Words of Bewilderment…

Posted on February 9, 2020 by sulaymanibnqiddees

Say: My Lord increase me in knowledge!

قل ربّي زدني علماً

Quran 20:114

My Lord increase me in bewilderment in Thee!

ربّي زدني فيك تحيراً

-Saying of the Prophet Muḥammad

Rumi

Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment

for cleverness is mere opinion and bewilderment is vision.

زیرکی بفروش و حیرانی بخر

زیرکی ظنست و حیرانی نظر

Ibn al-‘Arabi

“Now guidance is that man should be guided to bewilderment, and know that the affair is bewilderment and that bewilderment is unrest and motion, and that motion is life, without stillness and so without death, and is existence without non-existence.”

“And thus there is nothing but bewilderment, shattering one’s vision, although the one who knows what we are saying shall not be bewildered.”

“…Drowned in the sea which the knowledge of God is, and which is bewilderment”

Hafez

As the sprout of bewilderment, your love came

As the perfection of bewilderment, your union came

Many a drowned one, in the ecstasy of union

to whom in the ecstasy itself, bewilderment came

Neither union nor united remain

where the specter of bewilderment came

Show me one heart on his path

in whose face no mole of bewilderment came

From every direction that I listened

the sound of the question of bewilderment came

From head to foot, Hafez’s existence

In love, a sprout of bewilderment became

Original:

عشق تو نهال حیرت آمد وصل تو کمال حیرت آمد

بس غرقه حال وصل کآخر هم بر سر حال حیرت آمد

یک دل بنما که در ره او بر چهره نه خال حیرت آمد

نه وصل بماند و نه واصل آن جا که خیال حیرت آمد

از هر طرفی که گوش کردم آواز سؤال حیرت آمد

شد منهزم از کمال عزت آن را که جلال حیرت آمد

سر تا قدم وجود حافظ در عشق نهال حیرت آمد

Ibn al-Fāriḍ

Translation:

Give me an excess of love for you, bewildered

And have mercy on a heart scorched by a glance of your love

And if I ask to see you truly

Then allow me, graciously

And let not your answer be, “Thou shalt not see“

O heart, you have promised me to be patient in loving them

So be sure to bear it do not dismay

Passion is life, so die in it lovingly.

Your duty is to die and be absolved

My heart, say to those ahead of me, and those behind me,

Whoever has seen the sacrifice of my sorrow

“Follow my example and listen to me

And tell the tale of my love amongst mankind”

I was alone with the Beloved and between us there was

A secret more subtle than the dawn breeze when it blows

And he allowed my eyes a glance

So I became famous, having been unknown before

I was awestruck between his beauty and majesty

And tomorrow, the tongue of my state will explain

Turn your gaze to the beauties of his face,

Where all beauty has been gathered

If all beauty were perfected into one form

on seeing him, it would exclaim [in wonder],

“There is no god but God, and God is greater.”

Original:

زِدْني بفَرْطِ الحُبّ فيك تَحَيّرا وارْحَمْ حشىً بلَظَى هواكَ تسعّرا

وإذا سألُتكَ أن أراكَ حقيقةً فاسمَحْ ولا تجعلْ جوابي لن تَرى

يا قلبُ أنتَ وعدَتني في حُبّهمْ صَبراً فحاذرْ أن تَضِيقَ وتَضجرا

إنَّ الغرامَ هوَ الحياةُ فمُتْ بِهِ صَبّاً فحقّك أن تَموتَ وتُعذرا

قُل لِلّذِينَ تقدَّموا قَبلي ومَن بَعدي ومَن أضحى لأشجاني يَرَى

عني خذوا وبي اقْتدوا وليَ اسمعوا وتحدّثوا بصَبابتي بَينَ الوَرى

ولقد خَلَوْتُ مع الحَبيب وبَيْنَنَا سِرٌّ أرَقّ منَ النسيمِ إذا سرى

وأباحَ طَرْفِي نَظْرْةً أمّلْتُها فَغَدَوْتُ معروفاً وكُنْتُ مُنَكَّرا

فَدُهِشْتُ بينَ جمالِهِ وجَلالِهِ وغدا لسانُ الحال عنّي مُخْبِرا

فأَدِرْ لِحَاظَكَ في محاسنِ وجْهه تَلْقَى جميعَ الحُسْنِ فيه مُصَوَّرا

لو أنّ كُلّ الحُسْنِ يكمُلُ صُورةً ورآهُ كان مُهَلِّلاً ومُكَبِّر

Madīḥ for the Mawlid

Posted on November 28, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

For the Mawlid 1441/2019

Chorus:

صلاة ربّي مع السلام
على الحبيب سيّد الكيان
Ṣalaatu rabbi ma‘ as-salaami
‘alā’l-ḥabeebi seyyidil-Kiyaani

