From the outside- Dedicated to Babar Ahmed

Showkat —

From the outside


You don’t me

But I know you

I heard your name over 10 years ago

Now after all these years

I hear your name again

On the TV and the newspapers

Slandered and judged

Found guilty

And prepared for extradition


The occasion for me isn’t happy

But full of sorrow

Sadness and shame

Self reflection and contemplation


They took you from your bed

Beat you and humiliated you

All the time you were innocent

According to their laws

Whose flaws are now obvious

They saw you as a threat

A soldier in the Islamic revival


I also do dawah

Speak to people

Distribute leaflets

And do as much as I can


I’m still free

While your inside

The belly of the beast

While I’m outside

Free

Looking in

But for how long

I wonder?


If I do it right

And speak the haqq

Then my turn to join you will come

If I compromise out of fear

Then I will still be free


Fate is strange

Before I went to study

In your city

Carefree and seeking fun and enjoyment

Ended up guided to the truth


We never met

But we must have been at the same talks

Walked the same streets

and prayed in the same masjids.


Now you’re in my city

What a pity

I never wrote to you

Or visited you

In your hour of need

I made niyyah to

But never got around to completing the action

Too busy with life


Maybe it was meant to be

That we would meet

when you’re no longer free

When we have each others attention

Away from distractions


Sometimes solitude can be a blessing

Much has been accomplished

From inside a cage

Books, tafseers, articles and poems


So my dear brother

Do not lose hope

I know you can cope

You’re in our duas

Have no fear


Keep on using the knowledge

Allah blessed you with

And find comfort in the fact

Allah loves you

And your companions


Do not your dreams bear testimony?

Does not your mail box fill up?

Do not your articles go places you never dreamt they would?

Have you not inspired a generation of Islamic activists?


So what more can I say

except


Allah is the most kind and compassionate

Keep on living, smiling, writing and inspiring

Don’t give up or lose hope

Allah has a destiny for you

One day you will understand

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Ameen


Your brother in Islam


Showkat Ali


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