Zakat of the Body (Sonnet 10), read by Nimah Nawwab
: Play in a new window | Download to your device (844.2KB)
Sidi Abdal Hayy and meeting him a few years ago deeply affected me. I had heard of him often for numerous years and never ever imagined meeting him or spending time with him. A few years ago a dear spirit Sidi Mohamed Zakariya the calligrapher mentioned that we should visit him when I was in the US and that he was more than willing to do so together. Then on a book tour I wrote him and the meeting took place at Sidi Abdal Hayy’s home.
His welcome, hospitality and sharing of wisdom were remarkable. The hours spent with him and his dear wife, the wide ranging subjects we talked about, reading poetry together, listening to his dear voice reading his words in person, spending time in his writing space talking of his spiritual journey and work, and visiting his library full of his written and artwork are memories that were mentally captured due to the impact of the visit and time spent in his company. Since then we corresponded as well as talked. His support, and creative acumen flavored every exchange. I treasure every moment and every correspondence. His voice and work are a legacy many of us will cherish and revere.
Here is a poem I composed a day after his passing and he will always, always be remembered with many prayers.
The Master of Silence and Verse
In memorium of Sidi Daniel Abdal Hayy Moore April 19, 2016 – a day after he reunited with The One
His bowed kufiyyah-covered head led us
each verse, letter enunciated with
mahabbah, reverence, khushu ‘, taqwa,
beloved to his tongue, to his very being
transporting the welcoming home
into a prayer niche filled with anwar
His Malika the queen of his heart,
queen of his soul joining in the binding prayer
quiet utterances, tasabeeh and salawat
concluding the prayer to The One
The slave of the Ever-Living, Abdal Hayy
cocooned in Divine Love
as he stood in his creative space filled
with his beloved work, art, music, books
adorned with images of spirits of light
sharing tales brimming with wisdom
smiling eyes alight with blessed, overflowing joy
tapping out music of words and songs
His maqam, his station
rising and ever clear to those blessed
to be in his sphere
his songs, words, silences
serving His Mahboub
His niyyat, intentions constantly set
infusing and permeating his inner horizon
reflecting the seeker’s journey
a seeker crossing lands afar and near
a seeker whose essence resides in sacred sites
a seeker soaring in the heavens of the unseen
a seeker delving the depths of asrar, mysteries
joining the Caravan of the Blessed.
Abdal Hayy immersed in the Light of the Ever-Living
Set free,
free,
free
Ecstatic eyes, euphoric spirit
forever encased in the arms
of The Merciful, Ever-Living One.
Nimah Ismail Nawwab
Throughout Ramadan, SeekersGuidance is paying tribute to the late Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, one of the most prolific and skillful poets of our time. Each day, a selection from Ramadan Sonnets will be read by a friend and loved one. To contribute, please email us.
See also Sidi Haroon Michael Sugich’s moving tribute to Abdal-Hayy on the SeekersGuidance blog.