The centre of the Earth
Between the East and West
Between South and North
The Meccan Sanctuary
Al-Masjid al-Haram
—
Cut-off from the common path
From the common man far removed
Protected by the desert sand
Preserved since time immemorial
To benefit mankind!
—
The first House, the mother source
Giving rise to the mother city
A shining light, a beacon to humanity
A qibla to mankind
A guiding sanctity!
—
Another sanctuary, the human heart
From the top to the bottom
Between left and right
Deep in the centre
Protected in a cage!
—
The first organ to form
Catching hold of life
To supply blood and food
To develop understanding
To dictate life
—
Impurities enter with each breath
The heart purifies and circulates
Another Mataf with unending tawafs
For ‘nothing contains Me
But the believing servant’s heart!
—
O Ibrahim, O Ismael
Purify my House
For those who circumambulate
Devote and meditate
Bow and prostrate
