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 I am I

 

The loveliness and beauty of Truth I am

the glory and majesty of Truth I am

its dignity and rank and splendour I am

I am not I, nay I am I

 

A sufi with purity I am

without Him and with God I am

the people of the heart and glance I am

I am not I, nay I am I

 

Jesus of Mary I am

Ahmad the Hashimi I am

‘Ali, the lion of the brave, I am

I am not I, nay I am I

 

His secret and need I am

His burning and melting I am

the one who walks on his head I am

I am not I, nay I am I

 

Original:

عاشق بى خبرمنم

من نمنم، نمن منم

عارف باهنرمنم

من نمنم، نمن منم

 

سوز دل و جگر منم

وحشة پرده در منم

 دانش بخية گر منم

من نمنم، نمن منم

 

حسن و جمال حق منم

عز و  جلال حق منم

حشمة و جا و فر منم

من نمنم، نمن منم

 

صوفي با صفاء

بي خودى و با خدا

اهل دل و نظر منم

من نمنم، نمن منم

عسى مريمي منم

احمد هاشمي

هيدر شر نار منم

من نمنم، نمن منم

 

راز و نياز خود منم

سوز و گداز خود منم

كرد قدم به سر منم

من نمنم، نمن منم

 

 

Unknown

Translation:

O master, say that I am I, I am not I, nay I am I

He is my soul inside my body, I am not I, nay I am I

light fire of love, let burn reason’s rule

the darkness of night has become the light of day

I am not I, nay I am I

I am the arrow, I’m the bow, I am old and I am young

This is me, and that is me

I am not I, nay I am I

I’m His appearance and his hiddenness

I am the diamond of his necklace

I am the the storehouse of his treasure

I am not I, nay I am I

I am His white falcon, I am the shadow of his willow

I am His road of hope

I am not I, nay I am I

I am the soul, I am the breath

I am the bird, I am the cage

I am the thief, I am also the police

I am not I, nay I am I

I am his water camel, I am a worshipper of his cup

I am the force of his arrow,

I am not I, nay I am I

My camel got drunk on wine and became frail

with a howl it broke free

I am not I, nay I am I

I am the Sun, I am the moon, I am the sea, I am the pearl

I am the nectar, I am also the sugar

I am not I, nay I am I

I am the earth and heaven, I am the pole and the harbour

I am both Ka’aba and the wine in the cup,

I am not I, nay I am I

I am the instrument, I am the Voice, I am the saint

I am the king, I am God

I am not I, nay I am I

He said, “I am Shams ad-Din, possessor of both infidelity and faith”

I am not I, nay I am I…

 

 

 

 

Shushtari

 

trans. by  Martin Lings from Sufi Poems: A Mediaeval Anthology