Pir Sikandar was a Gaddi Nasheen
Who had more properties than Her Majesty the Queen
Every Friday in his local mosque
He gathered copious funds like a hungry fox
Rupees from poor and rich whatever the vibe
And to his TV channel, all, they must subscribe
And if any of his followers decried
“The curse of God on misers!” He would cry.
His house was more a palace than khanqah
For driving, he would cruise around in sports cars
While most of his mureeds got by in rickshaws
And most lived in crowded flats and on one floor
But amongst all these, there was a wild malang
With the honey bees of Love, he had been stung
This roaming dervish, he was called Mobeen
His face looked rough- his heart was most serene
He loved some stories, but one he thought was good
Was about the Merry men and Robin Hood!
One night to God, he cried and he implored:
“I will perform one thing that Thou deplores
I’ll steal the funds hidden in Sikandar’s stores
And rob the rich to benefit the poor!”
So, in the night, whilst Sikandar was asleep
Mobeen he lurked outside with just a creep
He slipped into the tomb of Sikandar’s Dada
And there he spoke with ecstasy to the spirit of this Baba
From there he took some treasures and some light
And distributed it throughout the night
Sikandar’s followers awoke feeling so rich
With hidden Oneness lights, no more they itched
Then on that Friday, when Sikandar came to rule
Despite his retinue, he looked a total fool
Because to his infuriating surprise
No one had turned up to pray in the lines
“Where are my followers? Where are they indeed?”
He stormed at his most gullible mureed
So, then they searched and drove along the roads
To each and every disciple’s abode
And everywhere they went they couldn’t fathom
That each mureed they met was now bedazzled
With priceless, wealthy lights around their head
And public crowds following in their stead
The last they met was none other than Mobeen
Who wore the jewels of love brighter than the Queen:
Sikandar cried: “Mobeen for goodness sake!
I thought I was supposed to be the shaykh!
And now all those who once would follow me
Each one has turned into a boundless sea!”
Mobeen said: “O dear pir I must confess
I robbed the lights hidden within your chest
That you have locked away in your darbar
And now your way of life from this is far
Like Robin Hood I stole from one who’s rich
With ancestors who gave their nafs the ditch
I shared their lights with those who are deserving
As you have ignored things that need preserving.”
Pir Sikandar, wealthy Gaddi Nasheen
Proclaimed in shame: “O God, what have I been!”
And there and then he chose he would repent
And gave away his riches then off he went
Roaming the roads like one who’s on a search
Because his love for God has gone berserk
He left Mobeen to take his rightful place
As the sincere pir; as the real shaykh
And that’s the story of old Mobeen Hood
And Pir Sikandar who changed all for the good!
Notes:
Gaddi Nasheen- inheritor/son of previous Pir or Shaykh (spiritual leader/holy man) and assumes his position in the community
Mureed- followers of spiritual leader
Malang- deranged, spiritual aspirant with strange powers
Baba- old shaykh, pir / old man
Dada- grandfather from father’s side
Darbar- grave of spiritual leader/holy person
2022