Sufi Wisdom & Poetry

Sufi Poetry & Sayings - Inspirational Words of Wisdom

Essential Sufism
Travelling the Path of Love
The Bounty of Allah
Counsels of Hadrat Ali
Sufi Poems
As Through a Veil
Wisdom of the Prophet - Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad May Allah bless him and grant him peace
Death Before Dying : Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu
The Wisdom of Sufism
Doorkeeper of the Heart: Versions of Rabi'a
Under the Sufis Cloak

Essential Sufism Edited by James Fadiman & Robert Frager

Paperback - 265 pages

From Library Journal : A welcome addition to the literature on Islam, this small volume offers sayings, religious quotes, poems, aphorisms, and prayers from many Sufi masters. Reading through the many entries, one gets a feeling for the beauty and deep wisdom of the Sufis, the mystics of Islam. The book includes the necessary discussions of the major Sufi teachers, history, culture, and beliefs to aid the reader in understanding the vitalness of the sayings and meditations but is not meant as a fully encompassing investigation of Sufism. Instead, it is a wonderful appetizer that tantalizes the reader to seek other works that further celebrate and elucidate the relatively obscure world of Sufism. Quotations from The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Allah bless him and grant him peace, and many of the illuminated Awliya-Allah, (Freinds of Allah), Bayazid al-Bustami, Dh'ul Nun al-Misri, Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Ata'allah, Data al-Hujweri, Rabia al-Basri, Imam al-Qushayri, Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, al-Suhrawardi, Muhiy'ud-Din Ibn al-Arabi, Imam al-Ghazali, Baha'al-Din Naqshband, Shaykh Muzzaffer, Hazrat Mevlana Rumi, Hafiz, Attar, Sa'di, Kabir, Jami. etc

Highly Recommended for all

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Travelling the Path of Love : Sayings of the Sufi Masters

Paperback - 240 pages

Travelling the Path of Love is a collection of sayings of the Sufi masters from the ninth century to the present day. Resonant with devotion, the writings describe the spiritual path with simplicity, directness, humour, and wisdom.

"... the most complete anthology of Sufi teachings to date ... Because of its range and completeness, this is the one book that all libraries should have as they build their collections on Sufism." - Library Journal

"A grand overview of the tradition, deserves to be appreciated for its depth and breadth."- Kabir Helminski, translator of Sufi literature

Let me share a few of the jewels from the book:

Be in this world as if you are a traveller, a passer-by, with your clothes and shoes full of dust. Sometimes you sit under the shade of a tree, sometimes you walk in the desert. Be always a passer-by, for this is not home. - Hadith (Sayings of Prophet)

God speaks out of the innermost being of the mystic while he is silent. - Al Junayd

Your journey is towards your homeland. Remember you are travelling from the world of appearances to the world of Reality. - Abdal-Khaliq Ghijduwani

If you walk towards HIM, HE comes to you running. - Hadith.

You too put your best foot foward. If you do not wish to, then follow your fantacies. But if you prefer the secrets of the love of your soul, you will sacrifice everything. You will lose what you consider valuable, but you will soon hear the sacramental word, "Enter". - Attar

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The Bounty of Allah - Daily Reflections from the Qur'an and Islamic Tradition

Paperback - 398 pages Aneela Khalid Arshed

A meaningful, devotional gift for Muslims, this lovely volume also offers insight into Islamic spiritual life for people of all faiths. Daily readings include a short text from the Qur'an and one from Sufi or Hadith traditions.

Inspirational Daily Ayahs (one for each day of the calendar year) from the Qur'an, Sayings from the Beloved Prophet Muhammad May Allah bless him and grant him peace, as well as sayings from the Awliya-Allah (Freinds of God), like Shaykh Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani, Mawlana Rumi, and Data Ali Hujweri, etc Allah be pleased with them.

This book is highly recommended!

About the Author: Aneela Khalid Arshed was born in Pakistan and is a member of the Islamic Center of Long Island. She holds a Masters of Arts Degree in English Literature.

