Gathering of the Birds. Happy Birthday to the Prophet! Happy Birthday to You! - 12 Rabi ul Awwal

The Gathering of the Birds

Tired and listless,

Before arriving home

I wandered to the home

Of the nightingales,

And there I saw the gathering,

Not only of nightingales...

But I saw owls and falcons, 

Budgies and sparrows,

Ravens and eagles,

Crows and Mockingbirds,

And even an assortment

Of Ostriches and Dodos.

God bless the birds!

God bless them all 

Of whatever hue and colour,

Singing or silent,

Flying or earth bound,

Wise or foolish,

Beautiful or less so,

For it is the Twelth of Rabi ul Awwal,

And Mercy made manifest in Muhammad

Whose Love shall forever more flow!

.................................

It was a tiring day yesterday. But in the evening I dropped by the Naqshbandi Zawiya nearby. And there I saw the gathering of those strange Sufis. I could not stay long, but I did spend some time talking to them. It always stirs my curiosity to see such a mingling of people of different colours and races, vocation and age, nationality and culture, wealth and educational back ground, all drawn to this place of worship, as is happening in the whole Muslim world today, to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), when God made His mercy for all creation manifest in the clearest sign possible.

For the Muslims, the birthday of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Beloved of God, Mercy to all the world(s), is intimately linked to their own. For naught is the reason for their lives, for each waking hour and sleep, in work or in play, in sadness or joy, were it not to be lived in their love and devotion for Muhammad (s.a.w.s), Prophet of God.

We have all our own birthdays. But our soul all share one birthday in that of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). For it is not for nothing that he is also known as Abu Arwah (The Father of Souls).

So happy birthday, sunshine! Keep your smile on, always.

wa min Allah at-taufiq.

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way