Afraid To Read- Dawud Wharnsby

Afraid To Read- Dawud Wharnsby






One of my favourite nasheeds by Dawud Wharnsby.

How many words shes read before, shes consumed two thousand books or more.
Musty pulp and glue soundproof her tiny room.
She cannot understand why this book in her hand
Fascinates her now so much that shes almost shy to touch.
Dont think about the words its just a book - paper and ink
She reaffirms, reminds herself, a book cant dictate what to think.
It invites, intrigues her more than others on her shelf
Is it just another book? - She sits questioning herself.

Oh Allah, shes so afraid to read,
The wisdom thats revealed may burrow in her mind
Shell be obliged to admit,
Shell be obliged to submit
But will she be strong enough to live the truth she finds?
Oh Allah, shes so afraid to read.

The hall light is always on every night that he is gone.
He hears his mother toss in bed when he slips in at dawn.
In the book case by the stair, he can see it sitting there
Like a waiting watchful wise-man scolding him with care.
In the morning will they fight about him being out all night?
Will he resent their gift of love and not admit that they are right?
All he wants is to fit in some place, but must he compromise his faith?
He cant look himself or his parents in the face.
He takes the book upstairs unread and sets it closed next to his head
Then counts the prayers hes missed and lays so hopelessly in bed.

Oh Allah, hes so afraid to read,
The wisdom thats revealed may burrow in his mind
Hell be obliged to admit,
Hell be obliged to submit
But will he be strong enough to live the truth he finds?
Oh Allah, hes so afraid to read.

I sent an email to my loved one, just the other day
Its sad communication has evolved this way.
We use so many words but have so little to relay
As angels scribble down every letter that we say.
All the viral attachments sent and passionate insults we vent
Its easy to be arrogant behind user passwords we invent.
But on the day the scrolls are laid, with every word and deed displayed,
When we read our accounts, I know, for one, Ill be afraid.

That day Ill be so afraid to read,
Every harsh word that Ive spoken - and every time I have lied.
Ill be obliged to admit,
Ill be obliged to submit
Will I have strength owning up to each deed Ive tried to hide?
Oh Allah, Im so afraid to read.


Afraid To Read- Dawud Wharnsby