For the Love of God and His Prophet: Rediscovering Islam Through the Arts

“The convention of lights” is my personal take on the Urdu N’at—a poem in praise of the prophet Muhammad— within the context of the universal and independent-of-religion love for the prophet that many of the non-Muslim na’t poets express in their work, as well as the contemporary political context. The poem was generally inspired by the story of the miraj (“the ascent”) and particularly by the convention of the prophets in the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, in which they “exchanged greetings and prayed together.” The poem conveys my interpretation of dedication to the prophet as a monotheist figure and especially the dedication to the notion of Ahl al-Kitab that was incorporated in his early teachings. Unlike the original na’t that are borrowing language from the profane realm of human romance, I chose to take the approach of poetic inquiry on the matter of unity and division among the monotheistic religions. The issues discussed in the poem relate to the notion of “the people of the book,” which allows us a better understanding of the exclusive term Muslim (vs. the inclusive term muslim), and its emergence in response to imperialistic aspirations. The poem is centered around the idea of prophets’ light which is reflective of the light of the divine and the idea that humans can become reflective mirrors of light (once they get rid of human emotions such as jealousy). Mirrors, however, can also be used to “break” light’s continuity, representative to the segmentation of prophets. The poem was written while I was visiting Jerusalem this spring break, from a spot overlooking the golden dome of the Al Aqsa mosque. The picture I attached depicts my point of view. Relevant readings (week 4): 1. In praise of Muhammad: Sindhi and Urdu poems 2. Myth and Legend of the Swahili: The Miracles of Muhammad.

From this very place you ascended to

Following the convention of lights

Tracing back to the same source

Can light ever be broken?

Do I have one address or many

Doors to the same house

Will you be my intercessor of choice

To make decisions free of mirrors

The monuments of unity

In history beautifully gowned

In the holiest city of gold

Where convention is nowhere to be found