The Kingdom Trap

I tried to capture into the confines of a sonnet the gist of Shaykh Amin's insights into the conclusory verses of Surah Al-Qasas (the chapter of The Story). The entire exegesis (available here as Session 13) is a valuable commentary on the singular gravest crisis of our times.

When waters whelmed the tyrant and his men

And drained that wealthy kingdom of its power,

It seemed the consequence of all that then

Would be for slaves to rise up to the hour

And take it back. But came the high command

That turned them east and set them desert-bound

That they may become of the Promised Land

Of Paradise where lasting peace is found.

And thus the most beloved of the Lord

Returned, a conqueor with head bowed low

With reason for the conquest: to afford

The Abrahamic pilgrimage. So know:

Seek kingdom and authority on earth

To be deprived of it where has it worth.