I wrote this poem for a monthly publication at my university, please enjoy.
I left my soul in Makkah, I left my heart in Madinah
At the gates of the sacred mosque, with white marble floors domed ceilings, intricate carvings, lanterns, gold pillars, calligraphy etched on the walls, and a mosaic of colors and brightness. But the millions of pilgrims looking for one thing: the house built by our father Abraham, The center of the world.
I left my soul with the perfume on the Kaba, woven in every thread of its hijab. In the zamzam water soaking our tired feet, In the blessed circuit between the two mountains. I left my soul in the corner of the doors Where I barely hung on with my fingertips and prayed.
I left my soul in the streets where the Prophet walked, his first home, peace and blessings be upon him The mountain of light where he was visited by an angel, peace and blessings be upon them. (Read, in the name of your Lord)
I left my heart in Madinah The nameless city, The City with no need for another name. With the rain and tears soaking my skin before the first prayer of the day, before the sun rose In the Prophet's mosque, and the home he built with his own hands And the fragment of heaven between his door and his pulpit
I left my heart with the mechanical umbrellas Stretching up to the sky and blooming in the sun like white flowers When the breeze in Madinah could carry away all your worries And take them above the seven skies to God Himself And leave your heart lighter.
So my heart remained In its clear skies, clean air, happy smiles, Scarves flying through the air in the market and vendors maneuvering carts full of candy, or dates, or fruit Through narrow streets and throngs of people. In the masjid built on the site where the direction of prayer changed And we turned our hearts and souls to the Kaba.
It was too painful to leave my heart and soul behind So I left them with the promise and the prayer That I would return soon.
I left my soul in Makkah,
I left my heart in Madinah
At the gates of the sacred mosque, with white marble floors
domed ceilings, intricate carvings, lanterns, gold pillars,
calligraphy etched on the walls, and a mosaic of colors and brightness.
But the millions of pilgrims looking for one thing:
the house built by our father Abraham,
The center of the world.
I left my soul with the perfume on the Kaba,
woven in every thread of its hijab.
In the zamzam water soaking our tired feet,
In the blessed circuit between the two mountains.
I left my soul in the corner of the doors
Where I barely hung on with my fingertips and prayed.
I left my soul in the streets where the Prophet walked,
his first home,
peace and blessings be upon him
The mountain of light where he was visited by an angel,
peace and blessings be upon them.
(Read, in the name of your Lord)
I left my heart in Madinah
The nameless city, The City with no need for another name.
With the rain and tears soaking my skin before the first prayer of the day,
before the sun rose
In the Prophet's mosque, and the home he built with his own hands
And the fragment of heaven between his door and his pulpit
I left my heart with the mechanical umbrellas
Stretching up to the sky and blooming in the sun like white flowers
When the breeze in Madinah could carry away all your worries
And take them above the seven skies to God Himself
And leave your heart lighter.
So my heart remained
In its clear skies, clean air, happy smiles,
Scarves flying through the air in the market
and vendors maneuvering carts full of candy, or dates, or fruit
Through narrow streets and throngs of people.
In the masjid built on the site where the direction of prayer changed
And we turned our hearts and souls to the Kaba.
It was too painful to leave my heart and soul behind
So I left them with the promise and the prayer
That I would return soon.