حمداً لربّي لمن يربّ
كلّ الانام و قد كافان
ḥamdan li rabbi li man yurabbi
kullal-anaami wa qad kafaani
Praise be to my Lord for the one who cares for
All creatures, and has sufficed me

بدر البدور بحر البحور
سرّ السرور سرّ ربّاني
Badril-Budoori Baḥril-Buḥoori
Sirris-suroori, sirrin-Rabbaani
Moon of moons, sea of seas
The secret of joy, a divine secret

نور الانوار ضوء الابصار
اوج الافكار فخر الانسان
Nuril-anwaari, ḍaw’il-abṣaari
Awjil-afkaari, fakhril-insaani
Light of lights, light of sights
The summit of thoughts, the pride of mankind

شمس الشموس رأس الرؤوس
تاج العروس سبع المثان
Shamsish-shumoosi Ra’sir-ru’oosi
Tajil-‘aroosi, Sab‘il-mathaani
Sun of suns, chief of chiefs
Bridegroom’s crown, the seven oft-repeated

نفس النفوس رمزالرموز
في خلق الله ما له ثاني
Nafsin-nufoosi, Ramzir-rumoozi
Fi khalqiLlahi Ma lahu thaani
The Soul of souls, mystery of mysteries
In God’s creation, he has no peer

غوث العباد صوت إنشادي
يوم الميلاد معنى المعاني
Ghawthil-‘ibadi ṣawti inshaadi
Yawmal-meeilaadi, Ma‘na’l-ma‘aani
Saviour of servants, the voice of my song,
On the birthday, the meaning of meanings

عين الجمال زين الجلال
قطب الكمال روح الرحمان
‘aynil-Jamaali, zaynil-jalaali
qutbil-kamaali, Ruuhil-Raḥmaani
The essence of beauty, the beauty of Majesty
The pole of perfection, the spirit of the Merciful

خير الرجال جمع الخصال
ماحي الضلال طول الزماني
khayrir-rijaali, jam‘il-khiṣaali
Maaḥiḍ-ḍalaali, ṭoolal-zamaani
The best of men, totality of all virtues
The eraser of error, throughout all time

رمز الوجود نور الشهود
معدن الجود رَوح الريحان
Ramzil wujoodi, nuurish-shuhoodi
Ma‘dinil-joodi, rawhir-rayhaani
the mystery of existence, the light of witness
treasury of good, the rest of repose

شرح الصدور، قرب الحضور
فتح الشكور بحر الاوان
Sharḥiṣ-suduuri, qurbil-ḥudoori
Fatḥish-shakoori, Bahril-awaani
The expansion of chests, the closeness of presence
The opening of the grateful, the sea of time

لبّ الباب اصل الأسباب
صب الاصحاب نور الاكوان
lubbil-lubaabi, aslil-asbaabi
ṣabbil-aṣhaabi, nooril-akwaani
the kernel of the kernel, the origin of causes
the love of friends, the light of existence

فتح الأبواب، سكر الشراب
ذكر الاقطاب، ختم القرآن
fathil-Abwaabi, sukrish-sharaabi
dhikril-aqtaabi, khatmil-Quraani
the opening of doors, the intoxication of the drink
the invocation the of poles, the seal of the Qur’an

صفو القلوب كفّر ذنوبي
واكشف كروبي، خير الكنان
Safwil-quloobi, kaffir dhunuubi
Wakshif kuruubi, khayral-kinaani
The purity of hearts, cover my sins,
Lift my sorrows, O best of refuges

انت حبيب انت قريب
انت مجيب في كلّ الان
Anta habeebun, anta qareebun
Anta mujeebun, fi kullil ani
You are beloved, you are near
You respond at every moment

انت محمود حامد احمد
و مدحي فيك مسك الزمان
Anta Mahmoodun, Ḥaamidun, Aḥmad
Wa madhee feeka miskul-zamaani
You are praised, praiser, and the most praised
And my praise of you is the perfume of time

شوق أشواقي ذوق أذواقي
فمدحي باقي و فيك فاني
shawqi-ashwaaqi, dhawqi-adhwaaqi
famadhee baaqi, wa fiika faani
the longing of my longings, the taste of my tastings
my praise endures, while I am annihilated in you

وفي الطريق انت رفيق
انا فقير و بك غاني
Wa fī’l-Ṭareeqi, Anta rafeequn
Ana faqeerun, wa bika ghaani
Upon the path, you are a companion
I am poor, yet by you, rich

وسكري راق وانت الساقي
يقوت الحق عين الإنسان
Wa sukri raaqin, Wa anta’s-saaqi
Yāqootul-Ḥaqqi, ‘aynul-Insaani
My drunkenness is refined, and you are the Saqi
The Ruby of the Real, the Eye of the Pupil/Essence of Mankind

