Speaking the truth to power
I spoke truth to
power
When I said good morning to my father,
I spoke truth
to power
When I said
goodbye upon my mother’s passing,
I spoke truth
to power
When I said my
marriage vows,
I spoke truth
to power
When I spoke at the divorce proceedings,
I spoke truth
to power
When I raised
my voice at my son,
I spoke truth
to power
When finally I
said that I was sorry,
I spoke truth
to power
When I orated
in a crowded hall,
I spoke truth
to power
In my prayer and its private intimacy
I spoke truth
to power
Every second of
my life,
But to Love, to
the Power behind the power
I spoke the
truth to the Truth
When I promised
Him that
I shall adore
Him and no other.
……………………………………….
Over a couple of days, an old friend has been trying to share with me the lessons of truth, the Truth, and Love. It took him some time because I am kinda thick and slow with the uptake. But this was the outcome of our secret liaison...
Speaking the truth (in its proper sequence). We should always speak the truth. That is virtue. But there is always many different truths that we can choose to share with our listener at a single given time. So the sequence of truths that we disclose to our listener is our choice. And it is Adab (good manners) that we choose to say the truth that does not grate the listener, that does not belittle or anger the listener. Instead, speak the truths that soothes the listener and encourages him towards hope, knowledge, humanity, compassion and mercy. And this is better, because the best virtue is Adab.
 |
| Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), the Bridle of Adab. |
Real truth is with Truth. Real truth and openness is only in the Divine Presence, that is why in the third last line of the prose, truth is being spoken to Truth (Haq), which is one of the mighty names and attributes of God. This happens when our senses and our limbs, our past, present and future antecedents admit to our own failings and weaknesses... our confessions of guilt and impropriety before God, who is happily(for us) also known as the Most Compassionate (ar-Rahman) and Most Merciful (ar-Rahim). So do not be discouraged by our very human failures and follies. He who created us, verily, knows us best. Better even than our own timid selves.
Why argue? So unless it is a fundamentally life and death situation, why argue with someone? Even if truth is on your side (or so you think), let the conflict pass you by... after all, it takes two people to make a fight. Restrain your argumentative ego to the Bridle of Adab. I do not think there is a better way, insyaAllah.
Have a happy, care-free, argument-free day, sunshine.
wa min Allah at-taufiq
Hate has no place in Islam
Love will show the Way
No comments:
Post a Comment