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LIVING & DYING WITH GRACE : COUNSELS OF HADRAT ALI
Paperback - 120 pages Translated into English by Thomas Cleary

Description of Living and Dying with Grace

Living and Dying with Grace is a book of aphoristic Sufi teachings on how to make one's way in the world—especially on how to bring spiritual insight to the affairs of daily life. Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, contains a vast body of knowledge concerning the inner development of the complete human being. Among the greatest of Sufi masters, Hadrat 'Alî (598-661 CE) May Allah be pleased with him, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad May Allah Shower His Mercy upon him, is regarded as a paragon of compassion and virtue and a master of both exoteric and esoteric knowledge. He was not only a great warrior, statesman, and scholar, but also a devoted husband and father.

Success in this life, 'Alî teaches, is bestowed on those who maintain generosity, intelligence, perseverance, integrity, and calm reflection. As for success in the hereafter, 'Alî says, "God, the Glorified, admits to Paradise anyone, at will, for truthfulness of intention and of innermost thoughts."

This book contains four hundred of Hadrat 'Alî's May Allah be pleased with him teachings, showing how people can use the everyday realities of their lives to cultivate wisdom and well-being, both temporal and eternal, offering a path to living and dying with grace.

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SUFI POEMS - A MEDIAEVAL ANTHOLOGY
Paperback - 112 pages Compiled and Translated by Martin Lings

Book Description : 'Sufi Poems' is a selection of poems from the golden period of Sufism especially chosen and translated from the Arabic by the distinguished scholar Dr Martin Lings. Dr Lings is the author of numerous best-selling works on Sufism and is a published poet in his own right. Inlcuding poems here translated for the first time, Sufi Poems brings together selections from the giants of Sufism; for example, Rabia, Hallaj, Ibn al-Farid and Ibn Arabi. Sufi Poems is published as bi-lingual Arabic-English edition which will be of interest to all those wishing to read the original Arabic and will also be helpful for university students of Arabic.

Synopsis : Sufi Poems is a selection of poems from the golden period of Sufism especially chosen and translated from the Arabic by the distinguished scholar Dr Martin Lings. Dr Lings is the author of numerous best-selling works on Sufism and is a published poet in his own right. Including poems here translated for the first time, Sufi Poems brings together selections from the giants of Sufism; for example, Rabia, Hallaj, Ibn al-Farid and Ibn Arabi. Sufi Poems is published as bi-lingual Arabic-English edition which will be of interest to all those wishing to read the original Arabic and will also be helpful for university students of Arabic.

Table of Contents

1.Preface
2.Rabiah al-Adawiyyah
3.Dhu’n-Nun Thawban al-Misri
4.Sahl ibn Abd Allah al-Tustari
5.Abu Husayn Ahmad ibn Muhammad an-Nuri
6.Abu’l-Hasan Summun ibn Hamzah al-Basri
7.Al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj
8.Abu Bakr Dulaf ibn Jahdar ash-Shibli
9.Abu’l-Abbas al-Qasim al-Sayyari
10.Muhyi’l-Din Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Arabi
11.Sharafu’d-Din Umar ibn al-Farid
12.Abu’l-Hasan Ali ibn Abd Allah ash-Shushtari
13.Conclusion
14.Bibliography

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AS THROUGH A VEIL - Mystical Poetry in Islam
Paperback - 369 pages Annemarie Schimmel

An accessible introudction for the general reader, this insightful account also contains detailed notes and a full bibliography for scholars and students, and will serve as an indispensable companion to some of the most exquisite literature ever penned.

Annemarie Schimmel has drawn exhaustively on an enormous range of sources both ancient and modern to create this thorough survey of a unique body of literature. Travelling from continent to continent and across the centuries, this fascinating story of Islamic Poetry encompasses a wide spectrum of traditions and cultures, from Arabic religious verse to the ecstasies of the Persian Sufis and the popular folk poetry of India and Pakistan. Showing how the varying starnds of the tradition unite to form one single message of all-embracing love, Schimmel also covers such topics as:

the challenges of interpreting verse that is both sensual and sacred
sacrifice and spiritual love
the role of the feminine in folk poetry

An insightful account of some of the most exquisite literature ever penned.

