by Carol Ann Duffy
Tariq Jahan's son, Haroon, was killed in a hit and run incident during the riots in Birmingham. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
After the evening prayers at the mosque,
came the looters in masks,
and you three stood,
beloved in your
neighbourhood,
brave, bright, brothers,
to be who you were –
a hafiz is one who has memorised
the entire Koran;
a devout man –
then the man in the speeding car
who purposefully mounted the kerb …
I think we all should kneel
on that English street,
where he widowed your pregnant wife, Shazad,
tossed your soul to the air, Abdul,
and brought your father, Haroon, to his knees,
his face masked in only your blood
on the rolling news
where nobody’s children riot and burn.
Carol Ann Duffy is the poet laureate. This poem was first published by the Guardian.
Haroon Jahan, Shahzad Ali, and Abdul Mussavir were run over and killed in Birmingham protecting a Mosque from rioters. May Allah accept them as Shuhada.
sudden death a weary companion to those who live unexpectedly….
Its not how quickly one dies but the manner of ones death thats important , a quick death whilst defending ones honor and property is truly a noble death one that speaks of dignity whilst a long drawn-out death with all relatives visiting and giving comfort might not be so pleasing in Allah’s eyes Allahu Alim .
Well; it seems he’s not a hero at all is he? More like a violent thug.