Ibn al-Fāriḍ Translation: Purity but not water, Subtlety but not air Light but not fire, spirit but not body Original: صفاءٌ، ولا ماءٌ، ولُطْفٌ، ولاهَواً، ونورٌ ولا نارٌ وروحٌ ولا جسمُ Dattatreya Translation: Neither space nor air is the Reality; Neither earth nor fire is the Reality. If there’s only the…
Remove yourself, Hafez!
Hafez Translation: Come! For last night, the tavern’s unseen voice told me to be pleased with the divine decree and not to flee from destiny Between Lover and Beloved there is no barrier You yourself are your own veil, Hafez. Remove yourself! Original: بیا که هاتف میخانه دوش با من گفت…
Persian Visual Poems
Hafez’s poetry and Persian Miniatures come to life: Hafez: Translation: Love’s minstel has wonderful harmony and melody Every song in his repertoire has a path to a place May the world never be empty of the cry of lovers Because it has a sweet and joyful voice Although our dreg-draining Pir has neither gold…
The Beauty in the Black Veil
This sublime fragment of a longer qasidah (ode) about a saint who falls madly in love with a beautiful maiden in a black veil (recalling the story of Shaykh San’an ) is sublimely performed in Mauritanian style by Dimi Mint Abba: Translation: Tell the beauty in the black veil What have you done to the…
Arabic Poetry Videos
Some beautiful visual poems of lovely Arabic verse: Al-Mutannabi Translation: When the lion bares his teeth, do not fancy that the lion shows to you a smile I have slain the man that sought my heart’s blood many a time Riding a noble mare whose back none else may climb Whose hind and fore-legs…
Those who believe are more intense in love…
Quran 2:165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ “Translation”: Among the people are some who take peers apart from God, loving them as if loving God….
More fado…
Translation: Lady of Nazareth, pray for me, I am also a fisherman walking on the sea. Off life’s dock in endless waves, I’ve seen my little boat of dreams sinking perpetually. My nets cast with confidence, I hauled in only disappointments on a bad sea. I lost the rudder of hope, I can not row well. Lady of…
Rumi-I am not wandering aimlessly
Translation: by Farah Aziz No I am not roaming aimlessly through the alleys and bazaar I am a lover searching for his beloved God have mercy on me I am walking around troubled I have done wrong and sinned and am walking around wounded I have drunk the wine of desire and am walking around lovelorn Though…
Infidel of Love
Shabistari If a Muslim were to know what an idol is He would know that religion is idol-worship And if the associator (mushrik) were to know what an idol is Where would he have gone wrong in his religion? Original: مسلمان گر بدانستی که بت چیست بدانستی که دین در بت‌پرستی است وگر مشرک ز بت…
Hafez in qawwal
This ghazal, attributed to Hafez, is probably not by him, but is still beautiful nonetheless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=44&v=Iz9hU6JjZXk Translation: I saw Beloved in the Stranger I saw a Flower in the Ash The one the Preacher so tried to hide I saw that Beloved in the square. In every direction, the splendor of Beloved, I see In every…