Although better known as the founder of the Illuminationist Philosophical tradition, Shihāb al-dīn al-Suhrawardī was also a gifted Arabic poet, and this poem, in particular has been beloved by Sufis and lovers throughout the ages. al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf’s poem of the same meter seems to be modeled on it in part. But al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf’s poem stands…
I hide love, while my tears reveal it…
This short poem by Ibn al-Farid is exquisite in sound and meaning, and a favorite amongst Sufi singers: Translation: I hide love, while my tears reveal it and I kill it, but my passion revives itMy torturer is sweet-natured and delicate and all beauties are gathered in himIt is as if he is, in beauty,…
Loving you has its nearness and distance
Another beautiful poem by al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf, ‘Afīf al-dīn al-Tilimsānī’s son, chock-full of badī’, smooth and musical. I have both nearness and distance in loving you while yours is a beauty rare and wonderful You for whose beauty I seek refuge in your majesty wary of the jealous eyes afflicting you If you are not my…
Anything but your beauty is forbidden to my gaze / The tale of my love for you is ancient
Another beautiful pair of Arabic poems; the first by the Yemeni Sufi poet ‘abd al-Hādī al-Sūdī (d. 1526) has an opening similar to the two poems in the previous post (by al-Nabulusi and al-Tilimsani), and show signs of being modeled on al-Tilimsani’s; the latter poem is by al-Tilimsani’s son, al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf (“The Cool Kid”) and…
My eyes only see your beauty
This beautiful poem by the Damascene Sufi scholar ‘abd al-Ghani al-Nābulusi (d. 1143/1731), is a favorite among singers. But as he writes in his dīwān, it is based on two verses from an earlier poem, which his friends showed him and asked him to expand. These verses are found in some versions of 1001 Nights,…
Sana’i and Hafez Bilingual Poems (Molamma’āt)
One of Hafez’s Molamma’āt (mixed Persian and Arabic) ghazals illustrates not only the unique transformation of Arabic prosody in Persian poetry, but also Hafez’s unique gift for copying, transforming, and improving the verses from previous ghazals (in this case a ghazal by the seminal master of the ghazal, Sanā’ī): Sana’ī Translation: Last night a…
‘Eid al-Adha
Rumi Translation: When love sacrifices me, then that day will be my ‘Eid Were it not my ‘Eid, I’d not be that real man, but a whore Original: عشق چو قربان کندم عید من آن روز بود ور نبود عید من آن مرد نیم بلک غرم al-Harraq Translation: If you appear,…
Death Poems
Mīr Dard Translation: My friends, we have seen enough of this play We are going home, you can stay Original: دوستو، دیکها تماشا یاں کا بس تُم رہو خوش ہم تو اپنے گھر چلے (From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwaja_Mir_Dard) Kozan Ichikyo Translation: Empty-handed I entered this world Barefoot I leave it My coming and my going…
Between you and me…
al-Ḥallāj Translation: Is it you or me? In this there are two gods yet You forbid, You forbid affirming duality Your selfhood is in my negation eternally My all clothes the all in two respects So where is your self [hidden] from me when I see? For my self became clear where there’s no…
Mawlid 2020, Muḥammad Majdhūb’s Praise
One of my favorite poems in praise of the Prophet is this gem from the Sudanese Sufi Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Qamar al-dīn al-Majdhūb (d. 1831) a friend and student of Aḥmad ibn Idrīs (d. 1837). Translation: Upon you be God’s blessing, and then His peace too O Messenger of God, I am so enamored…