EXTINCTION
By Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
Oh you
Those that slumber.
Wake up fast
And ponder.
A massage
Direct from yonder.
So clear,
As loud as thunder:
“Kulluman alayha faaan!”
Riches will fade
Like autumn leaves.
Worthless treasures,
Lost in endless eaves.
Gold and silver,
Once coveted
With zeal,
Will gather dust.
As the final bell
Tolls to reveal.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
Mansions
That stood tall,
With grandeur
And might,
Will crumble to dust,
In the dark of night.
Walls
That once echoed,
With laughter
And delight,
Will be silences forever,
In the still
Of extinction’s night.
Beautiful women,
With charms
That enthrall,
Will wither
Like flowers,
That once bloomed
In the fall.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
Their beauty,
Lost to time,
Will fade from sight,
Leaving only memories,
Of a fleeting delight.
Exotic cars,
That sped down
The highway,
Will rust
And decay,
In a world
Gone gray.
Their engines,
Once purring,
With power
And might,
Will fall silent.
As the darkness
Of extinction
Takes flight.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
Power,
That once ruled,
With an iron hand,
Will be reduced
To nothing,
In a desolate land.
The mighty,
Who once commanded,
With authority
And with pride,
Will be brought low.
As the world succumbs
To extinction’s tide.
Position,
That once brought,
Respect
And admiration,
Will be forgotten,
In the annals
Of time’s devastation.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
The titles,
The honors,
The accolades,
And the fame,
Will be lost forever.
As the world’s
Final curtain falls
In flames.
Strong family ties,
That once bound
With love,
Will be severed,
As the last remnants
Of humanity
Rise above.
The memories,
The laughter,
The tears,
And the strife,
Will be reduced
To nothing.
As the world
Succumbs
To extinction’s rife.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
Prestige,
That once shone,
Like a beacon
In the night,
Will be extinguished.
As the world plunges
Into darkness
And fright.
The glory,
The honor,
The recognition,
And the praise,
Will be forgotten.
As the world’s
Final moments
Tick away.
Knowledge,
That once illuminated,
The path
Of human progress,
Will be lost forever.
As the world’s
Final chapter
Is addressed.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
The discoveries,
The innovations,
The breakthroughs,
And the might,
Will be reduced
To nothing.
As the darkness
Of extinction
Takes flight.
Healthy bodies,
That once thrived,
With vitality
And with life,
Will wither
And decay.
As the world’s
Final breath
Is rife.
The strength,
The vigor,
The energy,
And the might,
Will be lost forever.
As the world
Succumbs
To extinction’s
Endless night.
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
Vanity,
That once drove,
Human ambition
And desire,
Will be revealed,
In all its emptiness.
As the world’s
Final fire.
The pursuit,
The striving,
The climbing,
And the chase,
Will be seen
For what they are.
A fleeting,
Futile,
And empty space.
Whatever is on it,
Will surely come
To extinction.
What remains
Is just the Face
Of the Mighty!
“Kulluman alayha faan!”
________________
© Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
Monday 28-06-1446 (Hijriyyah)
30-12-2024 (Miladiyyah).
Extinction.Its insightful and sobriety laced poem that depict the vanity of all we have,the fame and wealth has an expiring date that nor matter our effort to renew it’s longevity it will surely come to an end.What last forever is our good deeds that continue to speak volumes even when we are gone.Good job Mal. Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
Thank you very much, Mr. Fagbola for your insightful comment. I appreciate.
Yahuza,
I found your poem deeply moving. It struck me as both a reminder and a wake-up call. You’ve managed to capture so much truth in just a few lines. Let’s talk about it.
The opening—“The striving, The climbing, And the chase”—immediately pulled me in. It paints this vivid picture of the way we’re constantly running after things in life—success, wealth, recognition, all those goals we think will bring meaning. But then you flip it, reminding us that all this effort is fleeting, futile, and empty. That line—“A fleeting, futile, and empty space”—is so stark and hits hard. It’s like you’re holding up a mirror and asking, “What’s the point of all this?”
And then you bring in the inevitability of extinction—“Whatever is on it, will surely come to extinction.” That’s such a profound reminder. It makes me think about how we get so caught up in things that don’t last, forgetting how temporary everything is. It’s almost like you’re saying, “Stop and reflect. What really matters?”
What I love most is how you shift focus at the end. You don’t leave us in despair. You remind us of something eternal—“What remains is just the Face of the Mighty!” That line grounds the entire piece. It’s powerful because it connects us to something greater, something that transcends the fleeting nature of life. And tying it to the Qur’anic verse, “Kulluman alayha faan,” was such a profound touch. It gives the poem a spiritual weight, like it’s more than just a reflection—it’s a call to re-center ourselves on what truly lasts.
Honestly, the whole poem feels like a meditation on life’s impermanence and a reminder of divine permanence. It’s sobering but also uplifting. You’re not just showing the emptiness of worldly pursuits—you’re pointing us toward what really matters.
I’d love to hear what inspired you to write this. Were you reflecting on personal experiences, or did it come from a spiritual moment? Either way, it’s a piece that lingers, and I think anyone who reads it will walk away with something to reflect on.
Ma sha Allah. Oga Lawal, I can’t thank you enough for your explicit and encouraging review of the poem.
As to what inspired me to write the poem, actually that came after reading Chapter 55 of the Holy Qur’an, Suratul Rahman.
The inspiration came from verse 26 of the Chapter that says: “Kulluman alayha faan” Ar-Rahman 55:26
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ Which means:
Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish.”
Thank you very much sir. May Allah rewards you abundantly. Amin.
Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi.