Mother's Sujood
at age 5, her mother taught her how to pray
side by side, she would mirror, incorporating an occasional sway
loud whispers escaped from under her breath
and her body moved with ease
this was the beginning of her spiritual journey
subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala
she was taught to repeat this three times
unsettled in sujood, she would look to her left and sigh
her mother hasn't lifted her head yet, but why?
she grew impatient and her mind could not comprehend
if it's only a few lines, why hasn't her sujood come to an end?
subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala
at age 12, she prayed her tarawih prayers as if it were a race
speeding through with unnecessary haste
while her mother was on her fourth rakat, she was proudly on her tenth
she hadn't realised then that speed was a weakness, not a strength
subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala
at age 15, her baby brother remarked
wow, you prayed maghrib really fast!
her head fell in shame and she could not respond
were her prayers sincere or was this some empty bond?
was her heart ever really there?
subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala
at age 18, she studied Qur'an and the Seerah
she loved to walk anywhere and everywhere
and on those walks she would listen to Quran and tafsir being recited in her ear
trying not to miss a prayer, even praying between shelves at the library
she fell to the ground peacefully, never in a hurry
subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala subhana rabial 'ala
at age 21, she understood
why her mother's forehead was pressed into the ground
for much longer than she as an adolescent ever could
her mother held a great deal of pain in her heart
and only through trust in the Almighty, could that pain depart
a powerful act of submission and peace, and there is no act greater
while her head is down and she whispers to her Lord
He hears her in the heavens and He opens up the doors
subhana rabial 'ala
subhana rabial 'ala
subhana rabial 'ala
with her head on the ground, her heart is at ease
she speaks to her Maker, and her worries are released
other than sujood, there is no greater peace
By Ishrat Nabi