Importance of knowing the true essence religion

The religion lacks its true followers in present times, although there are still millions of so-called claimants of the religion in this world today.

It may possibly happen, that you may come across a person sporting long beard, regularly going to mosque or temple or on Hajj or pilgrimage, giving alms to the needy, but the other side of his life maybe totally different, as he maybe taking small amounts of bribes and causing or aiding in causing huge losses to the society.

The worship becomes ineffective and just a physical procedure, if it is performed without the belief and intention.

The Punjabi mystic Bulleh Shah by his poetry has condemned such nonsensical pretentiousness, and stressed on the importance of knowing the true essence of religion.

ایویں متھا  زمیں گھسائی دا

پا لما محراب دکھائی دا

پڑھ کلمہ لوک ہسائی دا

دل اندر سمجھ نہ لائی دا

کدی سچی بات وی لکدی اے

اک نقطے وچ گل مکدی اے

"They rub their forehead such uselessly on soil

 (In prostration during prayer),

Just for making a large prayer-bump for [the purpose of] showing.

They recite shahada (as proof of their being muslim) [just] to make people laugh,

But they never [tried to] understand [its meaning] sincerely.

Has the truth ever been concealable!

Upon a single point, the [whole] matter is settled. "

Poetry of Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir

If you are seeking closeness to the Beloved,
love everyone.
Whether in their presence or absence,
see only their good.
If you want to be closer and refreshing as
the breath of the morning breeze,
like the sun have nothing but warmth and light
for everyone.

~ + ~

Beloved, show me the way of this prison.
Make me needless of both worlds.
Pray, erase from mind all
that is not You.
Have mercy Beloved,
though I am nothing but forgetfulness,
You are the essence of forgiveness.
Make me needless of all but You.

~ + ~

Drink from this heart now,
for all this loving it contains.
When you look for it again,
it will be dancing in the wind.

Source: Jafar Alam's blog (Link)

~ + ~

To your mind feed understanding,
to your heart, tolerance and compassion.
The simpler your life, the more meaningful.
The less you desire of the world,
the more room you will have in it
to fill with the Beloved.

Source: faith786 blog (Link)

 

~ + ~

Suppose you can recite a thousand holy

verses from memory.

What are you going to do

with your ego, the true

mark of the heretic?

– Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir – “Nobody, Son of Nobody”

~ + ~

To your mind feed understanding,

to your heart, tolerance and compassion.

The simpler your life, the more meaningful.

– Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir – “Nobody, Son of Nobody”

~ + ~

Those with no sense of honor and dignity are best avoided.

Those who change colors constantly

are best forgotten.

– Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir – “Nobody, Son of Nobody”

Source: (link)

Rickshaw poetry about Self-satisfaction

Once in the city of Multan, when in pitter patter..

 Poetry on back of auto-rickshaw

Translation:
People of beauty (beautiful people) do not stay faithful, People of love (lovers) do no pray.
[But,] we are the People of humble nature (Qalander)*, we do not curse anyone

...
...
Move Sufi!


* (Qalander by nature: self-satisfied with self-respect, serene in every condition and with reliance over Allah)

Rubaiyat of Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir in Persian

Shaikh Abu Saeed Fazl-Ullah bin Abul-Khair bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim is a famous Sufi and poet of 4th and 5th hijri (10 A.D. & 11 A.D.). He had got a very high place in persian poetry, that he propagated the teachings of Islamic Sufism by his poetry. He had liking for great Sufis Bayazid Bistami and Mansur Halaj. His poetry had a much influence on later Sufi poets. As Shaikh Fariduddin Attar called him his spiritual teacher.

Sheikh Abu Saeed was in same era as famous scholar Avicenna. And they got discussion during 3 days in privacy. After meeting concluded, the students asked Avicenna what he got from Sheikh Abu Saeed. He replied, 'whatever I know, he can see'. On the other hand, the disciples of Sheikh Abu Saeed asked him what he obtained from Avicenna. He replied, 'whatever i can see, he knows. In the following are Persian Rubaiyat of Sheik Abu-Saeed, with Urdu and English translation.

