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…
Cups and wine and vine-Hafez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6KJNHalmQ Last night I saw the angels tapping at the wine-shop’s door. And kneading Adam’s dust, and molding it as cups for wine; And, where I sat beside the road, these messengers of heaven Gave me their wine to drink, so that their drunkenness was mine. The heavens could not bear the heavy…
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…
Hallaj-The sun doesn’t rise or set…
Translation (sung portion in bold): I swear by God, sun riseth not nor setteth, But in each breath I breathe my love for Thee Nor go I e’er apart with friends for discourse But Thou, as I sit with them, art my theme; Nor dwell my thoughts on Thee, sadly or gladly, But Thou art…
When she begins to sway — لمّا بدا يتثنى
Another gem from al-Andalus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRGlzIhWgAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GV6P3YSvrY Translation (of the most common version, in Arabic below): When she began to sway my Love’s beauty entranced me With a glance, she captured me the branch bends when it sways O my promise, O my wonder, None can console my complaint of love and…
Sidi Qaddur al-‘Alami: Qasida-Pleading | سيدي عبد القادر العلمي : قصيدة التوسل
Muwwál Modo Zerga -Casida _El Perdón Translation: Mine is not the power, nor the effort, nor the strength Neither mastery of fate nor any chance is mine From me, the request alone, from him, the acceptance And in this matter, there’s no turning back The one who commands me to be patient and to…
The Virgin Birth
Rumi The body is like Mary. Each of us has a Jesus, but so long as no pain appears, our Jesus is not born. If pain never comes, our Jesus goes back to his place of origin on the same secret path he had come, and we remain behind, deprived and without a share…
My heart became…
This amazing poem of Ibn ‘Arabi’s is often interpreted somewhat sentimentally, but the love he writes of is far more than mere sentiment, and the universalism he espouses is much more than mere coexistence. Among other things, it refers to a profound spiritual transformation in which opposites unite and the limitations of particular existence are…
Two ghazals of Hafez
No one has seen your face, and yet Thousands of rivals seek you; You’re still a bud and yet a hundred Nightingales entreat you. However far I am from you (May no one know that place!) I cannot help but hope that soon I’ll be in your embrace; And it’s not strange that…
Along the path…
The love of her beauty is a sea of fire. If you’re a lover you’ll burn; such is the path. Where a bright candle’s flame suddenly heaves won’t the moth burn? Its burning is certain. If you want love’s secret, leave faith and disbelief. What room is…