فوق الافاق عمق العماق
برق المحاق عين الجنان
Fawqal-afaaqi, ‘amqul-‘amaaqi
Barqul-Maḥāqi, ‘aynul-Jinaani
Above the horizons, the deep of the depths
The lightning of the moonless nights, the fountain of the Gardens

و نعم المولى و انت أولى
علوالأعلى، روح المعاني
Wa ni’ma’l-Mawlā, Wa anta Awlā
‘uluuwul-‘Alaa, Ruuḥul-Ma‘aanī
What a great master, yet you are nearer
The exaltation of the exalted, the spirit of meaning

أطلب بك، عين السلام
من السلام حسن الختام
Aṭlubu bika, ‘aynas-salaami,
Min as-Salaami, husnal-khitaami
I seek from you, O essence of peace
From the Peace, a good end.

al-Tilimsānī: Loving you is a gilded religion

Posted on May 31, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

Some beautiful poems of Ibn ‘Arabi’s Maghrebi student, ‘Afīf al-Dīn al-Tilimsānī:

Translation:

I have, in loving you, a golden religion

and a quest like it as a goal

I became a slave well-pleased with what

pleases you, having neither hope nor fear

When the cup of your saki appears

I am the first to drink it

And when your name is sung in poetry

I am the first to thrill in ecstasy

O moon, in my heart’s blood

the breaking of the dawn and falling of the dusk never cease

O Gazelle, in my heart, you have a meadow

and from my tears, a spring

There is no life but your love

from which every joy’s derived

Orginal:

لِي فِي هَوَاكُمْ مَذْهَبٌ مُذْهَبُ ومَطْلَبٌ مَامِثْلُهُ مَطْلَبُ
أًَصْبَحْتُ عَبْداً رَاضِياً بالَّذِي تَرْضُونَ لاَ أَرْجُو وَلاَ أَرْهَبُ
إِذَا تَجَلَّى كَاسُ سَاقِيكُمُ كُنْتُ لَهُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ يَشْرَبُ
وَإِنْ تَغَنَّى بِاسْمِكُمْ مُنْشِدٌ فَإِنَّني أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَطْرَبُ
يَا قَمَراً في مُهْجَتِي لَمْ يَزَلْ مَطْلَعُهُ المَّشْرقُ وَالمَغْرِبُ
وَيَا غَزَالاً في فُؤادِي لَهُ مَرْعىً وَمِنْ دَمْعِي لَهُ مَشْرَبُ
مَا العَيْشُ إلاَّ في هَوَاكَ الَّذِي كُلُّ نَعِيمٍ فَلَهُ يُنْسَبُ

Translation:

O you living in my heart

when will I win intimacy?

You robbed me

but I am happy with my theft

O nomads of the blazing valley

You are the best of nomads

Your guest seeks refuge

and the contract of his clientage is a captive heart

I have not forgotten your love

May I never forget my passion, my love!

If you are pleased by my removal

then that is my heart’s desire

My spirit is yours if you accept it

and the spirit is the lover’s utmost

You are the treasure of my heart

on the Day of Return and my sufficiency

I love you and by my right

I was perplexed by my share of amazement

I leaned drunkenly, and why not?

For my drink was from you

And my beloved poured drinks for me

and singled me out without my friends

My eyes were not blind, beholding

openly, the brilliance of my Lord’s face

I long for the sweet myrtle and tamarisk

and the remembrance of the laurel and the dune

Original:

يَا ساكِنينَ بِقَلْبِي مَتَى أَفُوزُ بِقُرْبِ
سَلَبَتُمُونِي وَلَكِنْ أَنَا السَّعِيدُ بِسَلْبِي
يَا عُرْبَ وَاديَ المُصَلاَّ لأَنْتُمُ خَيْرُ عُرْبِ
نَزِيلُكُم مُسْتَهَامُ مُوَلَّهُ القَلْبِ مَسْبي
وَلَسْتُ أَسْلُو هَوَاكُمْ حَاشَا غَرَامِي وَحُبِّي
إذا رَضِيتُمْ تَلاَفِي فَذَاكَ مَطْلُوبُ قَلْبِي
رُوحِي لَكُمْ إِنْ قَبِلْتُمْ وَالرُّوحُ جَهْدُ المُحِبِّ
أَنْتُمْ ذَخِيرَةُ قَلْبِي يَوْمَ المَعَادِ وَحَسْبِي
عَشِقْتُكُمْ وَبِحَقِّي إِنْ تِهْتُ مِنْ فَرْطِ عُجْبي
وَمِلْتُ سُكْراً وَلِمْ لاَ وَمِنْكُمُ كَانَ شُرْبي
وَقَدْ سَقَانِي حَبِيبي وَخَصَّنِي دُونَ صَحْبِي
وَلَسْتُ بَعْدَ عَيَانِي جَهْراً سَنَا وَجْهِ رَبِّي
أَصْبُو لِرَنْدٍ وَبَانٍ وَذِكْرِ غَارٍ وَكُثْبِ