Annemarie Schimmel was until recently Professor Indo-Muslim studies at Harvard University. Regarded as the foremost expert in the fields of Islamic mysticism and poetry, she has published extensively in both English and German, and has lectured at universities all over the world.

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The Wisdom of the Prophet : The Sayings of Muhammad May Allah bless him & grant him peace

Paperback - 144 pages Translated by Thomas Cleary

Synopsis :
THE WISDOM OF THE PROPHET contains a rich selection of hadith, or traditional teaching stories, based on the words and deeds of the Beloved Messenger of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad May Allah bless him and grant him peace, that have brought inspiration and guidance to spiritual seekers for centuries.

The passages in this collection - more than two hundred authentic stories and sayings translated by Thomas Cleary - have been chosen for their universal appeal and reveal both Prophet Muhammad's May Allah bless him and grant him peace, profound worldly wisdom and his lofty spiritual vision.

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Death Before Dying : The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu

Paperback - 150 pages Trans. by Jamal Elias

The 115 poems introduce readers in English to Sultan al-Arifeen Hadrat Sultan Bahu May Allah be pleased with him (d. 1691), a Sufi mystical poet who continues to be one of the most beloved writers in Punjabi. Sultan Bahu, whose name translates as "With God", remains highly popular in Pakistan and India today -- even illiterate Punjabis can recite his poetry by heart.

Jamal J. Elias's translation of Bahu's famous work, the Abyat, is the first to appear in English outside South Asia. It offers a rare glimpse into the Sufi mystical tradition and the religious lives of rural Muslims during the period of the Mughal Empire. With its emphasis on unrestricted devotion to God, and its skepticism toward the legalistic, institutionalized elements of organized religion, Bahu's poetry embodies many characteristic elements of the mystical tradition.

Translations of the poems are presented alongside the Punjabi script and offer a masterful exploration of a significant but largely neglected South Asian literary tradition. Death Before Dying also illustrates the great diversity of Islamic cultural voices throughout the world.

"With their earthy charm and engaging simplicity, these Punjabi verses convey the immediacy of the spiritual quest as expressed in the popular idiom and imagery of the country-side. A fine choice for courses in Islamic religious studies and spirituality". -- John Renard, author of Seven Doors to Islam

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THE WISDOM OF SUFISM

Hardback - 224 pages by Leonard Lewisohn

Product Description : Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, possesses a rich artistic heritage, drawing on poetry, literature, art and dance to reflect the ecstasy its followers derive from the presence of divine love.

Featuring extracts from a wide range of Sufi writers and poets, including the legendary Hasan al Basri, Bayazid, al-Hujweri, Jami,
al-Junayd, Abu Said, al-Hallaj, Rumi, Shahbistari, Ibn al-Arabi,
al-Suhrawardi, al-Ghazali, al-Ansari, Dhu'l Nu'n, Attar, etc. This anthology distils the profound wisdom of Sufism into one single volume. Capturing the very essence of the mystical path, and conveying the intense intoxication found in nearness to God, these extracts also offer sage advice on the cultivation of such virtues as ethics, humility and good humour.

From the back cover -

'' The sign of the Freind of God is that he has three qualities :
a genorisity like that of the ocean ;
a compassion like that of the sun ;
and a humilty like that of earth.''
--- BAYAZID BISTAMI

Contents include some of the following sections;
PRINCIPLES & DEFINITIONS OF SUFISM:
What is Sufism?
Of Dervishes and Sufis,
The Prophet Muhammad's Example,
The Qur'an,The Sufi's God,
Of Saints and Sainthood,
Of Disciples and Disciplehood,
The Spiritual Master.
ETHICS & ECUMENISM,
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES & STATIONS,MYSTICAL STATES, GNOSIS, AND LOVE

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Doorkeepr of the Heart : Versions of Rabi'a

Paperback - 85 pages Translated by Charles Upton

"One day a rich merchant visited Rabi'a
And saw that she was living in a ruin:
So he gave her a thousand pieces of gold
And told her to buy a new house —

But the day she moved in, she became so fascinated
With the beautiful paintings that covered the walls
That she gave the rich man back his money
And went back to live in her ruin — why?

