University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Pearls of the Faith or Islam's Rosary

Being The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of Allah (Asmca-El-Husnca): With Comments in Verse from Various Oriental Sources (As Made by an Indian Mussulman): By Edwin Arnold
  

collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 23. 
 24. 
 25. 
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 29. 
 30. 
 31. 
 32. 
 33. 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 37. 
 38. 
 39. 
 40. 
 41. 
 42. 
 43. 
 44. 
 45. 
 46. 
 47. 
 48. 
 49. 
 50. 
 51. 
 52. 
 53. 
 54. 
 55. 
 56. 
 57. 
 58. 
 59. 
 60. 
 61. 
 62. 
 63. 
 64. 
 65. 
 66. 
 67. 
 68. 
 69. 
 70, 71. 
 72, 73, 74, 75. 
 76. 
 77. 
 78. 
 79. 
 80, 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 85. 
 86. 
 87. 
 88. 
 89, 90. 
 91. 
 92. 
 93. 
 94. 
94Al-Hâdî
 95, 96. 
 97. 
 98. 
 99. 


289

94
Al-Hâdî

Al-Hâdî! Lord! the way is hard, and we,
Thy creatures, have none other “Guide” than Thee.
By many names and guides doth God
Lead men along the upward road;
He, unto each land under Heaven,
A prophet of its own hath given:
Hûd, Idris, Eyoob, Moses,—all
Upon the self-same Lord did call;
Seeing there is no way besides
His way, the Guider of the guides;

290

Nor any light to mortals known
Except Al-Hâdî—His alone.
'Tis told, nigh to a city-gate
Four fellow-travellers hungry sate,
An Arab, Persian, Turk, and Greek;
And one was chosen forth, to seek
Their evening meal, with dirhems thrown
Into a common scrip; but none
Could with his fellows there agree
What meat therewith should purchased be.
“Buy uzum, quoth the Turk, “which food
Is cheaper, sweeter, or so good?”
“Not so,” the Arab cried, “I say
Buy aneb, and the most ye may.”

291

“Name not thy trash!” the Persian said,
“Who knoweth uzum or aneb?
Bring anghur, for the country's store
Is ripe and rich.” The Greek, who bore
Their dirhems, clamoured, “What ill thing
Is anghur? Surely I will bring
Staphylion green, staphylion black,
And a fair meal we shall not lack.”
Thus wrangled they, and set to try
With blows what provend he should buy,
When, lo! before their eyes did pass,
Laden with grapes, a gardener's ass.
Sprang to his feet each man, and showed
With eager hand, that purple load.
“See uzum!” said the Turk; and “See
Anghur!” the Persian; “what should be

292

Better?” “Nay, aneb! aneb 'tis!”
The Arab cried. The Greek said, “This
Is my staphylion!” Then they bought
Their grapes in peace.
Hence be ye taught!
But unto us Thy changeless name
Is Allah—praisëd be the same.