My heart
imagine that all things
conform to your desire,
imagine you’ve become a millionaire
overnight,
with goods
piled from the Throne of Earth
to the Pleiades -
still – remember:
tomorrow too will pass,
as today has passed.
(Awhaduddin Kirmani, trans. P L Wilson)

Ay, no matter how I complain and cry,
Love does with me as she pleases.
I wish to give her every day,
praise and honour.
Ay, Love, would that your eyes could see my commitment!

Speaking of this gives me courage,
since first there was at your high stage,
your attractive fragrance.

Ay Love, you have never lied,
in what you showed me in my youth.
That for which I yearn; what you are able to give.
Be medicine!

Ah yes, you Love, who are the guardian of all,
for love’s sake, give me what gladdens me most,
because you are the mother of all virtue,
lady and queen.
Hadewych, Lyrics 41

It is reported that Imam Ali said:

‘When a word comes from the heart, it falls onto the heart; but when it comes from the tongue, it will go no farther than the ears’
The Scale of Wisdom, 877

Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (Quddus Allahi sirruhu) said:

‘Among what God, the Exalted, revealed to Prophet Moses: ‘I have not created anything as dear to Me as My believing servant, so when I try him I do so for his own good, and I make him prosper for his own good, and I shield him for his own good.  And I know best what improves My servant, so let him endure My trial and be thankful for My favours, and be content with My decree, and I will record him among the righteous’
The Scale of Wisdom, 911

Blind me, beautiful sun
Fill my eyes until I may see
nothing but light.
Burn me, beautiful sun
Make my flesh as nothing
Bow my head in the dust of myself.
By the great solar winds of your burning
Fling me into the arms of my Beloved.

Patricia Sweeney, (C) Sufi Journal

Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (may God sanctify his soul) said:

‘The heart is the sanctuary of God, so do not lodge other than God in God’s sanctuary’
The Scale of Wisdom, 1323

He is the aim, the sought after, the begged and hoped for.
His name is the cure for the love-struck.
He is the soother of the anxious and the treasure of hope.
From Him the love-struck obtains what he yearns for.
Isma`il Anqarawi

I wanted to share a talk by the novelist, Elif Shafak, on the nature and exercise of fiction, with thanks to sister Bahar.

I wanted to share some of the music of the Jungle Brothers, one of my all time favourite rap groups.  Enjoy, and may all you do this day be blessed.

Straight Out The Jungle

Beyond This World

Sunshine

Good Newz Comin’

Done By The Forces of Nature

J Beez Comin’ Through

Spittin’ Wicked Randomness

God gives the things of this earth
a certain colour and variety and value,
causing childish folk to argue over it.
When a piece of dough is baked
in the shape of a camel or lion,
these children bite their fingers excitedly in their greed.
Both lion and camel turn to bread in the mouth,
but it’s futile to tell this to children
Masnavi 6.4717-4719