The Nafs—a Wild Horse Beneath You Poem by Mohammad Younus

The nafs—
a wild horse beneath you,
restless in the field of the self.
One moment of loosened grip,
and it throws you
into the dust of desire.

It whispers with the voice of shadows,
leading you far from the quiet lamp
of your fitrah.

It wraps you in the cloak of appearances,
the heavy silk of praise and recognition.
You chase reflections,
titles gilded with the breath of others' tongues.

You bow to the public eye,
hands trembling at the thought
of dissent.
Tradition binds your feet,
habit presses its weight on your chest.

You stand in the crowd,
measuring souls by the gold they carry,
not the light they bear.

The nafs retreats from duty,
slips through cracks of blame,
hiding behind the veil of circumstance.
It kneels before thrones,
worships the seat more than the labor.

O rider,
hold firm the reins.
The nafs bends only to a heart
anchored in truth—
a heart that knows the path
and walks it unshaken.

MyKoul