The Houris of Paradise

Yemeni mp

Ahmed Saif Hashed

I have never entered a place like this before… It is the circus—an aura of magnificence and splendor. The architectural design is dazzling, adorned with decorative touches and other elements that make you feel, amidst the spectacle, that you are at the very center of a grand universe.

For the first time, I witnessed performances that resembled fantasy… What was once impossible became a reality before my eyes, what was distant became within reach, and the farthest was just a stone’s throw away. It was the first time I saw the houris of paradise up close, without any signs saying “Keep Out.” Astonishment engulfed me from the very first moment, holding me captive for two uninterrupted hours. Every detail here captivates you until the last moment… Here is God calling you instead of you calling Him… Here is God who loves beauty, and here, poetry holds its prominent place and presence:

”You are beautiful, and you love beauty;  How is it, then, that your servants do not cherish it?”

I beheld the houris of paradise with my own eyes, just as that dervish saw his Lord… God in His utmost beauty… In His presence gather His lovers and beloveds—Jalal Al Deen Al- Rumi and the kingdom of love, the miracle-worker Shams Al-Tabrizi, the Imam of Sufism Ahmed Ibn Alwan, the Sultan of Lovers Ibn Al-Farid, the pioneer of mysticism Al-Husayn Ibn Mansur Al-Hallaj, and the great Sheikh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, along with the righteous and reformers seeking God through love, life, and beauty.

Beauty crowds this place, and you become a part of it… I felt as if I were in the very heart of this universe, the mother of miracles… My gaze wandered throughout the space… I sensed that the cosmos surrounded me from every direction… Oh God, what is this beauty!! Wonder resides here, and the captivating beauty calls you to invoke the Lord of the Worlds and His forgiveness.

Here, God reveals Himself to me more beautifully than I ever imagined… Astonishment carries me on its wings, enveloping me in every direction… I blend into the scenes I behold, and I can no longer distinguish between the east and the west. Every point in this place could simultaneously be east and west… The compass here is broken and does not work… Only the compass of beauty seizes the viewer’s consciousness, operating with efficiency and precision.

A dome gathers the scattered directions like a cosmic lens… As I gaze intently at the houri of the skies flying through the space, I struggle to collect my senses, which seem to soar with her. I reach a state of ecstasy where I can no longer distinguish between the heights and depths of this place. My eyes fixate on the waist of another enchanting figure, and the rings spin around her, becoming grander than the rings of Saturn. I, along with my rapture, become one of her circles, circling around her waist. A dream and a knowledge that leaves me dizzy.

Everything here is enchanting, harmonious, and captivating… The music, the movement, the lights, the makeup, and the stories painted by the acrobats… The sound effects complete each other… Everything sparkles with brilliance, magic, beauty, and lightness. Precision and artistry blend seamlessly with endless wonder. There are diverse circus performances, some dancing and thrilling, others acrobatic, juggling twenty eggs and stones.

Young men and women, professionals at the peak of their craft, present what they have mastered and what they have creatively achieved. It’s as if the Creator fashioned them from a more supple material than mere dust. Everybody here molds itself as desired, dazzling you and stealing away the independence you always cherish within. Bodies intertwine like a dough of resin, and your gaze wanders to the point of losing distinction between hair and the soles of feet.

Youthful figures present scenes that drown you in astonishment… Bodies here function like spindles, others form like dough, and some fold like ropes, shaped and tied as their owners wish. In every performance, you witness a miracle, followed by a storm of warm applause, great joy, and soaring spirits. It’s not just our hands clapping; our hearts and souls join in, spreading throughout the cosmos of this place.

Young men and women, in the bloom of youth, perform mesmerizing acts that transform the hall of your heart into a beautiful exhibition space. A lightness unmatched by sight, flexibility that forms without restraint. The moving spots of light dance with the protagonist of the show here and there. Professionals to the point of genius, each delights you with their unique performance—houris soaring to the heights of the stage, returning safe and sound. They fly without wings, in a space too small for a bird. Gymnastic leaps, animal taming, walking the tightrope, and performing on it… Here, the impossible is present.

The tamers enter the arena with the grace of a breeze and the surprise of astonishment, leading the beasts into the space, tamed and docile, as if fate has befriended them and brought them to the threshold of humanity. Each group enters according to their designated segment of the show.

A performance for lions, another for tigers, a third for elephants, and many more… Each performs according to the meticulously scheduled program. The wonder and amazement follow one another, as does the focus… Here, not a second escapes you, and you don’t regret losing it in vain. No regrets here, no biting of fingers… Regret only arises when you remember your wasted time, the many days that passed in vain without return or benefit.

* * *