8.
“his madness is such
that now his reputation is declining
among our clan
yet even our own enemies
marvel at the beauty of his words”
as-sayyid shook his head
he had no need to veil
his true feelings
among his close circle of elders and wise men
he looked to them desperate for advice
another man spoke
“what other counsel can we give
that was not already shared
in the larger gathering”
“perhaps something was withheld
because it would have seemed too extreme
or too humiliating
let nothing be suppressed now,
my most trusted companions
you will not embarrass me
nor need fear embarrassment”
“have you considered imprisoning him”
“is his madness such
that it would be cured
by bars and isolation”
“his madness already isolates him
and our chastisement only fueled
its intensity”
“there is one thing
but it too is mad”
“hide nothing”
“if only a miracle will be a cure
why not take him as living petition
to the most holy house on earth
the more distant pilgrims have already begun
to pass through our region
and if prayers at the ka’bah still fail
perhaps the journey’s absence
will restore his sanity”
at first some argued against the suggestion
none could deny the potential recklessness
of marring the sacred hajj (pilgrimage)
with a selfish blemish
such might unleash an uncontrollable madness
and possibly at the door of that holy sanctuary
but a starving man cannot reject
food that has fallen to the ground
although the dirt that soils it may make him sick
the pangs of hunger
bid him to eat
so as-sayyid agreed
to bring his son to the sacred house of allaah
that instead of merely continuing
to turn there in prayer
he would go with his son
to kneel at that door
for which he had no key
perhaps his voice in intimate proximity
would draw the mercy of the beloved directly
* * *
a small caravan was assembled
the most trustworthy camels readied
and majnuun’s body,
although incoherent to human interaction,
was brought on the trip to mecca
along the way,
as-sayyid sprinkled the path with petals of zakaat
dispersing portents of wealth to the passers-by
to purchase, in advance
his son’s restoration
only the father’s heart and the beloved know
but there the father was
retracing the steps of the prophet ibraahiim (a.s.)
who brought his own son to the altar of sacrifice
as-sayyid had his dagger ready
to slay the ram of his son’s madness
yet no blood would be needed for this sacrifice
the sacredness of the ka’bah
is sharp enough to penetrate to the soul
the worldly adornments and distinctions
were exchanged for the pilgrim’s garb
the sight of simplicity reflecting
the oneness of humanity
the individual steps merging into the greater flow
of reverence
the voices of supplication echoing
the pilgrims circumambulating the sacred house
as-sayyid could not restrain anticipation’s excitement
holding to his son’s hand
the words poured out
“my son, my dearest,
let this tragedy end now
petition the lord of all
at this holy house
pray for agony’s banishment
pray for confusion’s dissolution into clarity
place these words on your tongue
and sincerely offer them with all your heart
‘in the name of allaah,
the beneficent, the merciful
may your compassion bestow me salvation
confer me refuge from this daunting madness
guide me again to the straight path
so the evil of this flawed infatuation
no longer keeps me in bondage’”
at first the son’s eyes overflowed with tears
but the cocoon of his pain turned these
into a perverse laughter
then a sudden mad dash through the crowd
to the door of the ka’bah
the circular flow of the pilgrims
disturbed by an errant, linear drop
as-sayyid gave chase
but tripped hard to the ground
slow to get up,
he was assisted by others
meanwhile, majnuun reached the ka’bah
banging on its door with erratic recklessness
then he began to shout
to cap this unacceptable disturbance
“a majnuun bangs now at heaven’s door
what they bid me abandon i have sold my life for
my love for layla is my breath
none other life is there for me
“oh lord,
increase these breaths
to an unrelenting panting
even if this body dies
succumbing in suffering to weakness
let this love grow stronger
let all the burden of its fulfillment
upon me fall
may not a single hair of hers be encumbered
“she alone is the nectar that fills my cup
the daily bread that sateth mine holy hunger
without her, i exist not
the dust of my creation she is
make my devotion to her endless
“may naught distract me from my layla
i pain and bleed for her willingly
love for love’s sake alone
is for me the only remedy...”
he did not see the first blow coming
nor the second or the third
yet before he knew it
the wrath of pilgrims were upon him
the father’s pleas could not cease
the anger for majnuun’s blasphemy
this godless iniquity
performed before the most holy of places
could not go unanswered
the only thing that saved his life
is that none wanted to stain their soul
with the sin of committing murder at the ka’bah
when the fury waned
as-sayyid and his clansmen
retrieved the bloody body
laying lifelessly at the holy threshold
as they carried him from the sanctuary
he eked out a whisper barely heard
“now this you have seen, you...”
their exit became an immediate trip of return
the purpose for the pilgrimage sullied
the sacrificial offering flawed and rejected
the only mercy to be found in this failure
was that majnuun’s life was spared
on the last leg of the journey
as-sayyid bid they slow the pace
intentionally delaying their arrival
to the town until after the sun had set
in the shadowy darkness,
the servants whisked the frail and beaten body inside
as the mother rushed to ask the father,
“tell me,
has allaah saved our son”
the old man’s eyes conveyed
what his words confirmed
“what more can i do
he clings to and blesses
the curse that destroys him
how can anyone expect allaah to heal him”
❍ ● ❍