Poem of the Cloak (BURDAH) -Al-Awwal (The First) Khalid Belrhouzi, France
The 1st of Ramadan is here - the month of fasting. Something that I used to love participating in and I was really committed to. I really miss it. I wish I could turn off the negativity I feel at the moment as everyone gets ready to focus in. For the last few years whilst Ramadan has been during the summer months in the UK I have tried to recall the difficulty and huge commitment needed to undertake this month. Its not an easy confession for me but I really have grown out of the culture surrounding Ramadan and every year it feels more detached from the spiritual connection its suppose to bring. I long to talk about spirituality with my friends and family but they are so busy engaged in the actions to really stop and think about it. If they do its from such a narrow horizon and usually a set of beliefs passed onto them from someone rather than their own experience. I like to use the analogy of a computer game when thinking about spirituality. There are different levels to attain and each practise leads to the chance to reach another level. However in reality I see the same people doing the same thing every year. Instead of their eyes being open and feeling connection and empathy they are closed e.g. "Oh its Ramadan so we cannot do anything". But Gods creation is beyond just Ramadan - e.g. I am still a parent in Ramadan. Many events happen during Ramadan that happen normally. E.g. birthdays, hospital appointments, school. From my experience Ramadan should not be used as an excuse not to participate in life as before. Your choosing not to be there for someone who it really matters to, you are withdrawing your love and kindness to someone. To me there is a great contradiction that there is an assumption that your going to live forever to make up for things that you are choosing not to engage in this month. I know a lot of muslims don't understand me and probably think I am sinning by not fasting. I used to think like them. But Ramadan served me and brought me to this point of love and understanding of myself and creation that it will always have a very special place in my heart. I wish for my loved ones and friends to experience this one day. To welcome Ramadan from the heart rather than the mind as described in Al Awwal below.
According to my source 72nd name Al-Awwal is the first, without a second. Al Awwal never was born and never initiated anything. It is pure potentiality. In meditative practice it may be discovered in the perfectly still point, the kamal point that you briefly experience at the apex of each inhalation of breath. Al Awwal is the primary source from which all things arise.
Beyond the knowledge of the mind is the knowledge of the heart. What we are seeking is the realm of omnitude, the everythingness of Allah. It is necessity for this to be direct experience beyond conceptualization.
If we look at Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir (The Last) in their dynamic aspect we find a guideline for the process of awakening.
So with every activity that you are going through or processing, if you tune into the One that is before the activity, and the One that is after the activity, you will maintain your continuity of being in the absolute. You will never leave it. You don't get stuck in time and space. You see time and space arising in a field. This is a way for your limited self to annihilate its false view of its own nature, which is based on disconnection an alienation and to let essence arise.
The track below never fails to get me in the spirit of Ramadan. Khalid Belrhouzi vocals make this one of my most favourite versions of the famous “Poem of the Cloak”. (World Famous across the muslim world).
This poem moved me so deeply that I created a whole project around it and studied it in many ways. You can hear a Radio 4, Poetry Hour Documentary (approx. 30 mins long) about this poem and the project I created below.
I have many copies of the poem in a hardback book which we used during workshops in schools etc. If you want a copy please drop me a line I will be happy to send you a copy.
Let me know your Ramadan moans or joys or that of any other religious ritual your engaged with.