Translation: O you present in my heart, thinking of you makes me sweet If no one ever visits my eye, then my heart will take its place for me I am not gone, but my body is vanishing from wasting away So no blamer found me, and no chaperone/rival saw me Had the era known about me, people would…
I fear my tears may tear the veil
Another favorite Hafez poem, it ends as it begins. It is performed beautifully here by Seyyed Khalil Alinejad. Translation: I fear my tears may tear the veil of my love for you and this sealed secret became a legend the whole world through They say a stone becomes a ruby in the station of…
Rumi: Dead yet I was, then came to life…
One of my favorite poems of Rumi’s, its rhythm is intoxicating: Translation (some liberties taken to approximate the rhythm of the original): Dead yet I was, then came to life, weeping I was, then came to laugh Love’s kingdom came, I came to be, the kingdom of eternity My eye is full, my soul is…
Du’a Nasiri الدعاء الناصري
Du’a Nāṣiri Translation: O You to Whose mercy one flees! You in Whom the one in need and distress seeks refuge! O Master, You Whose pardon is near! O You Who help all who call on Him! There is nothing more majestic than Your immense power and nothing mightier than the might of Your…
Rumi and Hakuin: Water and Ice
Hakuin All beings by nature are Buddha, As ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; Apart from beings, no Buddha. How sad that people ignore the near And search for truth afar: Like someone in the midst of water Crying out in thirst, Like a child of a wealthy home…
My glance at the Beloved’s face…
Translation: My glance at the face of the beloved is bliss and separation from she whom I love is agony to me I am he who has not been pitied as a lover until, worn out, I became a mercy for the lovers O planter of the basil around our tents Don’t plant the basil for you…
‘Afīf al-dīn Tilimsānī and son
The disciple of Ibn ‘Arabi, ‘Afīf al-din Tilimsānī (d. 1291), and his son (known as al-Shab al-Ẓarīf, “The Elegant Youth” ) are known and loved for their poetry, some of which is still sung today. Here I present one poem from the father, and a more famous poem by the son with special thanks to K.M. for…
Me/not Me
Shah Niyaz Barelvi A lover without news I am I am not I, yet I am I A Knower with art I am I am not I, nay I am I Burning of the heart and liver I am Restless in seclusion I am knowledgeable of all cures I am I am not I, nay…
Three more ghazals of Hafez
Three more gems, back to back in his Divan: Translation: O you whose road-dust is the blood-price of China musk and in whose crown’s shade the sun is tenderly nurtured Strut out, for the narcissus’ pride is getting to be too much I would die for the way your dark eyes look Go ahead and…
Qur’anic meditations
Qur’an 21:25, 20:14, and 6:103 وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ We never sent a Messenger before thee but we revealed unto him, “There is no God but I, so worship Me.” إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي Verily, I am God,…