(1)
اے واقفِ اسرارِ ضمیرِ ھمہ کَس
در حالتِ عجز دستگیرِ ھمہ کس
یا رب تو مرا توبہ دہ و عذر پذیر
اے توبہ دہ و عذر پذیرِ ھمہ کس 

اے سب کے دلوں کے حال جاننے والے,

ناتوانی اور عاجزی میں سب کی مدد کرنے والے,

 یا رب تو مجھے توبہ (کی توفیق) دے اور میرے عذر کو قبول کر,

اے سب کو توبہ کو توفیق دینے والے اور سب کے عذر قبول کرنے والے۔

Oh Knower of secrets of hearts of everyone
Helper of everyone in the state of poverty and weakness
Oh God make me repenter and accept my excuse
Oh Maker of everyone repenter and Acceptor of every's excuse

(2)

خواہی کہ ترا دولتِ ابرار رسَد

مپسند کہ از تو بہ کس آزار رسَد

از مرگ مَیَندیش و غمِ رزق مَخور

کایں ھر دو بہ وقتِ خویش ناچار رسَد

اگر تُو چاہتا ہے کہ تجھے نیک لوگوں کی دولت مل جائے
,تو پھر) نہ پسند کر کہ تجھ سے کسی کو آزار پہنچے)

 ,موت کی فکر نہ کر اور رزق کا غم مت کھا

 کیوں کہ یہ دونوں اپنے اپنے وقت پر چار و ناچار (لازماً) پہنچ کر رہیں گے۔

If you wants that you get the asset of nobles
then don't like that anyone get grievance from you
don't fear about death, don't get worry for livelihood
because every both will reach on their time in any case

(3)

در کعبہ اگر دل سوئے غیرست ترا

طاعت ہمہ فسق و کعبہ دیرست ترا

ور دل بہ خدا و ساکنِ میکده ‌ای

مے نوش کہ عاقبت بخیرست ترا

,کعبہ میں اگر تیرا دل غیر کی طرف ہے

 .تو پھر) تیری ساری طاعت بھی سب فسق ہے اور کعبہ بھی تیرے لیے بتخانہ ہے)

 اور (اگر) تیرا دل خدا کی طرف ہے اور تو (چاہے) میکدے میں رہتا ہے

 تو (بے فکر) مے نوش کر کہ (پھر) تیری عاقبت بخیر ہے۔

(If in Kaaba your heart is toward the other (than God
then obedience (prayer) is sin and Kaaba is place of idols for you
and your heart is towards God and you stay in the tavern
drink because your end (afterlife) is safe

(4)

تسبیح مَلَک را و صفا رضواں را

دوزخ بد را، بہشت مر نیکاں را

دیبا جم را و قیصر و خاقاں را

جاناں ما را و جانِ ما جاناں را

,تسبیح (و تمحید وتحلیل) فرشتوں کیلیے اور معصومیت و پاکیزگی رضواں (فرشتے) کیلیے ہے

 ,دوزخ بد اور جنت نیک مردوں کیلیے ہے

 دیبا (و حریر یعنی قیمتی ساز و سامان) جمشید و قیصر و خاقان (بادشاہوں) کیلیے ہے

 اور جاناں ہمارے لیے ہے اور ہماری جان جاناں کیلیے۔

(Recitation is for Angels, and innocence and purity is for Rizwan (Angels
hell is for the bad, paradise for noble men
(silk is for Jamshed, Qaiser and Khaqan (Kings
Sweetheart is for us (me), and our life is for Sweetheart

note: sometimes in persian and urdu poetry, use 'our'= means 'my'

(5)

وصلِ تو کجا و مَنِ مَہجُور کجا

دُردانہ کجا، حوصلۂ مُور کجا
ہرچند ز سوختَن ندارَم باکی

پروانہ کجا و آتشِ طُور کجا

,تیرا وصال کہاں اور ہجر کا مارا کہاں

 ,گوہرِ نایاب کہاں اور چیونٹی کہاں

 ہر چند کہ میں جل جانے سے نہیں ڈرتا

 لیکن پروانہ کہاں اور آتشِ طور کہاں۔

where is Your union and where I aggrieved of separation
where is the rare pearl, where is ant's courage
though i don't fear of getting burnt
but where is caterpillar and where is the fire of 'tur' mountain

when the prophet Moses requested God to show of his manifestation.. so when God showed very bit of his manifestation, the mountain of tur burnt

