The Death Poem
The Death Poem
It was early in the morning at four,
When death knocked upon a bedroom door,
Who is there? The sleeping one cried.
I’m Malakul Mawt, let me inside.
At once, the man began to shiver,
As one sweating in deadly fever,
Please go away, O Angel of Death!
Leave me alone; I’m not ready yet.
My family on me depends,
Give me a chance, O please prepense!
The angel knocked again and again,
Friend! I’ll take your life without a pain,
Tis your soul Allah requires,
I come not with my own desire.
Bewildered, the man began to cry,
O Angel I’m so afraid to die,
I’ll give you gold and be your slave,
Don’t send me to the unlit grave.
If you do not allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.
The man held a gun in his right hand,
Ready to defy the Angel’s stand.
By now the Angel was in the room,
Saying, O Friend! Prepare for you doom.
Foolish man, Angels never die,
Put down your gun and do not sigh.
Why are you afraid! Tell me O man,
To die according to Allah’s plan?
O Angel! I bow my head in shame,
I had no time to take Allah’s Name.
From morning till dusk, I made my wealth,
Not even caring for my health.
Allah’s command I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day I ever prayed.
A Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,
But no time had I to repent.
The Hajj was already FARD on me,
But I would not part with my money.
All charities I did ignore,
Taking usury more and more.
Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine.
The Laws of Quran I will obey,
I’ll begin SALAT this very day.
My Fast and Hajj, I will complete,
And keep away from self-conceit.
I will refrain from usury,
And give all my wealth to charity,
We Angels do what Allah demands,
We cannot go against His commands.
Death is ordained for everyone,
Father, mother, daughter or son.
I do understand your fears,
But it is now too late for tears.
Instead of making more Muslims,
You made your children non-Muslims.
You ignored the Mua’dhin Adhaan,
Nor did you read the Holy Quran.
Horses and cards were your leisure,
Moneymaking was your pleasure.
Paradise for you? I cannot tell,
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.
There is no time for you to repent,
I’ll take your soul for which I am sent.
The ending however, is very sad,
Eventually the man became mad
With a cry, he jumped out of bed,
And suddenly, he fell down dead.
