MUHAMMAD AL-MUWAYLIHI (Egypt) I had a dream that I was wandering through the deserted cemetery of al-Imam 1 among the tombstones and graves on a moonlit, wonderful night, illuminated by the brilliance of the heavenly bodies, even if you collect pearls in a necklace, even if you count small grains of sand. I contemplated the tombs and stones, and talked to myself about the immense pride of man, about his pursuit of unparalleled glory, about how great are his claims and unbridled desires, how much he thinks about himself, forgetting about the fate that was prepared for him. The proud man lifts up his nose to the heavens, shows off what he has collected and accumulated, but when the hour of death comes and he buries his nose in the grave, his pride and glory are already crushed by the tombstone. So I wandered and pondered, circled the cemetery and remembered, and the dry earth reminded me of the words of the wise Abu-l - ' Ala.: Tread carefully on the cover of the earth, for beneath it are the ashes of the people who have passed here before us. No matter how many years have passed, it is not appropriate for descendants not to honor the memory of their ancestors, who lay down in the ground. Go slowly, if you can, without touching the ground , and respect the ashes of Your servants who have fallen asleep in the dust. A wave of remorse swept over me, and I slowed my pace at one of the graves. It occurred to me that among the many who had been laid to rest here, some young beauties had found a home. Once upon a time their lips were the qibla3 lovers, for the sweetness of their kiss someone was ready to exchange the waters of Kausar 4 grace. Now their ashes and bones were mixed with the sand and stones of the graveyard. The beauties of those cheeks were envied by roses and drops of dew dropped from the petals like tears. Hearts flared at the sight of those cheeks, and a mole looked like a cardamom seed or a drop of heavenly moisture in the crown of a ... Read more