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Ali (pbuh)
Once, I chanced to be a quest to a friend of mine, in the north, in the North of Iran; in a tiny village, not very well-known, some about two miles away from Shalman.
The cottage I was going to stay at night, was not in sight, it was in the midst of the trees, orange trees – some about three hundred yards away from the seashore.
I walked the distance from the main road to the cottage, through the woods, where a narrow road led me to my friend.
I was welcomed, we sat and had a good chat, eat something, and then my friend took me to a separate room to rest at night.
It was about midnight, or somewhat earlier or after midnight, I cannot recollect it now. I was lying in bed awake, pondering over my past and lost, and dreaming of my unknown morrows, if any at all!
It was quite a peaceful night, there was not any disturbing sound, as you could hear in cities or towns. Only the chirps of crickets were coming from the orchards.
I was nearly falling asleep when I heard a weak voice, a soothing voice which arrested my attention. It was coming from the next cottage, or one cottage away. “Perhaps one is singing, or saying his midnight prayer”, I thought. The only thing I could clearly hear was his constant saying: ‘Ali, Ali!’
The next morning, to my question, my friend said: “Ah! He is Noor-Ali, the sole blind beggar of our alley. He is lonely, he has no one to talk to, and that is why he has fallen in love with Ali. He does not care what goes on around him. So he has made his own melody and all the time goes on singing: ‘Ali, Ali, Ali’.”
By hearing what my friend say, I reached my notebook and wrote, ‘Ali, the believers’ leader’.
Then I added:
Never has the world seen
A gem so rare, as you, Ali:
You are the embodiment – great
Of Godliness, beauty and love.
Your life is so pure and right
Inspires man to ascend upward path
To where nothing exists but God.
Either in battle or in truce
You stayed sure and stable in truth
By Muhammad’s dark and sunny days.
Dinning with him at ascension night
Lying on his bed at that perilous site
Caused the Islamic age to start.
Your wisdom is full, so is your merit,
As stated the holy Prophet, great.
Eternal Mecca’s your place of birth,
The Mosque of Koofe’s your place of death.
You are a blessed God’s own being
The living world remembers and will reverse
That is why before you the two worlds beset.
You faced kindly to your murderer
Who in chains clapped was brought your near:
You set him free, but let him not dread,
Offered him your own only milk and bread.
Ali! May I implore you to cast us grace,
To save our leader, as well as our place! Amen.