Me and City University

All Praises are for my Lord whose name is Allah
Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad Rasulullah

I don’t often write poems, but I do love poetry
Ever since I was a kid and went to the nursery

I love to read the poetry of pious servants of Allah
The likes of Sa’di , Sa’ud Ash Sharim and ‘Aidh ibn Abdillah

Our Prophet said: ‘in some poems there lie wisdoms’
To enlighten the people through the splendor of rhythms

In the millennium year Two thousand, I started University
I was only eighteen, and totally unaware of the city

I know that some noble brothers came to this same place
To study and preserve their faith inwardly and on the face

The likes of my cherished friend, Abu Abdis Salaam
Who is a sincere Da’ee. May he reside in Dar us Salaam

I wondered through my way in the Uni’s complex maze
After being bewildered, University ISoc caught my gaze

I became joyful and could not wait to see the ISoc
I found it to be in Whiskin Street opposite to the big clock

In the ISoc Prayer Room I felt at home once again
I met good brothers who were pious and had signs of men

I attended my lectures and also frequented the ISoc
I met more brothers, some soft and others like solid rock

I met Haseeb, an energetic, dynamic and professional brother
And if you think you can beat his commitment, don’t even bother

I tried to increase my knowledge and know the personalities
I came to know many people, all with different nationalities

Some from Turkey, India, Iran, Emirates and Palestine
Others from Bangladesh and of course the rest from Pakistan
I came to know about the shining stars of our Ummah
The likes of Ibn Al Qhayeem and Shaikh ul Islam Ibn Taimyiah

And contemporaries like As S’adi and ibn Uthaimeen
Who is the author of the book entitled ‘As Sayd u Thameen’

The life outside the ISoc and my Lessons was quiet dull
It wasn’t my lifestyle to free mix and wait for a beautiful doll

We had a ‘Wonder Bar’, where people visited at least once
Mostly young boys and girls who were eager for a chance

You would see a boy glance, smile and whisper a hello
The girl starts to chat with him, make a date and off they go

And Alhamdulillah five years passed with no resonance
And I did not set foot in that Wonder Bar even once

The real wonders were played in our ISoc with a mood
Where we, prayed, relaxed, joked and had free food

I had tens of friends, brothers like Fokor and Fahd
Kullaten, Waqaar, Arif, Ali, and (was going to be President) Assad

My lectures were interesting and opened my eyes
To the world of Engineering and projects of various size

We designed one Dam, two Tunnels, and a massive Shipping Port
A Bridge, a Tower, even an Aircraft and a massive Airport

We designed a number of steel and concrete buildings
And a splendid tall structure made up of steel and claddings

When I did my first presentation to our class in first year
I was shaking like mad and was feeling prickles in my hair

I don’t know what I said, but I was trying to keep my voice low
I changed colors from red to blue and probably became a rainbow

I made fun of myself by repeating five times the word ‘finally’
At last the presentation ended and I succeeded only partially

Another time we were given a project to do in three months
I missed the lectures and thought I could do it all, at once

Shah, Stephen and I were together for a weekend with little hope
Trying our best to complete the project, but how could we cope?

For three days and three nights every brain cell was switched on
And Alhamdulillah by Monday morning we got most of the work done

Stephen is now a reborn; his name is Abdush-Shaheed
He is a top brother, a true friend and inshallah a ‘Sa’eed’

After that Monday I promised myself to never fall behind
But things never go well as planned; I had too much in my mind

Once we all went to a Field Trip Course for over a week
And I took with myself some sweats so I wouldn’t grow weak

The brothers teased me, saying ‘these sweets are birds’ food’
I laughed and said what is wrong with eating birds’ food

‘Here! Have some, to see how the birds’ food taste’
‘I tell you, it tastes very sweet but please don’t act two faced’

In our presentation, the slides were presented upside down
All of the class laughed as if seeing a funny clown

Some lectures were so boring that I could not help but go to sleep
Waking up only after seeing dreams of adoring animals like sheep

The inspiring lectures were the Islamic Society’s talks
During Discover Islam Week we saw tears in peoples’ faces and looks

In my MEng year we had to design the Transatlantic Tunnel
Through the Atlantic Ocean there would be a long suspended tunnel

Connecting America and Britain which are physically miles apart
But in foreign policies, they are united and were never apart

I said: why build a tunnel in this ocean all the way through?
America and Britain are already connected in Principles by super glue

Principles of attacking sovereign countries like Iraq and (my) Afghanistan
And we all know their united hypocrisy in Holy Land of Palestine

What more could bring a hook up to this unjust alliance?
A tunnel? Wake up! We need to take a serious stance?

During the American aggression against the people of Iraq
May Allah punish the aggressors with earthquake and shock

A Passionate Sister requested a DVD to be shown in our ISoc
Waqaar said ‘I understand sister, but sorry’ there is no luck

She complained asking ‘Why?’ and made a passionate outcry
So I wrote a 19 page letter to comfort her and as an official reply

Once I delivered a khutbah about Love and Valentine’s Day
Naively overlooking that I might be struck with an arrow one day

I said love of Allah is worship when it inhabits the heart
But the love of people and things could make you corrupt

We all know that, love needs some serious contemplation
Ibn ul Qayeem says, love is the real reason behind every motion

But it is the love of Allah, and for Allah that brings salvation
Whilst the passionate love leads some people to destruction

One of the most touching moments during my University life
Was when I went to Regent’s Park Mosque filled with feelings of strife

For the first time I bought an Arabic tape of Shaikh ibn Baaz
To discover, who this blind person that people criticized was

I heard an amazing old man who was talking with insight
I fell in love with him in seconds; like falling in love at first sight

I was close to tears and was completely overwhelmed…Subhanallah!
This Shaikh was only saying Qhalallah wa Qhalallah wa Qhalallah

I blamed myself that why during my life I did not see this shining star
Now that he is gone, I see him to be the full moon not only a star

I realized that good lies, only in following the people of Salaf
And there will be evils if you follow the innovations of the Khalaf

I also realized that it is not enough only to formulate a claim
When your words and actions are miles apart and your Akhlaq is lame

My best achievement in life came about during my university
When I memorized the Quran whilst studying at City

I seriously started when I was in my second year
And by Allah’s Grace, I finished before I was in fourth year

During my journeys in bus 468, I memorized with certainty
I did not waste that time, otherwise it would have been a pity

At the end of every week I would recite to my local Imam
And I did not disclose this except to my most beloved Mum

When I was about to finish I hinted to my Mother that I agree
She told my Dad, and SubhanAllah! He became really happy

When I was reading the d’ua, I saw tears in my Dad’s eyes
He hugged me in a way that I felt I am flying in the skies

I owe it to My Merciful Lord that provided me with support
Then the Du’as of my Mother which were also my escort

Maybe I managed to do it because I abandoned music
Quran cannot be in a heart with music which makes you sick

Now I ask Allah sincerely to keep the Quran in my heart
Until the last day of my life when towards my Lord I depart

Now that I am graduating with a fine Masters Degree
I am not proud, because I know the real degree is humility

No doubt University was the best time of my life
I thank Allah for that; and at times pray…
For a lifelong companion who makes no strife
Who would remind me of my Lord every day, till the last day

I end this poem by asking Allah to grant me eternal Iman
And Peace be upon His Messenger who was sent with the Quran

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