Translation:

I witnessed your self in us, while it is singular,

as multiple possessing attributes and names

In you we witnessed, after our manyness

an essence in which the seen and seer are united

Original:

شهدت نفسك فينا وهي واحده كثيرةً ذات اوصاف واسماءي

ونحن فيك شهدنا بعد كثرتنا عيناً بها اتّحد المرئي والرائي

Night

Posted on May 20, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

“The Night” by Henry Vaughan

…

There is in God, some say,

A deep but dazzling darkness, as men here

Say it is late and dusky, because they

See not all clear.

O for that night! where I in Him

Might live invisible and dim!

Rumi

Translation:

Truth is the Night of Power,

hidden amid the other nights

so the soul may try each one.

Not all nights are the Night of Power,

yet all nights aren’t empty of it either.

Original:

Haqq Shab-e Qadrast dar shab-hâ nehân
tâ konad jân har shabi-râ emtehân
Nah hameh shab-hâ bovad Qadr ay javân
nah hameh shab-hâ bovad khâli az ân

حق شب قدراست در شبها نهان

تا كند جان هر شب را امتهان

نه همه شبها بود قدر اط جوان

نه همه شبها بود خال از ان

— Mathnawi II: 2935-2936
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
“Rumi: Daylight”
Threshold Books, 1994

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 the very light of Being

in the land of darkness is the fountain of life

Since the darkness destroys the light of vision

Give up loooking, for this is no place for looking

What connection has dust with the pure world?

Its perception is the inability to perceive perception

…

What shall I say? since this saying is fine,

“A bright night in the midst of a dark day”

In this place of witnessing, which is the light of manifestation

I have much to say, but silence is best.

Original:

بود نور خرد در ذات انور به سان چشم سر در چشمه خور
چو مبصر با بصر نزدیک گردد بصر ز ادراک آن تاریک گردد
سیاهی گر بدانی نور ذات است به تاریکی درون آب حیات است
سیه جز قابض نور بصر نیست نظر بگذار کین جای نظر نیست
چه نسبت خاک را با عالم پاک که ادراک است عجز از درک ادراک
سیه رویی ز ممکن در دو عالم جدا هرگز نشد والله اعلم
سواد الوجه فی الدارین درویش سواد اعظم آمد بی کم و بیش
چه می‌گویم که هست این نکته باریک شب روشن میان روز تاریک
در این مشهد که انوار تجلی است سخن دارم ولی نا گفتن اولی است

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Glances of Love

Posted on May 8, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

Two of my favorite Nusrat classics, Tumhein Dillagi Bhool and Mast Naszron Say illuminate each other nicely:

Tumhein dillagi bhool

Translation (modified from Sur Street) and transliteration:

Chorus:

Tumhein dillagi bhool jani pare gi
Tumhein dillagi bhool jani pare gi
Muhabbat ki raahon mein aa kar to dekho

You will have to forget about playing games

Come into the ways of love and see

Tarapne pe mere na phir tum hanso ge
Tarapne pe mere na phir tum hanso ge
Kabhi dil kissi se laga kar to dekho

Then you will not laugh at my torment

Give your heart to someone once and see

Honton ke paas aye hansi, kya majaal hai
Dil ka muamla hai koi dillagi nahin

A smile dare not creep over the lips…

This is a matter of the heart, not a mere game

Zakhm pe zakhm kha ke ji
Apne lahoo ke ghont pi
Aah na kar labon ko si
Ishq hai dillagi nahin

Take wound upon wound, yet live

Drink sips of your own blood

Let out not a single sigh, seal your lips

This is love, not a game

Dil laga kar pata chaley ga tumhein
Aashiqui dillagi nahin hoti

When you have given your heart you will realize

Love is not a game

Kuch khel nahin hai ishq ki laag
Paani na samajh ye aag hai aag

Love is not child’s play

Don’t think of it as water, this is fire!

Khoon rulaye gi ye lagi dil ki
Khel samjho na dillagi dil ki

It makes you shed bloody tears

Don’t think of it as child’s play

Yeh ishq nahin aasaan
Bas itna samajh leejay
Ik aag ka darya hai
Aur doob ke jaana hai

This love is not easy

think of it this way:

It is a river of fire

and to cross you must drown!

