Book Review: For the Love of God

By Hameedah Kehinde

For The Love of God, Falling For Balance is a collection of poetry by Omar. L. Rashed. As the title depicts, the poetry in this books focuses on searching for Allah, finding Him, losing one’s way, finding Him again and on and on. It is a collection that comes from a restless and contemplative heart and mind. This is what I heard when I read the words to myself and aloud repeatedly. I heard a voice passionate and eager to get his feelings out, his hopes and fears and also love. Sometimes the voice is intensely emotional and one can almost feel the writer’s emotions through his words.

The arrangement of the poems in Rashed’s work is unique. At first, I was a bit confused by the subheadings used in the poetry but then after a while I came to the conclusion that the subheadings are used to signify phases; phases of seasons, growth, emotions and so on. Phases signifying the waxing and waning of faith, the constant struggle to stay connected to Allah.

But understanding the arrangement of Rashed’s poetry might not come easy to everyone. The same can be said for the style of writing. I found it abstract and I had to read the poems a couple of times before I could fully grasp the meaning of some of the poems. Reading this collection requires time and concentration. It did for me. Time to read over a couple of times and concentration to read between the lines in an attempt to see the imagery being painted by the poet.

I liked Letter to God and Darkening Doubt quite well. The latter speaks the words quite a number of us have in our hearts: ‘Why can’t I trust, Lord?

Don’t think You hear my prayers

Rage, grief blinds eyes, mind

Undying despair

Vision shattered, all hope lost

Sun rises at dawn

For the Love of God: Falling for Balance is available from Amazon.

Hameedah Kehinde is a single mother and an English teacher living in Abuja, Nigeria. She loves to read and has written a few articles for SISTERS Magazine. When Hameedah isn’t mothering, teaching or reading, she is trying to catch up on sleep or daydreaming about many different things, including food.