(6)

مجنونِ تو کوہ را، ز صحرا نَشَناخت

دیوانۂ عشقِ تو سر از پا نَشَناخت

ہر کس بہ تو رہ یافت ز خود گم گردید

آں کس کہ ترا شناخت خود را نَشَناخت

,(تیرے مجنوں کو پہاڑ و صحرا کی پہچان نہیں ہے (اس کیلیے دونوں ایک برابر ہیں

 ,تیرے عشق کا دیوانہ سر اور پاؤں میں فرق نہیں جانتا

,ہر کوئی جسے تیری راہ ملی اسے نے خود کو گم کر دیا

 ہر کوئی جس نے تجھے پہچان لیا وہ اپنی شناخت بھول گیا۔

Your mad lover don't recognize the difference of mountain and desert
the insane of Your love don't recognize the head from feet
everyone who found Your way, had lost himself
everyone who recognized You, forgot his own recognition 

(7)

باز آ، باز آ، ہر آنچہ ہستی باز آ

گر کافر و گبر و بت پرستی باز آ

ایں درگۂ ما درگۂ نومیدی نیست

صد بار اگر توبہ شکستی، باز آ

,اے میرے بندے) واپس آ، واپس آ، توجو کوئی بھی ہے، لوٹ آ)

 ,چاہے تو کافر ہے، یہودی ہے یا بت پرست ہے، لوٹ آ

 ,یہ ہماری بارگاہ ناامید و مایوس ہونے کی جگہ نہیں ہے

 تُو نے اگر سو بار بھی توبہ توڑی ہے پھر بھی لوٹ آ۔

come back, come back, whoever you are
return, even if are you non-believer, or Jew or idolater
this Our (My) court is not the court of disappointment
even) if you have broken hundred of times the vow (of repentance), come back)

(8)

من بے تو دمے قرار نتوانَم کرد

احسان ترا شمار نتوانم کرد

گر بر سرِ من زباں شَوَد ہر موئے
یک شکر تو از ہزار نتوانم کرد

,مجھے تیرے بغیر ایک پل بھی قرار نہیں ہے 

,میں تیرے احسانات کا شمار ہی نہیں کر سکتا

 اگر میرے سر کا ہر بال زبان بن جائے

 تو میں پھر بھی تیرے ہزاروں احسانوں میں سے ایک احسان کا بھی شکر ادا نہیں کر سکتا۔

i am unable rest (peace) in even a single moment without You
 i am unable to count your favours
if every hair on my head becomes tongue
i am unable to thank even single of thousands of favours of Yours 

(9)

گفتَم، چشمَم، گفت، بہ راہَش می دار

گفتم، جگرم، گفت، پُر آہَش می دار

گفتم، کہ دِلَم، گفت، چہ داری در دل
گفتم، غمِ تو، گفت، نگاہَش می دار

,میں نے کہا کہ میری آنکھیں، اس نے کہا انہیں راہ پر لگائے رکھ

 ,میں نے کہا کہ میرا جگر، اس نے کہا اسے آہوں سے بھرا ہوا رکھ
 ,میں نے کہا کہ میرا دل، اس نے کہا دل میں کیا ہے
 میں نے کہا کہ تیرا غم، اس نے کہا کہ اس کی (غم کی) دیکھ بھال کر۔

i said, my eyes, He said, keep them on the way
i said, my liver, He said, keep filled it with sighs
i said that my heart, He said, what is in your heart
i said, Your grief (my grief because of separation from You), He said, look after this 

____________

* The above material was adopted from http://muhammad-waris.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_14.html (link) and further translated into English

Note: Errors and omissions maybe expected in the translation

~+~

Previous related post: Poetry: Abu Said Ibn Abil Khair

pure vision!!

A glimpse of K2 at Sunset, originally uploaded by Siriustar.

