Translation: If only they understood the subtleties of Layla’s love Her love would be all they needed to experience of love If he meets someone from Layla’s neighborhood he’ll abase himself before him and fall to pieces If not for her, he wouldn’t have been abased Kissing this wall and that until he becomes carried away in love for…
Soft were its sides, and soft its breeze…
One of my favorite recordings of Andausian Sufi music—the beauty of the music is only matched by the beauty of the poetry: Translation: Soft were its sides and soft its breeze, and the clouds were flashing and thundering, And the raindrops were descending from the crevices of the clouds like…
Bulleh Shah, if God were found…
Bulleh Shah Translation: O beloved one: If God were to be found by bathing and washing, then God would be found by fish and frogs. If God were to be found by roaming in jungle, then God would be found by cows and buffaloes. O Mian Bulleh God is found by hearts righteous…
Who am I?
Bulleh Shah Translation: Bulleh, what do I know about who I am? I am not a believer in the mosques, nor do I follow the rites of unbelief. I am not among the pure or polluted. I am neither Moses nor Pharoah. I am not in the Vedas or in the scriptures; I…
Two loves become one
Ḥallāj Translation: My heart had various longings, but since seeing you, they’ve all become one My envied mine envier became, and I became the Lord of mankind, since my lord you became I left everyone to their world and their religion busy with my love for you, oh my world and my religion…
Sulayman and Sheba’s Queen
The following verse of the Qur’an has inspired Islamic architecture and literature, illustrating the prominent symbols of the mirror and the perspective shift. Qur’an 27:44 Pickthall translation: It was said unto her : Enter the hall. And when she saw it she deemed it a pool and bared her legs. (Solomon) said: Lo! it is a…
Water, Air, Fire, Earth
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…