Wafaaon ki hum se tawaqo nahin hai
Wafaaon ki hum se tawaqo nahin hai
Magar ek baar aazma kar to dekho
Zamanay ko apna bana kar to dekha
Humein bhi tum apna bana kar to dekho

You may not expect me to be faithful

But you have to try me at least once

You gave yourself to the whole world

Now try making me your own!

Khuda ke liya chor do ab yeh parda…

Rukh se naqab utha, ke bari der ho gayi
Mahol ko tilaawat-e-quraan kiye hoye
Khuda ke liye chor do ab yeh parda…

For God’s sake, reveal yourself now…

Lift the veil now, it has been long since
the world burst into songs of praise…
For God’s sake, reveal yourself now…

Hum na samjhe teri nazron ka taqaza kya hai
Kabhi parda kabhi jalwa yeh tamasha kya hai
Khuda ke liye chor do ab yeh parda…

I couldn’t understand the meaning of your glace
Withdrawn this moment, and open the next, what is this play?
For God’s sake, reveal yourself now…

Jan-e-jan hum se uljhan nahin dekhi jaati
Khuda ke liye chor do ab yeh parda…

My darling, I cannot bear to see this struggle now
For God’s sake, reveal yourself now…

Khuda ke liya chor do ab yeh parda
Keh hain aaj hum tum nahin ghair koi
Shab-e-wasl bhi hai hijaab iss kadar kyon
Zara rukh se aanchal utha kar to dekho

For God’s sake, reveal yourself now…
For you and I are strangers no more
Why the veil on the night of the union?
Uncover your face and look up now…

Jafaaein buhat kien buhat zulm dhaye
Kabhi ik nigah-e-karam iss taraf bhi
Humesha huay dekh kar mujh ko barham
Kissi din zara muskura kar to dekho

So much oppression, so much cruelty
Perhaps a kind glance this way now?
Forever my sight offended you
Perhaps direct a smile my way now?

Jo ulfat mein har ek sitam hai gawara
Yeh sab kuch hai paas-e-wafa tum se warna
Satate ho din raat jiss tarha mujh ko
Kissi ghair ko youn sata kar to dekho

In love, I have borne every wound inflicted
All of this out of loyalty to you
The way that you tease me day and night…
Go tease another and see what happens!

Agarche kissi baat par woh khafa hain
To acha yehi hai tum apni si kar lo
Woh maanein na mannein yeh marzi hai unki
Magar un ko pur-nam mana kar to dekho

Though she seems upset about something
Perhaps it is better to just move on
To accept me or not, that is her will
But try to convince her with all your passion!

Tumhein dillagi bhool jani pare gi
Muhabbat ki raahon mein aa kar to dekho

You will have to forget about playing games

Come into the ways of love and see

Mast Nazron Se Allah Bacchaye

Translation (from Music from Pakistan and this site)

Entire life spent in splendor, it need not be
Every night of sorrow has a dawn, it need not be
Slumber can arise in a bed of pain, in the arms of my love, it need not be
Fire is considered by the moths as child’s play, every moth is afraid of its fate, it need not be
A shaykh who prays to god in the mosque, his prostration is effective, it need not be

O God save us from the intoxicated glances! O God save us from the moon-faced ones!
Let any affliction come upon us [but] God save us from the pretty ones.

Don’t let their innocence fool you; don’t let them make you a fool
they rob with just a smile, O God save us from their spells!

Innocent appearance and innocuous talk, but there is a difference between what they say and what they mean
though their face is like that of moon, O God save us from the schemes of their hearts!

In the hearts there is a desire for beautiful companions in heaven, but they show their love of prayers [to the world].
Now, from the likes of the abstinent, O God save us from these “Godly” ones!

In their nature is infidelity, it is known by all and sundry
they beguile even the smart ones, O God save us from the innocuous ones!

Poetry by Nasir Iqbal Maikash

Original (in transliteration):

umr jalwon mein basar ho yeh zarori to nahi
her shab e gham ki sahr ho yeh zarori to nahi
neend to dard ke bistar pe bhi aa sakti hai
unki aaghosh mein sir ho yeh zarori to nahi

aag ko khail patangon ne samajh rakh hai
sub ko anjaam ka dar ho yeh zarori to nahi
shaikh karta hai jo masjid mein khuda ko sajde
iske sajdoon mein asar ho yeh zarori to nahi

Mast nazron se Allah bachaye
Mahjamalon se Allah bachaye
Mast nazron se Allah bachaye
Mahjamalon se Allah bachaye

Har bala sar pe aa jaye lekin
Husn walon se Allah bachaye

Inki maasoomiyat par na jaana
Inke dhoke mein har giz na aana
Loot lete hain yeh muskura kar
In ki chalon se Allah bachaye