Language: Punjabi

جِہناں پاک نگاہواں ہوئیاں، کہِیں نہ جاندے ٹھگے
JehnaaN paak nigaahvaaN hoyaaN,
kaheeN na jaaNdey ThaGey

- Shah Hussain (1538-1599)

Those, who are blessed with a saintly vision (unstaied eyes), are never cheated.
(Only stained eyes are cheated everywhere. Keep your eyes, heart and soul pure. All the troubles in the world are because of stained eyes.)

Text Source:
Professor Saeed Ahmad, 'Great Sufi Wisdom - Shah Hussain'

In the wine of love

Photo source: lovely red silk fabric by u2.ultraviolet81

Poetry in Persian:
bu ali andar ghubaarey naaqa gum
dastey rumi pardaaey mohmil garift (Rumi)

Translation:
Bu Ali (Avicenna) is lost in camel's dust
Rumi's hand caught the curtain of The Hidden!

Comments:
The logician scholar trying with the power of his logic and knowledge to reach the Beloved.. but he is still lost in the dust sprung by the feet of The Beloved's camel.
Rumi who is drunkard with the wine of love.. his hand reached the last curtains hiding the Beloved.

(c) afterwind
Thanks to Sikander Ali

Poetry: seperation

Photo credit: flickr (originally uploaded by briantmurphy.)

~+~

Nothing but burning sobs and tears tonight.
No way out and no patience left.
Last night our hearts had a moment together,
I suppose this is how I have to pay for it!

- Abu-Said Abil-Kheir



Text Source:
Nobody, Son of Nobody: Poems of Shaikh Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir, Translated by Vraje Abramianalso thanks to: http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/A/AbilKheirAbu/

Unity

On Unity's Way:
no infidelity
no faith.
Take one step
away from yourself and --
behold! --
the Path!You, soul of the world,
must choose the road
of Divine Submissionthen sit with anyone you like
-- even a black snake --
but not your self!

(Poet: Abu-Said Abil-Kheir)


Related Post:
piousness & love

love & enemy!!

A punjabi Sufi poet said:

Dushman Mare Ta Khushi Na Kariye Sajna Vi Mar Jana Eh
Degar De Din Gaya Mohammad Ohruk Nu Dub Jana Eh
(Muhammad Bukhsh)


Do not be happy over enemy's death, because somedays friends would also die!
The day has went, the twilight will also go (?)

Sufi Graciousness: Sincerity & Love

Moulana Rumi's Ruba'i:

The sufi opens his hands to the universe
and gives away each instant, free.
Unlike someone who begs on the street for money to survive,
a dervish begs to give you his life.

http://www.rumi.org.uk/rubaiyat.htm

Silence

Abu Said Abul-Khair's Poetry

How much longer?
Chiseling and polishing the words
How much longer?
Your scattered arrows missing the target
If you have ever read
A single page from the book of silence
Much you had laughed
At the vanity of what was said and heard

http://www.untiredwithloving.org/abulkair.html



Qoshairi Manifest

(Poetry)

While we are apart I think about what to say
Solidifying the reasoning behind every word
I forgot everything when we are face to face
In our conversation talking nonsense all over
(When the Sufi is afar from his Beloved he thinks about many things to say but once facing slight gesture of the Divine Presence Sufi is lost, wordless & bedazzled)

***

(Poetry)

I see how the words adorn you my young lad
Silence proffers him much once he is quiet
Words & conversations bring so many deaths
So the speakers wish they would have been silent

***

(Some selected text)

Some person said, "Silence is the language of wisdom".

Another person said, "Learn Silence as you learned speech, so that if the words show you the way (towards evil?) the Silence shall stop you".

People said, "Virtuousness, continence and abstinence are the language of the Silence. Indeed the tongue is similar to the wild savage beasts if you do not bind them they will attack you immediately."

http://www.untiredwithloving.org/qoshairi_10_silence.html

Poetry of "Pir Meher Ali Shah" :

(ABOUT LOVE FOR GOD)

Translation:

The wine of (Allah's) Unity was bestowed (as a favour) upon those who were intoxicated by the memory of 'alast' (Am I not?)
[The reference here is to the Covenant mentioned in Ayah 172 of Surah VII of the Holy Quran, according to which Allah brought forth the posterity of the children of Adam from their backs on the Day of Creation and made them testify about themselves, saying: "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yea (Thou Art)! We testify].

