Al Azim, Ya Aziz, Ya Hakim, Ya Wadud
Every day there is a choice—
in which direction do we turn?
To magnify Your Glory,
or our own supposed name—
when we have forgotten
how You have called us
from before the before—
O You Who Are Mighty,
Most Magnificent,
we are turned
to the right and the left,
even as the sun rises
and the sun sets,
between the fingers
of Your Hand of Power
that keeps us moving
in the pattern of Your Love,
despite the wobbles of our orbits
and the misalignment of our choice.
In any moment we can listen,
we can awaken
to a greater whole,
O Wisest of the Wise,
until the Vastness
of Your Majesty
grabs our hearts
and will not let go.
Ya Aziz,
You Who Are So Mighty
in the Power of Your Love,
these feeble words
fall in petals at your feet—
as though anyone
could stand long
in the wind of Your Compassion
that brings all the flowers Home,
returning these bodies to the earth
and these hearts
on the wings of Your Love
to the Throne of Your Magnificence
where angels gather in throngs,
and we all disappear
eye to Eye,
enveloped
by Your Heart.
Ya Azim,
Ya Aziz, al Hakim,
Ya Rahman, Ya Wadud.
~ Camille A. Helminski “Love’ville” 2016
Ya Azim, O Most Magnificent,
Ya Aziz, O Most Mighty, al Hakim, Wisest of the Wise,
Ya Rahman, O Infinitely Compassionate One,
Ya Wadud, O All-Loving One.
Their shadows turn right and left, prostrating themselves before God and utterly submissive [to His will].
For before God prostrates itself all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth—every beast that moves,
and the angels . . .[11:48-49]
Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good;
and whoever goes astray, goes but astray to his own hurt;
and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another’s burden.[17:15]
For unto Him/Her belongs every being that is in the heavens and on earth; all things devoutly obey His
will. And He/She it is who creates [all life] in the beginning, and then brings it forth anew:
and most easy
is this for Him/Her, since His/Hers is the essence of all that is most sublime in the heavens and on earth,
and He/She alone is Most Mighty, Wisest of the Wise.[30:26-27]
In this way does God, the Most Mighty, the Most Wise, send inspiration to you, [O Muhammad,] as to
those who came before you: to Him/Her belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; He/She
is the Most High, the Most Magnificent. The highest heavens are well-nigh split apart (in awe); and the
angels celebrate their Sustainer’s limitless glory and praise, and ask forgiveness for all who are on earth.
See, truly, God alone is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful![42:3-5]
It is He/She who from on high has bestowed inner peace upon the hearts of the faithful, so that—
seeing that God’s are all the forces of the heavens and the earth, and that God is All-Knowing,
Most Wise—they might grow yet more firm in their faith, that He/She might admit the faithful,
both men and women, into gardens through which running waters flow, there to abide,
and that He/She might efface their [former ill] deeds:
and that is, in the sight of God, indeed a triumph supreme![48:4-5]
His/Hers are the attributes of perfection. All that is in the heavens and on earth celebrates
His/Her limitless glory: for He/She alone is Almighty, Wisest Healer of the wise![59:24]
He/She loves them and they love Him/Her.[5:54]