love brings; how getting your heart broken is the most fruitful pain. When a heart breaks, it releases light, just like skies break and clouds scatter to let rays through, allowing the sun to shine after all. How a broken heart can become one’s greatest power, bringing one closer to The Lord:

Fruitful Tragedies

If you hadn't forsaken me
I wouldn’t have won myself.

Mufti Menk says:

Any tragedy that brings us closer to Allah is a blessing.
This means that you're a blessing.
Well, more like you 'were' a blessing.

All the nights I cried and complained to Allah,
All the days I lay on the prayer mat and screamed 'Why?'

All the times I ran out of breath inquiring from holy people.
I had no right to ask from Him, but I kept asking,

as if it was His responsibility to respond.

Then I realized that whatever situation I'm in

is because of my own psyche, my ego, my own wishful thinking.
Allah had nothing to do with it.
Yet, He still kept being generous toward me regardless.
He didn't have to. But He did.
Because of His Virtue—Of Being The Lord.

I begged Him to bless me with you.
I begged Allah during Tahajuds to please let me have you.
At least have the mercy of granting you to me.

Or be so convinced by my constant prayers,

Or maybe get tired of my stubbornness and just,

Just let me have you.

Why didn't He? He could have. But He chose not to. Why?
Now I know why:

So that I may win myself.
Though there are many stones that remain unturned,

I have become what I never thought I would,
what I always dreamed of, but never ever imagined would become a reality.

As Allama Iqbal says:

"To find Iqbal for years on end I did chafe and fret:

By effort great that kingly hawk has come within my nest."

* * *

(Editor's note: "Tahajud", also known as "night prayer"

is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam.)

Syeda Alina Zahra: I'm a 20-year old emerging writer from Pakistan, currently working toward a Bachelors in Business Administration from a prestigious Business School in Islamabad. I have a deeply rooted love for poetry, prose and literature. I have won Rhythm in Space; Virtuoso at college level during World Space Week at Institute of Space and Technology in 2018. I have also been the recipient of award certifications at my university for poetry composition.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

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