The Concept of Near Far Part II

A while back I suggested that we start utilizing the idea of “near-far.” It describes something that is emotionally near but physically distant. It would be of value to believers, to those in long distance relationships, and to parents that miss their children. In the previous write-up I shared examples from the Urdu poet Parveen Shakir — who uses the notion of scent — and the classical Arab poet Abu Tammam — who uses the notion of distance.

Today I am pleased to share one more example of the idea of near-far. It is also from Arabic poetry, specifically the master Abu’l-’Alaa’ al-Ma’arri (d.1057 A.D). His two lines are as follows:

Be neighborly to the fair maiden
and consider her a sister of the Virginis stars
despite the proximity of her abode.
We are like our eyes that will never meet
although they are separated
only by a wall
a small wall.

That is the story of people in the Ghurbah (diaspora; expatriation; being away from home, the beloved, and the loved ones).