Photo by Ro Niyamot Ullah

NEVER TO SURRENDER
by Sirajul Islam

I am a tenacious revolutionary,
championing freedom for my life,
for my marginalized community.
None dares deter my journey,
I shall persist in my daring quest
As long as I breathe

A multitude of trials surround me,
I’m hurt more than I can explain,
my dreams went up in smoke,
dread races through my mind,
yet I stand bold with fortitude.

I stand unnoticed, overlooked,
a soul, wholly fractured within,
yet I persist in my daring quest.
A warrior, shattering my shackles,
stubborn, refusing to surrender.

Although the above poem was written by a Rohingya person, the words could well have been written by me. Some of my beliefs – like unconditional love for all people, no matter who they are, where they’re from, or how they worship – are often not accepted. In fact, frowned upon by people of my own faith. Yet I believe this approach could be a pathway to world peace. These are my revolutionary beliefs that I would like to impress on the world. And I’m not about to give up.

I follow Jesus, as the man who walked the earth 2000 years ago and was such a good example for all mankind – ALL MANKIND – in the way He lived and the things He said. He is understood to be God by some (like me), a Prophet by others (like the Rohingyas), but a good example for ALL the world to follow.

My quest, for as long as I still have life, is – through God – to promote this belief, in what I do and what I say. And – of course – through how I show God’s love to others.

marja