'Because I was mortally afraid
I might fall in love with that house,' said Rabi'a."

This is one of the many stories told about Rabi'a al-Adawiyya (May Allah be pleased with her) (717 - 801CE), a major saint of Islam & one of the central figures in Sufism. She was born in Basra in ancient Mesopotamia, what is now Iraq. After her parents died in a famine, she and her sisters were separated. Rabi'a was captured and sold as a slave. Later on in her life, she was freed by her master and may have made her living as a flute player at one time. Rabi'a was known for her devotion to God and her rigorous ascetic practices. Translator James Upton, in his introduction to this Sufi saint and poet makes the following comparison: "If Rumi is the Ocean, Rabi'a is the Well." The stories about her and the poems have come down to us through the generations and the grace of Attar, her major biographer and al-Ghazzali, the towering figure who unifies Sufi lore and orthodox Islam tradition.

There are several edifying and witty pieces in this paperback on prayer. In one, Rabi'a writes:

"O God, take away the words of the devil
That mix with my prayer —
If not, then take my prayer as it is, devil and all."

There are quite a number of stories about the only miracles that count, namely the gracious and often surprising ways that God acts in our lives. Here is one:

"One day, when Rabi'a was about to boil some meat Hasan of Basra dropped by. "Speech about divine things is better food than anything cooked in a pan," she said, and laid the meat aside. They talked until evening.

"Then they decided to break their fast. Rabi'a laid out dry bread and water, and then reached for the pan. She burnt her hand. The pan was bubbling over, the meat cooked. She took it out and served it: it was the best meat either of them had ever tasted.

" 'Good food for convalescents,' Rabi'a said."

Rabi'a's two most famous images are included here. In the first, she states:

"I love God: I have no time left
In which to hate evil."

That's a good one to keep in mind when there is so much talk about fighting evil ones and overcoming the dark forces which surround us. The other zeroes in on the same theme:

"I carry a torch in one hand
And a bucket of water in the other:
With these things I am going to set fire to Heaven
And put out the flames of Hell
So that voyagers to God can rip the veils
And see the real goal."

REVIEW BY: Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat [Spirituality & Practice]

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Under the Sufi's Cloak : Stories of Abu Said & his Mystical Teachings
Paperback - 130 pages by Mohammad Ali Jamnia

Description from the publisher: “Abu Said’s Sufi spirituality exemplifies the human face of Islam: a Religion of Love – of tolerance, of ecumenism-not the sword; it is a religion in which cats and dogs have the same rights as the human being and infidels the same hearts as believers. It is a religion in which faith is judged solely by probity of intention, and whose broad minded sobriety is the product of the spiritual inebriation which views the profligate drunkard and puritan ascetic as equal citizens in the polis of humanity.

Abu Said’s once observed, Anyone in search of Reality, must of necessity encounter Sufis on his ways, as they are the doorway to reality.’ If you wish to stand for an instant on the threshold of this reality—spend an hour in the company of Abu said, reflecting on his dicta and exempla which bayat and jamnia have so sensitively translated here.

Abu Said, a uniquely significant figure in Islamic mysticism, is best known for establishing spiritual training centers and instituting rules of Sufi conduct which are followed to this day by various traditional Sufi orders. He also introduced musical elements and dance into a Sufi’s ritual of dhikr or divine invocation.

The 100 stories narrated in this book offer an excellent view into the mystical wisdom of Abu Said and insightful commentary on the teaching methodology of one of the most significant figures in the development of Sufism.

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