The Angle of Death

Nafis Sadik

It was early in the morning at four.
When death knocked a bedroom door.

Who is it? The sleeping one cried.
I am "Malakul Maut", let me inside.

At once the man began to shiver.
As one sweating in deadly fever.

He shouted to his sleeping wife,
"Don't let him take away my life.

Please go away, O Angel if Death,
Leave me alone, I am not ready yet."

The Angle knocked again and again,
"I will take your life, without a pain.

It's your soul, Allah requires,
I didn't come with my own desires."

Bewildered, the man began to cry,
"O Angel, I am so afraid to die.

I'll give you gold and be your slave,
Don't send me to the unlit grave."

"Let me in, Friend," The Angel said.
"Open the door, get up from your bed.

If you don't allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a jinn."

The man held a gun in his right hand,
Ready to befy the Angle's stand.

By now, The Angel was in the room,
Filled the room with a deep perfume.

"Foolish man, Angels never die,
Drop your gun and do not sigh.

Why are you afraid, tell me o man,
To die according to Allah's plan?"

Come to me, do not grim,
Be happy to return to him."

"O Angel, I bow my head in shame,
I had no time to take Allah's name.

All the day, I made my wealth,
Not even caring for my health.

Allah's command I never obeyed,
Nor 5 times a day I ever prayed.

Ramadan came, Ramadan went,
But I had no time to repent.

All charities I did ignore,
Taking usury more and more.

O, Angel, I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two.

The laws of Qur'an I will obey,
I'll begin salat this vary day.

My Fast and Hajj I will complete,
To them who trust, I'll never cheat.

I will refrain from the usury
Give my all wealth to charity.

Wine and Alcohol I will detest,
Allah's oneness I will attest."

"We Angel do what Allah demands,
We cannot go against his commands.

Death is ordained for everyone,
Father, mother, daughter and son.

I am afraid that this is your last,
Now be remained of your past.

I do not understand your fears,
But now it's too late for tears.

Your parents, you didn't obey,
Hungry-beggars you turned away.

Your two ill gotten female offspring's,
In nightclubs for livelihood they sing.

Instead of making them Muslim,
You made your children Non-Muslim.

Great profits, you have made,
And your poor workers, left undpaid.

Horses and card were your leisure,
Making money was your pleasure.

A pint of blood you never gave
Which could a little baby save.

O, Human, you have done so wrong,
You bought properties for a song.

When the farmers appealed to you,
You didn't have mercy. It's true.

Paradise for you? I can't tell,
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.

There is no time for you to repent,
I'll take your soul, for which I'm sent."

The ending however is very sad,
Eventually the man become mad.

With a cry he jumped out of bed,
And suddenly he fell down to death.