When I started reeling about in intoxication, my rivals appropriated this intoxication from me.

The Image of Truth (i.e., God) appeared in the world of 'imkaan', i.e., "Possibility"; The universe was brought into submission through that Image.

With the love of Him except Whom none else exists (in real terms), Were the beginning and the end (of the universe) signaled.

(ABOUT LOVE FOR THE LAST PROPHET MUHAMMAD- Be Peace Upon Him)

Translation:

Why is it that the yearning for the Loved One (i.e., the Holy Prophet) is especially strong today?
Why is my heart sadder today than even before?

Why does longing penetrate every tissue of mine?
And why are the eyes shedding tears like a shower of rain?

His shining face appeared to me in a vision,
And fragrance emanated in profusion from His tresses;

I fainted from the sight of these visions;
The hordes of his eyes overpowered me.

His face shines like the full moon;
A brilliant light radiates from his brow;

His hair is black, and his eyes are bewitching and intoxicated.

His two eye-brows are like cross-bows,
Hurling darts of pointed eye-lashes (in all directions);

His lips are red like rubies of Yemen;
His white teeth like a string of pearls.

I am not sure whether I should call his face the essence of life;
Or life of the entire universe;

The truth is that it is (like) the glory of God,
From which all other (worldly) glories originated,

[ Note : This refers to the Holy Prophet's well-known hadith:
"Allah created (everything from my light, and I am from the Light of Allah"]

This face (of the Prophet) emerged from the Faceless One (i.e., Allah);
The Faceless One manifests Himself through this face.

The Colourless (Reality) has been revealing itself through this image,
Ever since Unity exploded into Diversity.

It is this face (of the Holy Prophet) that guides (mankind) to the path of Faceless One (i.e., Allah);
Nay (not the path only but) to the Ultimate Reality Itself.

However, understanding this (secret) is beyond the capacity of the simpletion;
Only the select few succeed in discovering and capturing the Pearl (of Truth).

May this Face (of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)) remain before my eyes,
In my last moments (of life) and on the Resurrection Day!

Then (also) in my grave, and at the time of crossing the (razor-sharp) Bridge (on the Judgment Day as a test to separate the virtuous ones from the sinners);
Only then shall the fake ones become pure (in the sight of Allah).

Thou (O Holy Prophet) hast been blessed (by Allah) with the promise to grant thy desire (in full);
And we (thy humble followers) have full faith in Allah's assurance that thou shalt be happy with the Bounty of Allah.

[Note: Reference here is to verse 5 of Surah XCIII of the Holy Quran:
"And presently (i.e., in the Hereafter, as also in this world) thy Lord shall grant unto thee (O Prophet ! rich and abundant reward) so that thou shalt be well-pleased].

The Gracious One (we hope) shall declare us successful (in the test of earthly life);
Because we have correctly understood the Divine words: "Intercede and thy intercession shall be accepted".

[Note: Here the reference is to the Prophet's divinely inspired hadith (hadith-e-Qudsi), in which Allah reassures the Prophet (P.B.U.H) with the words i.e., his intercession for the forgiveness of sinning believers shall be accepted by Allah on the Judgment Day].

Be gracious enough to remove from thy face the sheet of Yemen (O Prophet !),
And grant us a glimpse of thy endearing face.

Repeat once again those sweet words,
Which thou hadst uttered in the valley of Hamra.

Come (once again) from thy cell to Mosque,
For everyone longs for a glimpse of thy image full of light;

(And) denizens of both the worlds (i.e., this world and the Hereafter) are laying their eyes in thy path -
Human beings, angels, the houris and the fairies.

For the ones yearning and pining (for a glimpse of thine);
Who are ready to sacrifice (their lives) for thy sake;

For these slaves ready to sell themselves out without any price (in thy path);
May those moments of bliss come back once again!

Glory to Allah, who created thee (O Holy Prophet!) in the most beautiful, the best, and the most perfect mould.

