Zakat of the Body (Sonnet 10), read by Nimah Nawwab


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.