Wedding

I know many of my well-meaning friends may jump when they see the title of this entry - but sorry to disappoint them again: it is not my wedding :-)

Instead, one of my good friend and a fellow bird who attends the Tuesdays' book club until he is recently busily engaged, is getting married tomorrow, insya-Allah. I am honoured to be asked to be the witness for the nikah. All is getting quite busy and exciting these last few days, for him I am sure and for the rest of his closer friends.

One of his close friend since their school-days messaged me last Friday: "Let's meet ---- for dinner for the last time as a bachelor". Hmmm... it has a melancholy feel to it.

So, in honour of his wedding, I wish to dedicate this entry to him, who shall remain nameless in this entry. May Allah give him a Blessed and lasting marriage, and the marriage be as a continuation of the beautiful unions of all our Prophets' marriages, and his progeny be pious as those Prophets. May Allah's Protection and Guidance be perpetually on them in achieving piety. Amin.

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.