IN 1999, Linda Delgado was a police officer in the US when she and her husband decided to host two Saudi police officers who had come for training. A week before Fuad and Abdul — whom she refers to as her “foster sons” — returned to Saudi Arabia, Delgado accepted Islam.
Last Sunday, Delgado was declared one of the winners in the first annual Praise the Prophet International Poetry Competition. Delgado’s poem, My Hero Is Your Hero, took the top prize in the adult category. In it, the 60-year-old describes a conversation between a mother, a son, and a daughter, in which the three attempt to guess each other’s heroes and drop hints about their identities.
“Son said his hero was the greatest teacher the world had ever known / Daughter giggled and said her hero and his wife played racing games.
“So I declared my hero left his Sunnah for all mankind to understand. / He recited each of Allah’s Words in our most honored Qur’an.”
The poem ends with the children realizing that they are all talking about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Delgado, of Tempe, Arizona, won up to $1,000 for airfare to Makkah and Madinah, Saudi Arabia. But she won’t be able to make the trip due to ailments, which keep her from traveling. Instead, she says she wants to use the prize money to help produce coloring and activity books for young Muslim children. These books will be based on fiqh-based comic strips Delgado creates for an American Islamic magazine.
Mai El-Sadany of Fremont, California, will also receive up to $1,000 for airfare to Makkah and Madinah. She won the first prize in the teen category for her submission titled “Remember.” El-Sadany’s rhyming poem educates readers about the life of the Prophet Muhammad by reminding them about his qualities.
“Remember the strength of mind after his tribe’s rejection / But, later, the sincere hearts he would easily win / Remember the kindness to his neighbors and enemies alike / After being bombarded with trash, thorns, and spikes.”
Eleven-year-old Amal Mohammd of Toledo, Ohio, was the youngest top prize winner. Amal’s poem “My Love For You” ranked first in the children’s category and she will receive a gift package valued at $400 US. “My Love For You” is a very personal expression of just that — love for the Prophet Muhammad.
“The crystals in my little brown eyes / Are tears that I cry when I hear the lies / about the things they said about you / The horrible things so untrue.”
A total of five winners, including poets from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Morocco, were chosen in each of the three categories. All winning submissions are posted online at www.IslamicPoetry.org.
The Praise the Prophet contest, launched 10 months ago, was inspired by a desire to react to the Danish cartoon controversy in a positive and proactive manner, said Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf, a Muslim scholar and author in Santa Barbara, California, and founder of the website behind the contest.
After witnessing the fallout of the Danish cartoon controversy, Ibn Yusuf called up other scholars and brainstormed about launching a poetry competition in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. All agreed that it was a brilliant idea.
With the support of volunteers, the contest was launched and ran from April to November 2006. Nine judges, including writers, an American imam, and a poet, shared the responsibility of judging the over 300 submissions from 12 countries.
Ibn Yusuf said he was thrilled by the response and the quality of submissions and said he believes the contest went beyond the intended goal by a mile. “This is simply an inspiring success,” he said. “Inspiring because it proves to us that by directing our collective energy in a positive way, we can educate and accomplish much, much more than we do by venting our anger and reacting emotionally.”
The contest got writers thinking creatively and writing spiritual and uplifting poetry, something the Prophet Muhammad liked, said ibn Yusuf. “At last we are on the way to fulfilling the rights of the Messenger of Allah in English poetry.”
Adult’s Category 1st Place
My Hero Is Your Hero
Linda Delgado, USA
We sat around the table, my daughter, son and me
Shall I tell you a new story?
They both chorused, No! Let me. Let me.
Hmm...I responded. Let’s play a guessing game instead
We’ll take turns describing favorite heroes
And then guess who they could be.
My hero was a great leader and fought bravely in each battle.
My hero washed his clothes with no complaint and was kind to all he met.
What a coincidence I said because my hero did both of these.
Son said his hero was the greatest teacher the world had ever known.
Daughter giggled and said her hero and his wife played racing games.
How amazing I exclaimed because my hero did both of these.
A dark cloud in the sky followed my hero when he was just a boy.
Daughter claimed her hero became a great trader while working for his wife.
Oh, my! this is astounding because my hero did both of these.
Son scratched his head while thinking hard...not willing to give up.
Daughter twirled her braid and thought aloud who can Mom’s hero be?
I smiled knowingly at both of them and waited patiently.
Son grinned broadly and then announced importantly
My hero never told a lie and taught Muslims how to pray.
Daughter said her hero could top that. Son said there was no way.
My hero talked to Allah’s Angel she declared dramatically.
My goodness I said with wonder because my hero did both of these!
At this point my children protested. You haven’t told us anything!
So I declared my hero left his Sunnah for all mankind to understand.
He recited each of Allah’s Words in our most honored Qur’an.
I know! I know! Both clamored wildly waving hands at me.
Your hero is our hero they exclaimed excitedly.
They had solved the guessing game and were bursting with their glee.
Our hero is the Last Prophet, Muhammad, the most Trusted and Praiseworthy.
Teen’s Category 1st Place
Remember
Mai El-Sadany, USA
Remember the most respected man throughout the years,
Who made the purpose of life blatantly clear,
Remember the kind, gentle face that always held a smile,
An amazing countenance, a handsome profile,
Remember the modest life he led and apparel he wore,
The fulfilling cause and religion he would willingly die for,
Remember his perseverance no matter what,
The torture, the pain, the bloody bruises and cuts,
Remember the strength of mind after his tribe’s rejection,
But, later, the sincere hearts he would easily win,
Remember the kindness to his neighbors and enemies alike,
After being bombarded with trash, thorns, and spikes,
Remember his Hijrah away from his beloved home,
Through deserts and caves, he then had to roam,
Remember the anger management he always displayed,
The genuine light from his face would never fade,
Remember the starvation he had to face,
Displaced from his family, home, and place,
Remember the year of sadness when he lost,
His beloved wife and uncle, worth more than all meager costs,
Remember his honest ways and fair dealings,
His disregard for worldly pleasures and things,
Remember his respect for people of all creeds,
Seeing to every less fortunate man’s needs,
Remember his playful nature with children,
His heart clean, not blemished with any dark sins,
Remember the ways he treated all of his family,
His pure tongue released sincere words, always said truthfully,
Remember his promised intercession on the Day of Judgment,
“Ummati, Ummati” beautiful words, so heartfelt,
For you, my true love, Rasulullah,
May peace and blessings always shower upon you, Ya Mustafa.
Children’s Category 1st Place
My Love for You
Amal Mohamed, USA
Oh, my Prophet I can’t tell you how much I love you in words,
But my love for you soars to the height of the birds.
My love for you resounds like the ocean,
Your memory lingers, like the sweetest lotion.
The crystals in my little brown eyes,
Are tears that I cry when I hear the lies
About the things they said about you
The horrible things so untrue.
I worship with the people around me,
My loving friends and my beautiful family.
I don’t cheat ,or steal; I don’t even lie,
I do it for Allah because you taught us to that’s why.
So you see my Prophet how I love you,
I love you because you taught us the truth.
You can see it in the times that I pray,
You can hear it in the things that I say.