The Commentary of Al-Qasidah — Page 86
86 The commentary of al-Qa si dah COUPLET 22 And the wilderness of Arabia was transformed into such a garden; The streams of which are pleasant and sweet, and the trees of which are laden with fruits. In this couplet the condition of the Arabs is likened to a desert with no life, water or greenery. Not only does this desert lack anything attractive, interesting or any place for peace and comfort, but trouble, destruction and death is apparent everywhere. From this desert you could not get anything to eat or drink, not even a place for shade. However, with the advent of the Holy Prophet sa this awful and terrorizing desert was transformed into an attractive, beautiful garden which provides pleasure. In this garden there are canals of pure and clear water and its green and fresh trees are such that hearts impulsively incline to it. The flowers growing in this garden emanate such fragrance that one’s soul gets enchanted with its aroma. The tongue and body enjoy the taste of its fruits to the extent that there is no equal. In the garden of Islam, one of the beautiful fruits was Hadrat ‘Umar ra. When he visited Jerusalem, he entered a very respectable church upon the invitation of its priests. During his visit, the time of prayer came and the priests requested him to perform his prayers in the church but he refused by saying that if he prayed in the