Although primarily known for his political and military exploits, Emir ‘abd al-Qadir was a spiritual master and poet of the highest caliber, as the following poems demonstrate… I am God, I am the creature I am the Lord, I am the servant I am the Throne, I am the carpet I am water, I am…
Ibn ‘Arabi, Hallaj, and Carminho
When my Beloved appears, with what eye do I see Him? With His eye not with mine; for no one sees Him except Himself. -Ibn ‘Arabi Original: إذا تجلى حبيبي بأي عين تراه بعينه لا بعيني فما يراه سواه Hallaj: I saw my Lord with the eye of my Heart, I…
“In nearness, farness vanished is…”
I would, so overflowing is my love for Him Remember him perpetually, yet my remembrance— How wondrous— is vanished into ecstasy And still yet more wondrous, even ecstasy, With memory’s self, in nearness, farness vanished is -Abu’l Husayn an-Nuri أريد دوام الذكر من فرط حبّه فيا عجبا من…
Hafez and ‘Imru’l Qays
Hafez: My tears are after you, do not despise them. For how many deep seas form from shallow springs! Original: دموعي بعدكم لاتحقروها فكم بحر عميق من سواقي Hafez: سلام الله ما کر اللیالی Translation: As long as the nights follow one another And the two-stringed lutes answer…
Hasna el-Becharia-Hakmet lakdar
One of my favorite songs from a long time ago… Translation (rougher than usual): I am here by fate, my friend, by fate I am here, my cousin… Where can I find you, poor you? All my friends have betrayed me God and my parents are all that I have By fate…
Ibn ‘Arabi-Her words bring me to life…
Translation (sung portion in bold): On the day of parting they did not saddle the full-grown reddish-white camels until they had mounted the peacocks upon them, Peacocks with murderous glances and sovereign power : thou wouldst fancy that each of them was a Bilqis on her throne of pearls. When she walks on the glass pavement l…
White Doves
Pombas Brancas Translation: White doves Flying high Scratching the shadows Of the large clouds There they go Doves that do not return They bring within Their wings In rosy beaks Scattered clouds On the sea Doves of my singing Merely singing Various recollections Coming on the paths Nobody knows Where they go The Doves that…
Rabi’ al-awwal: Burda and Fiyashiyyah
A beautiful performance of two of the most beautiful poems from the North African tradition. The first is from the first lines of the famous Qasidah al-Burda of Shaykh al-Busiri, while the second is from the beloved Fiyashiyyah of Sidi Bahloul Cherki. Listen to them back to back, the transition is lovely. The Burda:…
Love and Beauty, Unity and Multiplicity, Realization and Reason
Three of my favorite verses of Arabic poetry (the last of which is from Ibn al-Farid) form a lovely meditation on these three topics (Love, Unity, and Truth), when taken together. “Various positions have those who love from (mere) passion But I have a unique place, in which I dwell alone.” مذاهب…
Points of Ink, Gasps of Breath
“All that is in the Revealed books is in the Qur’an, and all that is in the Qur’an is in the Fatihāh, and all that is in the Fatihāh is in ‘Bismi ‘Llāhi ‘r-Rahmāni ‘r-Rahīm.’” “All that is in ‘Bismi ‘Llāhi ‘r-Rahmāni ‘r-Rahīm’ is in the letter Bā, which itself is contained in the point that…