By Zain al-Abdin bin Bayyah Translated from Arabic by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Fifty stars in a flag I see In every star conflict I
Category: English
Reality
They placed the palaquins on the finest workhorse camel mares, and within their embroidered canopies full moons and marbled statuettes. They promised my heart they’d
Love Has Nothing to Do With Five Senses
Love has nothing to do with the five senses and the six directions: its goal is only to experience the attraction exerted by the Beloved.
I am Only the House of Your Beloved
“I am only the house of your beloved, not the beloved herself: true love is for the treasure, not for the coffer that contains it.”
The Beauty of The Heart
The beauty of the heart is the lasting beauty: its lips give to drink of the water of life. Truly it is the water, that
Passion Makes Old Medicine New
Passion makes the old medicine new: Passion lops off the bough of weariness. Passion is the elixir that renews: how can there be weariness when passion
I am a Sculptor a Molder of Form
I am a sculptor, a molder of form. In every moment I shape an idol. But then, in front of you, I melt them down
Love is Reckless
Love is reckless; not reason. Reason seeks a profit. Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed. Yet, in the midst of suffering, Love proceeds
All Through Eternity
All through eternity Beauty unveils His exquisite form in the solitude of nothingness; He holds a mirror to His Face and beholds His own beauty.
This is Love
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First, to let go of live. In
The Intellectual is Always Showing Off
The intellectual is always showing off, the lover is always getting lost. The intellectual runs away. afraid of drowning; the whole business of love is
Let Go of Your Worries
Let go of your worries and be completely clear-hearted, like the face of a mirror that contains no images. If you want a clear mirror,
In The Arc Of Your Mallet
Don’t go anywhere without me. Let nothing happen in the sky apart from me, or on the ground, in this world or that world, without
Who Is At My Door?
He said, “Who is at my door?” I said, “Your humble servant.” He said, “What business do you have?” I said, “To greet you, 0
I Have Been Tricked by Flying Too Close
I have been tricked by flying too close to what I thought I loved. Now the candleflame is out, the wine spilled, and the lovers
Last Night You Left Me And Slept
Last night you left me and slept your own deep sleep. Tonight you turn and turn. I say, “You and I will be together till
Those Who Don’t Feel This Love
Those who don’t feel this Love pulling them like a river, those who don’t drink dawn like a cup of spring water or take in
Because I Cannot Sleep
Because I cannot sleep I make music at night. I am troubled by the one whose face has the color of spring flowers. I have
When the Rose is Gone and the Garden Faded
When the rose is gone and the garden faded you will no longer hear the nightingale’s song. The Beloved is all; the lover just a
The Springtime of Lovers Has Come
The springtime of Lovers has come, that this dust bowl may become a garden; the proclamation of heaven has come, that the bird of the
I have come so that, tugging your ear…
I have come so that, tugging your ear, I may draw you to me, unheart and unself you, plant you in my heart and soul.
Maulana’s Last Letter to Shams
Sometimes I wonder, sweetest love, if you Were a mere dream in along winter night, A dream of spring-days, and of golden light Which sheds
Reason says, “I will beguile him with the tongue;”
Reason says, “I will beguile him with the tongue;” Love says, “Be silent. I will beguile him with the soul.” The soul says to the
Night of Union For The Stars
Tonight is a night of union for the stars and of scattering, scattering, since a bride is coming from the skies, consisting of a full
Confused and Distraught
Again I am raging, I am in such a state by your soul that every bond you bind, I break, by your soul. I am
Cradle My Heart
Last night, I was lying on the rooftop, thinking of you. I saw a special Star, and summoned her to take you a message. I
I Saw My Sweetheart
I saw my sweetheart wandering about the house; he had taken a rebec and was playing a melody. With a plectrum like fire he was
The Awakening
In the early dawn of happiness you gave me three kisses so that I would wake up to this moment of love I tried to
I will beguile him with the tongue
Reason says, I will beguile him with the tongue;” Love says, “Be silent. I will beguile him with the soul.” The soul says to the
Oh Beloved
Oh Beloved, take me. Liberate my soul. Fill me with your love and release me from the two worlds. If I set my heart on