This poem by the Algerian Shaykh Aḥmad al-‘Alāwī (d.1934) is commonly sung after recitations of the Qur’an in the Maghreb, France, and other areas to which his Tariqah has spread: Translation: Oh Lord, by your kindness, O my hope be kind to us, and grant us deliverance We ask You, O Lord, by the Qur’an…
Fragments of Love
Some famous and beautiful fragments (single verses) of Arabic Love poetry, often cited by Sufis. Translation: If not for You, we would not know Love, If not for Love, we would not know You. Original: لو لاكم ما عرفنا الهوى ولو لا الهوى ما عرفناكم Translation:…
Keats and the Sufis
these poems by John Keats pair nicely with the following poems by Ibn al-Farid and Hafez John Keats “Fill for me a brimming bowl” What wondrous beauty! From this moment I efface from my mind all women. Terrence, Eunuch, II.3.296 Fill for me a brimming bowl And in it let me drown my soul: But put therein…
Pass round love’s remembrance
One of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, Ibn al-Fāriḍ: Translation: Pass round the remembrance the one I love, even in reproach for tales about the beloved are my wine Let my hearing witness the one I love, though she be far through specters…
Bright Night, Dark Day
Shabistari The Rose Garden of Mystery (verses 122-130) Reason’s light applied to the Essence of Lights is like the eye of the head looking at the brilliance of the Sun when the object seen is very close to the eye The eye is darkened so that it cannot see it This blackness, if you know it, is…
Shaykh al-Yadālī’s Praise of the Prophet
Translation: The blessings of my Lord with peace upon my beloved, the best of creation Clear and translucent, close by at hand kind, affectionate, the lion of the gallant Thus is the Hashimi prophet Thus is the Exalted, the Guide, the Tihami* Thus is the Elevated, saviour of the Invincible Thus is the intercessor on the Day…
For the Mawlid
These short Arabic verses by the Persian poet Sa’adi are some of the best known and loved praises on the Prophet: Translation: He attained eminence by his perfection The darkness was lifted by his beauty Lovely are all of his qualities Blessings upon him and his family Original: بلغ العلى بكماله كشف الدجى بجماله…
Ibn ‘Arabi: Interpreter of Desires
A beautiful recording of Ibn ‘Arabi’s poetry sung in a ḥaḍrah: Translation: Poem 1: Who will show me her of the dyed fingers? Who will show me her of the honeyed tongue? She is one of the girls with swelling breasts who guard their honour, tender, virgin, and beautiful Full moons over branches:…
Boutchichi Ḥaḍrah
Some of the finest recordings of Ḥaḍrah music I’ve found online are these recordings of a Boutchichi gathering in which they sing a poem by Shaykh ‘abd al-Raḥman Shaghouri : Translation: The Saqi approahced us and presented the cup to us So we sipped and quenched our thirst from the cups of Hamza (al-Hashim…
If only they knew the subtleties of Layla’s love…
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…