*Eid Al-Adha falls on 20 December in 2007.

Abraham said, "My son, I had a vision of myself offering you in sacrifice. What is your response?" [Ishmael] said, "Do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me patient and steadfast." (Qur’an, 37:102)

"I sacrifice my soul and my existence for you and among you for the sake of our precious Palestine and our beloved, patient and suffering Iraq." (President Saddam Hussein in a letter to a Jordanian friend, August 2005)


In the night
of Eid Al-Adha
my beloved
soul brother
Saddam
was carried up
a dank, dark stairway
to the place of sacrifice -
the threshold
of a watered garden
as wide as the heavens.

Though his limbs
were bound and shackled,
the brown lion
did not roar
in anguish and rage,
nor was there any fear in him.
He was as docile as a lamb
resting in green pastures
for the Lord was his shepherd.

Though he loved life,
Iraq’s hero
did not flinch
from the path of martyrdom –
for the sake of his beloved,
patient, suffering
homeland
he embraced it.

His surrendered heart
was girded with fortitude,
cleansed
by the waters of peace
and gifted with love.

Moments before
his neck was broken,
he greeted his creator
with the smile
I miss so much.

Allah is the protector
of those who have faith.
From the depths of darkness
he leads them forth into light. (Qur’an, 2:257)

Our Lord, pour steadfastness upon us
and let us die in devotion to you. (Qur’an, 7:126)

Alison Gundle
Leicester, UK

December 2007