Spoken word written for MIST Detroit 2016 - Spoken Word Competition
When we came into this world, Allah set a clock
to put a limit to our lives, and it goes tick tock.
Every action counts; every little thing that you do
is being watched by the one and only, He; it is true.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
Remember that one time that homeless man
came up to your car window with a can in his hand,
and asked you for some spare change, remember that? And you told him with a straight face that you had no cash,
but the truth is, you were just hiding your little stash
of money, just sitting in the back of your pocket.
You had at least a dollar growing old in your wallet;
yet you refused to spare that one dollar the man wanted.
Man, nowadays, we take everything for granted.
You were so blinded by that one homeless man that used his money to drink
that you didn’t take even a moment to stop and think.
You’ve never met him before. This guy can’t be the same.
You’re just making assumptions now; you should be ashamed.
You don’t know this guy, you don’t know anything about his life.
Well, guess what? He just lost his job, he lost his home, man; he even lost his wife!
Imagine.
Imagine if you were ever stuck in that situation.
Imagine being so broke, you begged out of desperation,
and not a single living soul bothered with a donation.
Imagine you were all alone, imagine the isolation.
Imagine, especially as a Muslim man,
that no one out there wanted to give you a hand.
They’re too intimidated by the beard on your face;
look at the way you’re dressed, let alone your race. Imagine.
Don’t miss that opportunity that Allah put in your way.
Take advantage of that chance to make someone else’s day.
If you ever have a dollar that you don’t really need,
go ahead and spare it; that’s just one good deed.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
Remember that one time you were out with friends all day,
and you all just sat and chilled when it was time to pray?
When your mom told you to go to masjid, you said, “Mom, go away,
I’ll go later with my friends,” but no one went at all that day.
One of you sat and listened to music on your Beats,
while the Adhaan played in the background from the nearby masjid.
Another sat on his phone and posted a status on Facebook,
the only book he’d ever opened; the Qur’an was something he never even looked at.
Another was number one on COD on the PS3,
while he was last on the list of caring for family.
Lastly, one guy was bragging about being a player,
while his younger brother was at masjid, leading the prayer.
Don’t neglect your prayers; trust me, He sees it all.
Turn off whatever you’re using when you hear that prayer call.
Go ahead, go to masjid; there’s plenty of time to play,
but there’s just no excuse when it’s time to pray.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
Remember that one time you felt really sad;
you were frustrated, you felt really mad?
You didn’t take a moment to breathe and say,
“Okay I need to calm down, I really should pray.”
Just remember, Allah is always there.
You might not know it, but he really does care.
Don’t forget that there will always be those days,
and the best solution to your issues is to calm down and pray.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
Every single breath you take, when you wake up every day,
it is He who gives you life, and He can take it away.
It is He who has the power at the end of the day
to take away what you have, so you better pray
that He will let you keep whatever you own.
Pray to Him every day, because you’re never alone.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
We were born with eyes, yet we are still so blind,
ignoring the blessings given by the merciful and kind.
We never say Subhan’Allah; we just don’t realize
that all the blessings that he gave us, he can take any time.
Don’t take advantage of those blessings. Say Alhamdulillah
because before you know it, it can all just be gone.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
We make mistakes, we’re just taking a test,
so say Bismillah and just hope for the best.
Get ready for the challenge, it’s a pretty long trial.
This test that He made is going to last a while.
We sin every day, and trust me, they’re written.
You’re being evaluated now, right as you’re sitting.
Take a moment to think of all the time that you spent
feeling angry or upset, instead of trying to repent.
Be careful of your actions, be wise; use your head,
because before you know it, one day you’ll be dead.
Now you’re lying in a bed at the hospital, remembering your sins.
You’re feeling bad about your past, for doing all those things.
Soon enough, you’re looking at yourself laying in that bed.
And you look around and you’re screaming, “Am I dead? Am I dead?”
Then you say to Allah, “I can fix this. I can start over. Just wait!”
I’m sorry, but guess what? Time’s up. It’s too late.