A few months ago I was invited to attend a spoken word gathering to fundraise for Syria. The crowd was came from all ages, race and religion, but it was striking to see how similar the poems were. One particular poem that struck me was one about Narcissus, a man from greek mythology who was led to a…
Mark Gonzales summarises my feelings about writing in a way I never could. Beautiful. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MAF97lmI6U]
By a good friend I recently came across a nice and concise poem on the Qur’an. It’s really short (less than 10 abyaat) – took me about 15 minutes or so to memorise. I am sure it will take you 10 minutes! و بعد فاعلم أن علم القرءان ** أجمل ما به تحلى الانسان و خير…
Ey ashighan ey asheghan, hengame kuchast az jehan O lovers, lovers! The time to depart this world has come! Dar gush-e janim mirasad tabl-e rahil az asuman My ear has heard the heavenly drum which tells that that time has come ♦ (Chorus) sali rabi ala alnabi, alhashimi al-mutalibi My Lord send praises upon the…
O my soul, come, cast away from fantasy, O my soul, come, cast away from fantasy, Dive into this sea of love if you would see With your heart’s eyes wonders known in prophecy. ♦ Lovers follow Love alone as their imam, Drunk within but outwardly serene and calm, Love is older than all else…
He who seeks the signs of Beauty Shuns his self, then shuns his self. He for whom union’s the duty Shuns his self, then shuns his self. ♦ He who fasts from passing pleasures, At the Eid knows Love itself; He who hears of Beauty’s treasures, Shuns his self, then shuns his self. ♦ East…
Should you not gain your wants, my soul, then be not grieved; but hasten to that banquet which your Lord’s bequeathed. ♦ And when a thing for which you ask is slow to come, Then know that often through delay are gifts received. ♦ Find solace in privation and respect is due, For only by…
Were his miracles to be as mighty as his rank, (35) just the sound of his name will bring dead bones to life (36) (Chapter 3, Qasida Burda, Imam Busairi) ﷺ
When I saw his light shining forth, In fear I covered my eyes with my palms, Afraid for my sight because of the beauty of his form. So I was scarcely able to look at him at all. The lights from his light are drowned in his light and his faces shines out like the…
The savor of life is not But the company of the mystics. They are the masters, The sultans, and the princes. — Abu Madyan
On the Path of Knowledge 