Inki maasoomiyat par na jaana
Inke dhoke mein har giz na aana
Loot lete hain yeh muskura kar
Inki chalon se Allah bachaye

Loot lete hain yeh muskura kar
Inki chalon se Allah bachaye
Loot lete hain ye, loot lete hain
Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain
Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain

Jalakrukhi dikha kar, muskura kar loot lete hain
Nigao se nigao ko mila kar loot lete hain
Ye atchi pardadaadi hain, ye atchi dilnawazi hain
Hasa kar loot lete hain, rula kar loot lete hain

Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain
Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain

Husn waale wafa nahi karte
Ishq waale dagha nahi karte
Zulm karna to inki aadat hain
Ye kisi ka bhala nahi karte

Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain
Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain
Amir is raaste se jo guzrte hain woh kehte hain
Muhalla hain haseeno ka, ke ki basti hain

Ye loot lete hain, ye loot lete hain
Loot lete hain yeh muskura kar
Inki chalon se Allah bachaye

Inki fitrat mein hain be-wafaai
Jaanti hain ye saari khudaaee
Atche-atcho ko dete hain dhoka
Bhole-bhalo se Allah bachaye

Atche-atcho ko dete hain dhoka
Bhole-bhalo se Allah bachaye
Mast nazron se Allah bachaye
Mahjamalon se Allah bachaye

Original (inspired by the above poems)

Forget about your poetry,
forget music, and dance
This love is not a game, my friend
it’s real life, not romance
It’s serious as death again
and twice as hard to stand
Your life is but the bargained price
for stealing just a glance
Your life is but the bargained price
for stealing just a glance

Since my eyes fell on your beauty
Swarms of evil eyes pursued me
I swatted them away like flies
But your one glance shot right through me
They seek my blood, I seek your heart
Because you stole mine so cruelly

Planted ‘neath your balcony
wat’ring flowers with my eyes
chasing storm clouds with my sighs
too weak to live, too strong to die

Waiting for your glance to fall
On me like a guillotine
Setting body and head free
from this wishful, hopeless dream

This love is not a river,
it’s an ocean of fire
a broad desert of ceaseless sighs,
wide skies of vast desire

And there’s no way get across,
it’s too hard to swim down
So keep away from the edge or
plunge in and burn and drown!

The candle flame has hitched a ride
on this moth bound for the sun
Climbing moonbeams to your face
your eyes become my drop’s ocean

Don’t blame me for this smoke
it was you who lit the fire
don’t complain of the heat
it’s my body on the pyre

It’s your fault that I hope, my dear
and you caused all this pain
sweet as it is, please stop playing—
I can’t take this and the blame

I dreamed that I kissed you
and I prayed I’d never wake
I heard that I missed you
and my life I tried to take

but found that you’d beat me to it
My life was yours before I knew it

Don’t leave me stumbling in the dark
With flashes of your lightning smile
Please light my path and guide my ark
have mercy on a heart beguiled!

Let me be your veil, my love
kissing your lips with every breath
Let me be your hair, above
your bright eyes, glinting dark as death

Your eyes are blinding eclipses
within these magic ellipses
See all that was, will be, and is
but only if you hush—listen!

It seems like I’m your shadow
I can’t even get away
so cast me anywhere you will
all I can do is sway

Where you fly is where I run
and where you stop is where I’m through
Waiting for high noon to come
and return me back to you

Beneath your feet is where I’m from
between your finger and your thumb
My heart is spinning, sick, struck dumb
by this love, what I—you’ve become

When I die—Rumi and al-Ghazali

Posted on April 2, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

Two of the most beautiful death-bed poems from two great Sufis. I pray to live in such a way that someone will recite these at my burial.

Rumi

Translation:

When my bier moveth on the day of death

Think not my heart is in this world.

Do not weep for me and cry “woe, woe!”

Thou wilt fall in the devil’s snare: that is woe

When thou seest my hearse, cry not, “gone, gone!”

Union and meeting are mine in that hour

If thou commit me to the grave, say not “Farewell, farewell”

For the grave is a curtain hiding the communion of paradise

After beholding descent, consider resurrection

Why should setting be injurious to the sun and moon?

To thee it seems a setting, but ’tis a rising’

Tho’ the vault seems a prison, ’tis the release of a soul

What seed went down into the earth but it grew?

Why this doubt of thine as regards the seed of man?

What bucket was lowered but it came out brimful?

Why should the Joseph of the Spirit complain of the well?

Shut thy mouth on this side, and open it beyond

For in placeless air will by thy triumphal song.

