THAT THE LADY FATIMA IS THE PERFECT PATTERN OF MUSLIM WOMANHOOD

Mary is hallowed in one line alone,
That she bore Jesus; Fatima in three.⁹⁹
For that she was the sweet delight of him
Who came a mercy to all living things,
Leader of former as of latter saints,
Who breathed new spirit into this dead world
And brought to birth the age of a New Law.
His lady she, whose regal diadem
God�s words adorn Hath there come any time¹⁰⁰
The chosen one, resolver of all knots
And hard perplexities, the Lion of God,
An emperor whose palace was a hut,
Accoutred with one sword, one coat of mail.
And she his mother, upon whom revoles
Love�s compasses, the leader of Love�s train,
That single candle in the corridor
Of sanctity resplendent, guardian
Of the integrity of that best race
Of all God�s peoples; who that the fierce flame
Of war and hatred might extinguished be,
Trod underfoot the crown and royal ring.
His mother too, the lord of all earth�s saints
And strong right arm of every freeborn man,
Husain. the passion in the song of life,
Teacher of freedom to God�s chosen few.
The character, the essential purity
Of holy children from their mothers come.
She was the harvest of the well-sown field
Of self-surrender, to all mothers she
The perfect pattern, Fatima the chaste
Her heart so grieved, because one came in need,
She stripped her cloak and sold it to a Jew;
Though creatures all, of light alike and fire,
Obeyed her bidding, yet she sank her will
In her good consort�s pleasure. Fortitude
And meekness were her schooling; while her lips
Chanted the Book, she ground the homely mill.
No pillow needed she to catch her tears,
But wept contrition�s offering of pearls
Upon the skirt of prayer; which Gabriel stooped
To gather, as they glistened in the dust,
And rained like dew upon the Throne of God.
God�s Law a fetter locks about my feet
To guard secure the Prophet�s high behest,
Else had I surely gone about her tomb
And fallen prostrate, worshipping her dust.