MAB IN THE OPEN WITH SPIRITUAL POETRY: "O ALLAH, I SEEK YOU ALONE!" BY DR MUSTAPHA BELLO

O Allah! I Seek You Alone! I Seek Only Your Face! Many a time, I had run away in dispute with Your judgement like YUNUS, lost and forsaken I have been like him 

Many a time I had hidden after committing error like ADAM thinking You were absent, lost and groping in the dark I have been like him

Many a time I flee from retributive justice like MUSA, though regretful and penitent yet not courageous enough to face the consequence of my actions

Many a time I got smart and earnest without waiting for your direction like MUHAMMAD, just like him I got brushed

Many a time I felt like serving You all alone but got distracted often by the quest for the fleeting enjoyment of this world

But is it not true that I covet this fleeting enjoyment which often brings me against You because You ingrained the desire for it in me ab initio?

Money l love passionately because without it even serving You may become unattainable

Women I love because without them life and living seem incomplete and not pleasurable

Power and positions I covet because without having them to deplore, evil and corruption would prevail on the land

The more I desire all these and made efforts in their quest legitimately the more I run into conflict with You

Each time I seek Your Face in sin, promising to turn a new leave, I found myself returning to my vomit as a sinner

My nature is rooted in sinning but Your Nature is rooted in forgiveness, so forgive me in spite of my nauseating status

Just as you pardoned YUNUS not minding his intransigence, I confess I am a wrongdoer like him, forgive me, for only Your Face I seek

ADAM confessed his wrongdoing, You forgave him, I confess I am from his loin a wrongdoer, forgive me, for only Your Face I seek 

You reconciled with MUSA after hibernating his life for a while and made him triumph over his enemies, My Lord, I have suffered enough, I confess I am a wrongdoer, forgive  me, for only Your Face I seek

To MUHAMMAD You returned with Your Mercy, gave him a clean bill of spiritual health and granted him victory on all fronts, I affirm truthfully that I belong to his Ummah, forgive me, for only Your Face I seek

O Allah! I Seek You Alone! I Seek Only Your Face!

© MUSTAPHA ADEBAYO BELLO (PhD) 

 Islamic Social Scientist, Writer, Life Coach, Marriage Counsellor, Poet and Story Teller

The poet persona admits the reality of being a sinner to The Almighty Allah in notable ways. Yet, the voice feels apologetic to Allah and seeks for mercy from Him. The speaker reflects a repentant hearts as he says God should forgive him as known Prophets of Allah have been forgiven likewise.