The Congregation

At least one hundred thousand men, all standing side by side,
Had gathered in Jerusalem, within that hallowed space,
Behind the man who came to them on his celestial ride,
To lead a congregation so unmatchable in grace.

A timeless prayer by timeless folk compels a timeless night
Transcending spatiality that so frustrates the mind:
And thus this brotherhood had filled that night with so much light,
That all the heavens and that tiny shred of earth combined

To call for Peace and blessings on Aadam, Idris, and Nuh,
Hud, Saleh, Lut, Ibrahim, Isma'eel, and Ishaaq too,
Shu'ayb, Musa, Haroon, Yousha, Dawood and Sulaymaan,
On Zakariyya, Yahya, and the children of Imraan:

Yes, Peace and blessings be upon Isa, good Maryam's son,
And on the others in between, on each and every one,
All standing silently in rows behind their new Imaam,
Muhammad closed the circle which with Aadam had begun.

Oh what a night, that timeless night, in sweet Jerusalem,
Where all the very best of men had met the best of them;
Oh what a night, that timeless night, outside Umm Hani's place,
Where man and angel and their steed abandoned time and space.

Allahumma Salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa baarik wa sallim.