By Naeem Nasrullah
Ramadan came and the masjid brimmed with joy
from daybreak to sunset, men, women, and children overflowed its sacred halls
light emanated out from their ardent worship
magnificent chandeliers adorned the uplifted roof
perfectly straight and still rows stretched out far and wide
a mesmerizing recitation of the Quran marvelously glided through
encompassing their bodies and seizing their hearts
and unleashing the blessings of the Most Bountiful
the masjid gloated, beaming with praise and hope
when Ramadan ended, the masjid lamented and wept
its Eid was no Eid
its happiness was gone
its light was replaced by a gloomy darkness
for all those who visited it
had suddenly deserted it
perfectly content with their performance in Ramadan
they saw no further need to come back
they could happily chase after the pleasures they had missed out in Ramadan
and as I gaze now,
the masjid is silent as a mortuary
mourning without wailing
peaceful as waves breaking on a shore
lights reminiscent of the full moon shining down upon a vast desert
shadows abound,
of the door knobs peeking down
of the window grids forming black holes in the carpet
the people are gone
a feeling of emptiness overwhelms
how many vacant spots are there
beseeching, pleading for a worshipper
to come and connect his soul with the Almighty
to earn eternal success
how many mushafs are there
wishing they were being read by a sincere heart
why do not the people reform
why do they stubbornly persist in answering the calls of ignorance
why do they ignore the call of their Lord
why do they neglect the masjid except at Ramadan
alas, the masjid is there waiting, peacefully and silently for them to come
its looming, heavy silence is its tears
for it has to wait one long and dry year until the next Ramadan
when the people will finally come back
so it can be restored to its glory
and to its original purpose – in the service of its Creator.
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