Poem: Where were you?

WHERE WERE YOU?

On the hot desert sand he was forced to lie,
surely from this torture Bilal would die.
In the burning desert sun he was left
with a huge rock firmly on his chest.

Without showing mercy, Bilal was whipped
Soaking the ground, as his blood dripped.
When his limp body dropped to the ground
Ahad Ahad Ahad… was the only sound.

Where were you, my Friends, on that day,
when Hadhrat Bilal was treated this way?
It wasn’t in our time, I understand –
it was a different time in different land.

Red-hot iron bars placed on his back
yet the Deen ul Haq, he would never detract.
He couldn’t be broken, he couldn’t be turned
as the skin on his back, sizzled and burned.

At the hands of tyrants he was made to suffer
and every such hardship was getting tougher.
His body was damaged, battered and pained,
the words Ahad, Ahad, Ahad… his lips retained.

Where were you, my Brothers, on that day
When Hadhrat Bilal suffered this way?~
It was long ago, centuries, decades, years…
how could his suffering reach our ears?

With tears and sadness the Muslims would pray
For Bilal’s safety, they prayed night and day.
For Bilal to be free from this horrible torment
yet the Makkan tyrant’s just wouldn’t relent.

Muslims tried everything to save this man
even went to the leader of every clan.
They finally saved Bilal from a horrible fate
He was injured and hurt, but it wasn’t too late

Where were you, my Sisters, on that day
When Hadhrat Bilal was saved this way?
Were you involved in his help and aid.
No, because in another time it was played.

Ash-Sham is screaming under a terrible pain
the people are suffering, the situation is insane.
The land is full with anguish and death
Struggling even to take a single breath.

People are hungry, thirsty and looking to eat
but bullets and bombs is all that they meet.
The air is stinking with death and trouble
and streets are littered with bodies and rubble.

Where were you, my Friends, today
When Syria’s people were treated this way?
It happening right now, an undisputed fact.
Get your head out the sand, you need to act!

Travelling to the camps, risking life and limb.
Through hostile conditions, survival is slim.
In these safe camps, more suffering awaits.
Lacking food, clothes, meds… it never abates.

The winters are harsh, simply far too cold.
People freeze to death is what we are told.
Make shift hospitals, doctors are working
yet around each corner death is lurking.

Where were you, my Brothers, today
When Syria’s people were suffering this way?
Food, Warmth and Duas, they are needing
Did it reach your ears when Syria was pleading.

Ash-Sham’s People are dying day and night.
but everyone ignores their suffering and plight
People are needlessly dying for basic things
Like blankets and meds… whilst we live like kings.

From cold, hunger, diseases – there is no respite
whilst we treat health, as our sole right.
The Syrian people’s lives have been wrecked
No longer treated with humanity or respect

Where were you, my Sisters, today
When Syria’s people were dying this way?
Did you get involved? organised help and aid?
Their need is great, it can’t be delayed.

Take this opportunity and work night and day.
To help your brothers and sisters in every way.
Help collect medicines, clothes, food and tents.
Help create awareness and help organise events.

In Ash-Sham’s ground, Hadhrat Bilal’s body rests,
and on this ground, People face many tests.
Ash-Sham is very blessed, a Noble Land
It is in trouble and it needs our hand?

Where were you, Oh Muslims, today
When Syria’s people were suffering this way?
It’s your brothers and sisters, do you understand?
and on our doorstep, on a very blessed land.

Zahid Bin Ghulam Rasool