Finding Freedom

Freedom. That elusive state of mind,
Cherished much, different in kind,
Sought after by the soul of man,
Seeking, foolishly, in far off lands.

Freedom; are you on the wings of the birds,
Traversing the sky in organized herds?
Or perhaps you are found in the hearts of the youth,
Living for the moment, yet to see the truth?

Freedom; are you the wind that kisses the trees,
Invisible yet felt in the form of a breeze?
Or maybe you are hidden in violent rage,
In the tears that break loose, as if from a cage?

Freedom; are you the wealth which we amass?
Pleasing for the moment, until behind our backs you are cast?
No, surely you must be so much more,
But why does it take such effort to reach your core?

Freedom; how many people have claimed to find you,
Made futile attempts to bind you,
Courted you in a constant romance,
Thought they’ve grasped you in a false pretense,
Always seeking to fill a void,
Lest they become utterly destroyed.

Freedom; you are misunderstood,
If only you were approached with a different mood!
In the trappings of the transitory alone you simply cannot be!
To settle for such is not to be free!

Freedom; if only they could see,
That you are a treasure of which submission is the key,
Indeed that is the way to achieve true bliss,
To stop lingering behind a locked door, trying to catch a glimpse.

Freedom; to find you takes fortitude,
Manifested in moments of solitude,
Your barrier crumbled by humble tears,
Begging for a heart cleansed of sinful years.

Oh my fellow people, if only you would pay heed!
You too would see that slavery is freedom, freedom indeed!

From what I have observed, people seem to view freedom quite differently. Some only see a murky surface of freedom, such as having rights of freedom of speech or freedom of thought. Others, sadly, see it as the freedom to let their evil desires roam unchecked. For example, some view Islam as being oppressive because Muslims do not have the so-called “freedom” to fulfill their lower desires whenever and however they wish, but must follow a strict code of conduct. However, what they fail to perceive is that submission to the will of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is true freedom. To be a slave to Him alone, to be bound by His mercy, is freedom. But to be bound by the chains of this world is a heavy burden. As Allah’s creatures, we all seek to break free from these chains into the freedom of submission by various stages and many diverse paths, whether we are aware of it or not.

This awareness of everyone’s internal struggle to find true freedom was the driving force behind this piece.