Who is (the humble) Meher Ali to chant thy praises;
How (presumptuous and) impudent his eyes are to aspire to the heights of thy love!










Hazrat Syedna Pir Meher Ali Shah (R.A)
The last days
Istighraq (State of complete spiritual absorption)


Links:
Official Web of Golra Sharif
Life of Pir Meher
Poetry of Pir Meher

Ajmeri Dervish

"The sufis breath nothing but love"





In the hand the goblet
In the goblet wine
In the wine a reflection of the Friend's beauty
In sin I am seeing the face of virtue's reward





Someone's beauty has preoccupied my heart
Life's burdens before his inspiration possessed my eve-heavy life.

I see my Friend, I see nothing but my Friend
Love's wine transports me with his ever-present sight.

Eternal life which so interanimates one's limbs
Someone's love bestoved on me with ever-quickening grace.

Banished is desire for wine, goblet and decanter
The Friend's grace imbues me with ever-entracing delight.

Thank God for freedom from dying
My annihilation revived me with ever-refreshing life.

A single glance initiates such ever-abundant grace
Neither world knows deficiency since he filled me from his ever-plenty eyes.

Communion with the Profet is the blessing of this threshold
Of course the dust from Ali's doorsteps is my ever-dearest prize.

Death forever exiled, shall never have access here again, Oh Khadim,
Once perfect love bestows its ever-living miracle.




(Mystic Poetry of Ajmeri Dervish - Gudri Shah Baba III )

Poetry Source: sufi-mystic.net
Photo Credit: j.warmack , stitchwitch

Ever..

Quran, The Book of Allah

For everything on the earth is extinction.
And eternal is the Entity of your Lord, the Most Majestic and the Most Honourable. Quran - [55:26 & 55:27]

Quran Translation Source:
www.ahlesunnat.biz/holyquran/holyquran055.htm

~

Sufi Poetry

chal chal geyaaN paNkhiyaaN, jehnaaN wasaaey Tal,
Farida, sar bharyaa vee chalsee, Tehkey kanNwal ikal

The birds (wordly men) who occupied the pond (world)
have flown away. Farid, the pond will also become dry
one day but the Lotus flower (The Lord) will still be
blooming there all alone forever.
[Poetry of Farid, a saint of Punjab]


Poetry source:
www.sufiwisdom.org

Nothing but God..

a/c guardian, originally uploaded by Shmaktyc ['∫mΛk-tus].

( Nothingness.. the feeling of nothingness comes over the lover..
he see nothing but beloved.. even he can't see himself too.. )

~

Thy Spirit is mingled in my spirit
even as wine is mingled with pure water.
When anything touches Thee,
it touches me.
Lo, in every case Thou art I!"

al-Hallaj, Kitab al-Tawasin, in The Mystics of Islam, by Reynold A Nicholson

~

When my Beloved appears, With what eye do I see Him? With His eye, not with mine, For none sees Him except Himself.

ibn al-`Arabi, Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, in The Mystics of Islam, translated by Reynold A Nicholson

~

I have two ways of loving You:
A selfish one
And another way that is worthy of You.
In my selfish love, I remember You and You alone.
In that other love, You lift the veil
And let me feast my eyes on Your Living Face.

Rabi´a al-Adawiyya. Doorkeeper of the heart:versions of Rabia. Trans. Charles Upton

piousness & love

Water Painting, originally uploaded by isyamuddin.

Piousness and the path of love
are two different roads.
Love is the fire that burns both belief
and non-belief.
Those who practice Love have neither
religion nor caste.

Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir - "Nobody, Son of Nobody" - Vraje Abramian

Hallaj's Poetry

Al-Hallaj
says about God:

"Before" does not outstrip Him,

"after" does not interrupt Him

"of" does not vie with Him for precedence

"from" does not accord with Him

"to" does not join with Him

"in" does not inhabit Him

"when" does not stop Him

"if" does not consult with Him

"over" does not overshadow Him

"under" does not support Him

"opposite" does not face Him

"with" does not press Him

"behind" does not limit Him

"previous" does not display Him

"after" does not cause Him to pass away

"all" does not unite Him

"is" does not bring Him into being

"is not" does not deprive Him from Being.

