Umar Ibn Farid: The Sufi Way
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Photo: Dervish in Qajar, Iran, by Antoin Sevruguin.
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In truth, I led my prayer leader in prayer
with all of humanity behind me;
wherever I turned
was my way,
And my eye saw her before me
in my prayer,
my heart witnessing me
leading all my leaders.
It is no wonder
the prayer leader prayed toward me
since she had settled in my heart
as niche of my prayer niche.
All six directions faced me
with all there was
of piety and pilgrimage
both great and small.
To her I prayed my prayers
at Abraham's Station,
and I witnessed in them
her prayer to me,
Both of us one worshipper
bowing to his reality
in union
in every prostration.
For no one prayed to me but I
nor were my prayers performed
to other than me
in each genuflection.
How long must I be brother to the veil?
I have rent it,
and its clasps were loosened
in the bond of my pledge!
(Umar Ibn Farid: from 'The Sufi Way')
with all of humanity behind me;
wherever I turned
was my way,
And my eye saw her before me
in my prayer,
my heart witnessing me
leading all my leaders.
It is no wonder
the prayer leader prayed toward me
since she had settled in my heart
as niche of my prayer niche.
All six directions faced me
with all there was
of piety and pilgrimage
both great and small.
To her I prayed my prayers
at Abraham's Station,
and I witnessed in them
her prayer to me,
Both of us one worshipper
bowing to his reality
in union
in every prostration.
For no one prayed to me but I
nor were my prayers performed
to other than me
in each genuflection.
How long must I be brother to the veil?
I have rent it,
and its clasps were loosened
in the bond of my pledge!
(Umar Ibn Farid: from 'The Sufi Way')
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Recommended Reading:
'Letters of a Sufi Master: The Shaykh Ad-Darqawi'
By Shaykh al-'Arabi Ad-Darqawi (Author), Titus Burckhardt (Editor)
Purchase Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Description:
This precious translation of selections from the letters of Shaikh ad-Darqawi, the founder of a major branch of the Shadhiliyyah Order in North Africa in the 13th/19th century, belongs to a class of Sufi literature that has not as yet received enough attention outside of the Islamic world.
"The sickness that is afflicting your heart is one of those things which strike men whom God loves, for 'of all men the most sorely tried are the Prophets, after them the saints, then those who resemble them, closely or remotely.' So do not be downcast, since this happens most often to men full of sincerity and love, to cause them to go forward towards their Lord. By this suffering their hearts are purified and transformed into pure substance. Lacking such encounters with reality, nobody would reach the knowledge of God, far from it, for 'if there were no arenas for souls, the runners would not be able to run their course' as it is said in Ibn 'Ata-Illah's Hikam, in which he also says: 'In the variety of signs and changing states I came to recognize Thine intention in regard to me, that of showing me all things, so that there might be nothing in which I would not know Thee.' In the same sense, the initiates have said: 'It is in times of upheaval that men stand out from amongst men.' In the Koran it is said : Do the people then reckon that they will be left in peace because they say 'we believe,' and that they will not be tried? (XXIX,1)." In making available these letters in English, Titus Burckhardt has rendered a service to those seeking spiritual instruction. He has also enriched Sufi literature in Western languages and made available one more document of extraordinary power and beauty belonging to the recent past. "During his early years in Morocco, Titus Burckhardt immersed himself in the Arabic language and assimilated the classics of Sufism in their original form. In later years, through his translations, he was to share these treasures with a wider public. One of his most important works of translation was of the spiritual letters of the renowned 18th-century Moroccan Shaikh Mulay al-'Arabi ad-Darqawi. These letters manifest a deep and lively insight into timeless metaphysical truths and, at the same time, are a precious document of practical spiritual counsel."
(William Stoddart)
'Letters of a Sufi Master: The Shaykh Ad-Darqawi'
By Shaykh al-'Arabi Ad-Darqawi (Author), Titus Burckhardt (Editor)
Purchase Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Description:
This precious translation of selections from the letters of Shaikh ad-Darqawi, the founder of a major branch of the Shadhiliyyah Order in North Africa in the 13th/19th century, belongs to a class of Sufi literature that has not as yet received enough attention outside of the Islamic world.
"The sickness that is afflicting your heart is one of those things which strike men whom God loves, for 'of all men the most sorely tried are the Prophets, after them the saints, then those who resemble them, closely or remotely.' So do not be downcast, since this happens most often to men full of sincerity and love, to cause them to go forward towards their Lord. By this suffering their hearts are purified and transformed into pure substance. Lacking such encounters with reality, nobody would reach the knowledge of God, far from it, for 'if there were no arenas for souls, the runners would not be able to run their course' as it is said in Ibn 'Ata-Illah's Hikam, in which he also says: 'In the variety of signs and changing states I came to recognize Thine intention in regard to me, that of showing me all things, so that there might be nothing in which I would not know Thee.' In the same sense, the initiates have said: 'It is in times of upheaval that men stand out from amongst men.' In the Koran it is said : Do the people then reckon that they will be left in peace because they say 'we believe,' and that they will not be tried? (XXIX,1)." In making available these letters in English, Titus Burckhardt has rendered a service to those seeking spiritual instruction. He has also enriched Sufi literature in Western languages and made available one more document of extraordinary power and beauty belonging to the recent past. "During his early years in Morocco, Titus Burckhardt immersed himself in the Arabic language and assimilated the classics of Sufism in their original form. In later years, through his translations, he was to share these treasures with a wider public. One of his most important works of translation was of the spiritual letters of the renowned 18th-century Moroccan Shaikh Mulay al-'Arabi ad-Darqawi. These letters manifest a deep and lively insight into timeless metaphysical truths and, at the same time, are a precious document of practical spiritual counsel."
(William Stoddart)
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