A Mercy Case

do not speak to me of Abu Hanifa nor al-Shafi’i

neither al-Shadhili nor al-Jilani

I am lost in the ocean of ‘Ali

through whose young eyes he saw his cousin become a Prophet

upon him and his family be blessings and peace

do not speak to me of al-Ash’ari nor al-Maturidi

neither al-Dhahabi nor Ibn Hajar

I am standing at the gate of ‘Ali

through whose middle-aged eyes he saw his Prophet laid to rest

upon him and his family be blessings and peace

do not speak to me of al-Kulayni nor al-Saduq

neither al-Tusi nor al-Mufid

I yearn for the mawla of all believers

through whose dying eyes he saw the rule of the Prophet disappear

upon him and his family be blessings and peace

None can claim to see what he saw

from the warmth of Khadija’s home

to the blood of the Khawarij

for half a century he was there

always faithful from beginning ’til end

may my life be sacrificed for those eyes

Our unity is ‘Ali

our division comes from elsewhere

so do not speak to me of anyone but ‘Ali

without whom I could not envision my Prophet

upon him and his family be blessings and peace

I have felt the weight of al-thaqalayn upon my heart

and I am changed

and can never go back

so may my eyes see them return to the Prophet at the Pool

upon him and his family be blessings and peace