(From R.A. Nicholson, Selected Poems form the Divani Shamsi Tabriz, p. 94-96)

Original:

به روز مرگ چو تابوت من روان باشد

گمان مبر که مرا درد این جهان باشد

برای من مگری و مگو دریغ دریغ

به دوغ دیو درافتی دریغ آن باشد

جنازه‌ام چو ببینی مگو فراق فراق

مرا وصال و ملاقات آن زمان باشد

مرا به گور سپاری مگو وداع وداع

که گور پرده جمعیت جنان باشد

فروشدن چو بدیدی برآمدن بنگر

غروب شمس و قمر را چرا زبان باشد

تو را غروب نماید ولی شروق بود

لحد چو حبس نماید خلاص جان باشد

کدام دانه فرورفت در زمین که نرست

چرا به دانه انسانت این گمان باشد

کدام دلو فرورفت و پر برون نامد

ز چاه یوسف جان را چرا فغان باشد

دهان چو بستی از این سوی آن طرف بگشا

که های هوی تو در جو لامکان باشد

al-Ghazali

Translation:

Say unto brethren when they see me dead,

And weep for me, lamenting me in sadness:

“Think ye I am this corpse ye are to bury?
I swear by God, this dead one is not I.

I in the Spirit am, and this my body
My dwelling was, my garment for a time.

I am a treasure: hidden I was beneath

This talisman of dust, wherein I suffered.

I am a pearl; a shell imprisoned me,

But leaving it, all trials I have left.
I am a bird, and this was once my cage;
But I have flown, leaving it as a token.
I praise God who hath set me free,

and made For me a dwelling in the heavenly heights.

Ere now I was a dead man in your midst,
But I have come to life, and doffed my shroud.”

(Translation by Martin Lings)

Original:

قل لإخوان رأوني ميتا فبكوني ورثوني حزنا

أتظنون بأني ميتكم ليس هذا الميت والله أنا

أنا في الصور وهذا جسدي كان لباسي وقميصي زمنا

أنا در قد حواني صدف طرت عنه وبقى مرتهنا

أنا عصفور وهذا قفصي كان سجني فتركت السجنا

أشكر الله الذي خلصني وبنا لي في المعالي وطنا

كنت قبل اليوم ميتا بينكم فحييت وخلعت الكفنا

Rumi—Awake! Enter the Cave!

Posted on March 28, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

Translation:

Awake, awake, the time has come, awake!
Without union with him, forsake yourself, forsake!
The heavenly decree has arrived, the healer of lovers has arrived,
If you want him to visit you, become sick, become sick!

Without a trace, without a doubt, he’ll make you rosy-faced

He’ll pluck out the thorn from you hand, become a rosebed, become a rosebed!
Know this breast as a cave, the spiritual retreat of that Friend;
If you’re really the ‘companion of the cave’, then enter the cave, enter the cave!
Once this time has ruined you, laments will be of no avail,
If you want him to restore you, become a restorer, become a restorer!
See the world filled with tumult, see the dominion of the victorious (Manṣūr [al-Ḥallāj])
If you want to become victorious (Manṣūr[al-Ḥallāj), hang on the gallows, hang on the gallows!
As the dawn wind tangles her hair each morning
If you want to savor its scent, become a perfumer ([Farīd al-dīn] ‘Attar), become a perfumer

Original:

Alternate Version

Translation:

Awake! awake! The night has gone, awake!

Forsake, forsake, your own self, forsake!

In our Egypt a stupid fool is selling a Joseph

Don’t believe me, go to the market and see for yourself!

Without a trace, without a doubt, he’ll make you rosy-faced

He’ll pluck out the thorn from you hand, become a rosebed, become a rosebed!
Know this breast as a cave, the spiritual retreat of that Friend;
If you’re really the ‘companion of the cave’, then enter the cave, enter the cave!

Don’t listen to every scheme and spell, don’t wash blood with blood

Like a glass cup, fall over and shatter, be lowly and debased

In the swing of the polo mallet, be the ball! be the ball!

Because of the arrows in its quiver, drop dead! drop dead!

The heavenly decree has arrived, the healer of lovers has arrived,
If you want him to visit you, become sick, become sick!

Know this breast as a cave, the spiritual retreat of that Friend;
If you’re really the ‘companion of the cave’, then enter the cave, enter the cave!

You’re a fine man, but naive, offering gold to thieves

If you want to recognize the thieves, be an outlaw, be an outlaw!

Hush! Silence the description of the sea and float within its depths

If you want to learn to dive, grow fins! grow fins!

