“Merhem-e Manavta (Sufi Sonnet)

Where there is no muslim, non-muslim -
where there is no believer, non-believer -
where all distances are conquered by heart,
outgrowing myths one emerges Merhem-e Manavta.

Compulsion of religion is a thing of the past,
conversion of faith, trivial as changing clothes;
mark of a holy being is not belief, but behavior -
clothes, creed, all wither, not character's glow.

Christian on Sunday, Atheist on Monday,
Buddhist on Tuesday, Sikh on Wednesday,
Hindu on Thursday, Muslim on Friday,
Jewish on Saturday, try the rest the next day.

Love speaks louder than faith,
kindness speaks louder than scripture.
Service is sanctity, my Eid al-Adha -
tolerance is my azaan, my Eid al-Fitr.”