Apologies To A Prophet Poem by Mariam de Haan

Apologies To A Prophet

Rating: 5.0


I'm sorry,
Sorry they call you a misogynist.
You were a feminist before feminism was even a word.
It was you who taught love for every aspect of women
Slept on Aisha's lap when she was on her period
Drank from the same glass
So everyone would know menstruation is not dirty.
It was you who worked underneath a woman
As a merchant for Khadijah
Not once did you protest
Not once did you question her powerful position.
Not once did you complain about emasculation.
And when she told her uncle to ask for your hand
You didn't say this is the wrong way around.
You accepted without hesitation.
It was you who called for the elevation of women
"Respect your mother, your mother, your mother and then your father."
You condemned those who killed their daughters
Who buried them alive because of their gender.

I'm sorry,
Sorry they call you a terrorist.
It was you who said when at war
Do not hurt the women or children
Do not hurt the plants or the trees.
It was you who washed prayers with tears
As you prostrated until morning
Crying ummati, ummati
Praying for all humanity.
Maybe they listen to those organisations,
Who say they fight in your name
Have they no shame?
Do they even understand this jihad they claim?
Calling for the death of ‘infidels'.
And yet it was you who stood
Upon seeing the funeral procession of a Jew
When your disciples began to question
You replied: "Is it not a soul, a living being? "
Because ‘infidels' are to be respected too.

I'm sorry,
Sorry I don't defend you.
That I don't protest
That I don't know all about you.
I search to find you
Amongst the ink of endless books
Behind the words of scholarly lips.
One day I'll go to those places
Where you footprints, tears, blood have become part of the sand.
I'll visit your city
In search of your presence
Which they have changed in your absence.

I'm sorry,
Sorry I don't follow your example
That I preach with little practice
That I make all these excuses.
Just know that I hold you in my heart,
I'll hide you in my heart
Merge you with each atom of this fragile heart,
Then they can't rip you apart.
And when it fails to beat
Inshallah you and I will meet.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: apology
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Chinedu Dike 10 December 2014

A nice poem on Islamism. I like the articulation and insight of the as it captured the essence of Islam as a religion - total submission to the will of God. Thanks for sharing. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.

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Kim Barney 10 December 2014

Wow! Powerful piece of poetry!

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