Original:

بیدار شو بیدار شو هین رفت شب بیدار شو

بيزارشو بيزارشو وز خويش هم بيزار شو

در مصر ما يك احمقي نك مي فروشد يوسفي

باور نمي داري مرا اينك سوي بازار شو

بي چون ترا بي چون كند روي ترا گلگون كند

خار از كفت بيرون كند وانگه سوي گلزار شو

مشنو تو هر مكر و فسون خون را چرا شويي به خون

همچون قدح شو سرنگون وانگاه دردي خوارشو

در گردش چوگان او چون گوي شو چون گوي شو

وز بهر نقل كركسش مردارشو مردارشو

آمد نداي آسمان آمد طبيب عاشقان

خواهي كه آيد پيش تو بيمارشو بيمارشو

اين سينه را چون غار دان خلوتگه آن يار دان

گر يار غاري هين بيا در غار شو در غار شو

تو مرد نيك ساده اي زر را به دزدان داده اي

خواهي بداني دزد را طرار شو طرار شو

خاموش وصف بحر و در كم گوي در درياي او

خواهي كه غواصي كني دم دارشو دم دارشو

What is this drunkeness?

Posted on March 25, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

A current favorite Ghazal of Hafez, a sublime wedding of melody and meanings

Translation:

I known not what this drunkenness is that to us he brought

and who is the Saqi and from where is this wine that he brought?

What tune is this musician playing so skillfully

that in the midst of his song, my friend’s words, he’s brought

You too, grab some wine and take the desert road

For the songbird, sweet-sounding music, has brought

With goodness and joy, let the rose and daffodil arrive

The violet came happily, and purity the jasmine brought

The east wind is Solomon’s hoopoe in bringing us good news

For glad tidings from Sheba’s rose garden it has brought

O heart don’t complain of your state, knotted-up like a bud

for the knot-untying morning breeze, the dawn wind has brought

The cure for our heart’s weakness is the Saqi’s smile

Come—for the healer has arrived, and the remedy he’s brought

I am the disciple of the Magian Pir, don’t worry about me, O Shaykh

For you’ve made the promises, but he’s brought them to pass

I am amazed at that Turkish warrior

who attacked a poor dervish like me!

Heaven will be Hafez’s servant and work obediently

Now that seeking refuge, to your door, he’s brought

Original:

چه مستیست ندانم که رو به ما آورد

که بود ساقی و این باده از کجا آورد

چه راه مى زند اين مطرب مقام شناس

كه در ميان غزل قول آشنا آورد

تو نیز باده به چنگ آر و راه صحرا گیر

که مرغ نغمه سرا ساز خوش نوا آورد

رسیدن گل و نسرین به خیر و خوبی باد

بنفشه شاد و کش آمد سمن صفا آورد

صبا به خوش خبری هدهد سلیمان است

که مژده طرب از گلشن سبا آورد

دلا چو غنچه شکایت ز کار بسته مکن

که باد صبح نسیم گره گشا آورد

علاج ضعف دل ما کرشمه ساقیست

برآر سر که طبیب آمد و دوا آورد

مرید پیر مغانم ز من مرنج ای شیخ

چرا که وعده تو کردی و او به جا آورد

به تنگ چشمی آن ترک لشکری نازم

که حمله بر من درویش یک قبا آورد

فلک غلامی حافظ کنون به طوع کند

که التجا به در دولت شما آورد

Loving TaHa is Delightful

Posted on March 13, 2019 by sulaymanibnqiddees

One of my favorite poems in praise of the Prophet, from Mauritania:

Translation (a bit of liberty taken to approximate the metre of the original poem):

Loving TaHa is delightful…How lovely is that Great Noble!

He’s the treasure of creation, and to all goodness, a doorway

And he’s peace and our protection, and he’s food and our refreshment

He’s a pearl and he’s a treasure, he’s the kernel and quintessence

The land without love of TaHa…is a wasteland so forsaken

And hearts without love of TaHa…are ruins, wrecked and desolated

And in each and every heart is….a portion from TaHa’s passion

He’s the soul’s enchantment, truly…and he is the answered prayer

No beloved can distract you….from him, nor hearts, nor violins

Without that, I don’t care at all…for any blessing or torment

Original:

ُحبُ طه يُستطاب .. حبّذا ذاك الجناب ..
ُفهو ذخرٌ للبرايا .. و هو للخيرات باب ..
ُو هو أمنٌ و أمانٌ .. و طعامٌ و شراب ..
ُو هو درٌ و هو كنزٌ .. و هو لبٌّ و لُباب ..
ُإنَّ أرضاً ليس فيها .. حبُ طهَ ليَباب ..
ُو قلوباً ليس فيها .. حبُ طه لخراب ..
ُفليكنْ في كل قلْبٍ .. من هوىَ طهَ نصاب ..
ُفهو رُقيا النفسِ حقاً .. و الدعاء المستجاب ..
ُلا تُملْكُم عنه ميٌّ .. أو لُبابٌ أو رَباب ..
ُلا تبالُوا بنعيمٍ .. دون ذاكَ أو عقاب ..