Concealment does not veil Him

His pre-existence preceded time,

His being preceded non-being,

His eternity preceded limit.

If thou sayest 'when',

His existing has outstripped time;

If thou sayest 'before', before is after Him;

If thou sayest 'he', 'h' and 'e' are His creation;

If thou sayest 'how', His essence is veiled from
description;

If thou sayest 'where', His being preceded space;

If thou sayest 'ipseity'
(ma huwa),

His ipseity (huwiwah)
is apart from things.

Other than He cannot

be qualified by two (opposite) qualities at

one time; yet With Him they do not create opposition.

He is hidden in His manifestation,

manifest in His concealing.

He is outward and inward,

near and far; and in this respect He is

removed beyond the resemblance of creation.

He acts without contact,

instructs without meeting,

guides without pointing.

Desires do not conflict with Him,

thoughts do not mingle with Him:

His essence is without qualification (takyeef),

His action without effort (takleef).

-Arthur John Arberry,
The Doctrine of the Sufis

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­If They Only Knew



What earth is this

so in want of you

they rise up on high

to seek you in heaven?

Look at them staring

at you

right before their eyes,

unseeing, unseeing, blind.

. . .



I was patient,

but can the heart

be patient of

its heart?

My spirit and yours

blend together

whether we are near one another

or far away.

I am you,

you,

my being,

end of my desire.



The most intimate of secret thoughts

enveloped

and fixed along the horizon

in folds of light.

How? The "how" is known

along the outside,

while the interior of beyond

to and for the heart of being.



Creatures perish

in the darkened

blind of quest,

knowing intimations.



Guessing and dreaming

they pursue the real,

faces turned toward the sky

whispering secrets to the heavens.



While the lord remains among them

in every turn of time

abiding in their every condition

every instant.



Never without him, they,

not for the blink of an eye --

if only they knew!

nor he for a moment without them.

Your spirit is mingled with mine

as wine is mixed with water;

whatever touches you touches me.

In all the stations of the soul you are I.

" For your sake, I hurry over land and water:

For your sake, I cross the desert and split the mountain in two,

And turn my face from all things,

Until the time I reach the place

Where I am alone with You."

Kill me, my faithful friends,

For in my being killed is my life.



Love is that you remain standing

In front of your Beloved

When you are stripped of all your attributes;

Then His attributes become your qualities.



Between me and You, there is only me.

Take away the me, so only You remain.

You glide between the heart and its casing as tears glide from the eyelid.


You dwell in my inwardness, in the depths of my heart, as souls dwell in
bodies.

Nothing passes from rest to motion unless you move it in hidden ways, O new
moon.

I am the One whom I love, and the One whom I love is
myself.

We are two souls incarnated in one body;

if you see me, you see Him,

if you see Him, you see us.

- (Diwan al-Hallaj,
M. 34)

Before Al Hallaj was put to death he said:

Now stands no more between Truth and me

Or reasoned demonstration,

Or proof of revelation;

Now, brightly blazing full, Truth's lumination

Each flickering, lesser light.

(1)

ياويح روحي من روحي

لبيك، لبيك، ياسري ونجوائي *** لبيك، لبيك، ياقصدي ومعنائي

أدعوك بل أنت تدعوني إليك فهل *** ناديت إياك أم ناديت إيائي؟

ياعين عين وجودي يا مدى هممي *** يا منطقي وعباراتي وايمائي

يا كل كلي، يا سمعي ويا بصري *** يا جملتي وتباعيضي واجزائي«1»

يا كل كلي، وكل الكل ملتبس *** وكل كلك ملبوس بمعنائي

يا من به علقت روحي فقد تلفت *** وجداً فصرت رهينا تحت أهوائي

أبكي على شجني من فرقتي وطني *** طوعاً، ويسعدني بالنوح أعدائي

أدنو فيبعدني خوفي فيقلقني *** شوق تمكن في مكنون أحشائي

فكيف أصنع في رحب كلفت به؟ *** مولاي، قد مل من سقمي أطبائي«2»

قالوا تداو به منه ، فقلت لهم: *** يا قوم ، هل يتداوى الداء بالداء
«3»

