Abou Ben Adhem ( may his tribe increase)!
Awoke one night from a deep dream of Peace, And saw within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:-
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
'What writest thou'?:- The vision raised it's head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered,'The names of those who love the lord.'
And is mine one?' said Abou. 'Nay not so,'
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, 'I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men.'
The Angel wrote , and vanished.
The next night,
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest, And lo!
Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
ABOU BEN ADHEM was a Muslim mystic (Suffi) from Persia and was venerated as a saint, his father was a prince of Khurasan. One day when ABOU BEN ADHEM was out hunting with his favourite horse and dog, they were in hot pursuit of a hare, he heard the voice of an unseen speaker . I felt dread and stopped, then I began again and urged my horse on. Three times it happened....... Then, I heard the voice again,
It was the voice of God saying,
"It was not for this thou was created,
It is not for this thou was commanded to do"
I felt dread, stopped then began again and urged my trusty steed on. Three time it happened, eventually I dismounted, as I did I encountered on of my Father's shepherds.
I took from him his woollen tunic and put it on and gave him my mare and all that I had with me in exchange.
It was then I turned my steps towards Mecca!
My sincere thanks to the AMAZING Denise for devising this AWESOME site, also to the AMIABLE Roger along with his ADVENTUROUS ASSISTANT Leslie who deal with the Admin. (No mean task!) Last but not least the team of helpers who visit around the ARDENT ABCwednesdayers!
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