حبي لمولاي أضناني وأسقمني *** فكيف أشكو الى مولاي مولائي

إني لأرمقه والقلب يعرفه *** فما يترجم عنه غير ايحائي

يا ويح روحي من روحي، فوا أسفي *** على مني فإني اصل بلوائي

كأنني غرق تبدو أنامله *** تغوثاً وهو في بحر من الماء

وليس يعلم ما لاقيت من أحد *** الا الذي حل مني في سويدائي

ذاك العليم بما لاقيت من دنف *** وفي مشيئته موتي وإحيائي

يا غاية السؤل والمأمول يا سكني *** ياعيش روحي، يا ديني ودنيائي

قل لي- فديتك- يا سمعي ويا بصري *** لم ذل اللجاجة في بعد واقصائي

إن كنت بالغيب عن عيني محتجباً *** فالقلب يرعاك في الإبعاد والنائي

(2)

العارفون صحبي

للعلم أهل وللإيمان ترتيب *** وللعلوم وأهليها تجاريب

والعلم علمان: منبوذ ومكتسب *** والبحر بحران: مركوب وموهوب

والدهر دهران: مذموم وممتدح *** والناس اثنان: ممنوح ومسلوب

فاسمع بقلبك ما يأتيك عن ثقة *** وانظر بفهمك فالتمييز مرهوب

إني ارتقيت الى طود بلا قدم *** له مراق على غيري مصاعيب«4»

وخضت بحراً ولم يرسب به قدمي *** خاظته روحي وقلبي منه مرغوب

حصباؤه جوهر لم تدن منه يد *** لكنه بيد الافهام منهوب

شربت من مائه ريا بغير فم *** والماء قد كان بالأفواه مشروب

لأن روحي قديماً فيه قد عطشت *** والجسم ما مسه من قبل تركيب

اني يتيم ولي آب الوذ به *** قلبي لغيبته ما عشت مكروب«5»

أعمى بصير، وإني ابله فطن *** ولي كلام، إذا ما شئت مقلوب

وفتية عرفوا ما قد عرفت فهم *** صحبي ومن يحظ بالخيرات مصحوب

تعارفت في قديم الذر انفسهم *** فأشرقت شمسهم والدهر غريب«6»

(3)

سر السرائر

سرالسرائر مطوي بإثبات *** في جانب الأفق من نور،بطيات

فكيف والكيف معروف بظاهره *** فالغيب باطنه للذات بالذات«7»

تاه الخلائق في عمياء مظلمة *** قصدا ولم يعرفو غير الاشارات

بالظن والوهم نحو الحق مطلبهم *** نحو السماءيناجون السماوات

والرب بينهم في كل منقلب *** محل حالاتهم في كل ساعات

وما خلوا منه طرف العين- لو علموا- **** وماخلا منهم في كل أوقات

(4)

والله لو حلف العشاق أنهم *** موتى من الحب أو قتلى لما حنثوا«8»

قوم إذا هجروا من بعد ما وصلوا *** ماتوا، وإن عاد وصل بعده
بعثوا«9»

ترى المحبين صرعى في ديارهم *** كفتية الكهف، لا يدرون كم لبثوا«10»

(5)

ردو على فؤادي

وقال:

أنتم ملكتم فؤادي *** فهمت في كل واد

ردوا علي فؤادي *** فقد عدمت رقادي

أنا غريب وحيد *** بكم يطول انفرادي

أنا سقيم عليل *** فدوائي بدواك

أجري حشاشة نفسي *** في سفن بحر رضاك

أنا حبيس فقل لي: *** متى يكون الفكاك؟

حتى يظاهر روحي *** ما مضها من جفاك

طوبى لعين محب *** حبوتها من رؤاك

وليس في القلب واللـ ***ــب موضع لسواك

(6)

حال الدنيا

دنيا تخادعني كأنني ***لست أعرف حالها

حظر الإله حرامها ***وأنا اجتنبت حلالها

مدت الي يمينها ***فرددتها وشمالها

ورأيتها محتاجة ***فوهبت جملتها لها

ومتى عرفت وصالها ***حتى أخاف ملالها