Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

12th Century

About Farid ud-Din Attar

Timeline (1120? - 1220?)

Farid ud-Din Attar, Farid ud-Din Attar poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry, poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, poetry

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English version by
Raficq Abdulla

Original Language
Persian/Farsi

God Speaks to Moses

Themes

Drum

Fire

Smile

Recommended Books

	The Conference of the Birds, Translated by Afkham Darbandi / Translated by Dick Davis
	Conference of the Birds: A Seeker's Journey to God, Translated by Rustom Pestonji Masani
	The Conference of the Birds: The Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid ud-Din Attar, Translated by Raficq Abdulla
	The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry, Translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson / Translated by Nasrollah Pourjavady
	The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman Barks

More >>

One day God spoke to Moses and said:
'Visit Satan, question him, use your head.'
So Moses descended to Hells burning halls;
Satan saw him coming, a smile did he install
On his fiery face. Moses proudly asked him
For advice, waiting for Satan's crafty whim;
Satan spoke through his coal-black teeth:
'Remember this rule which sense bequeaths
Never say "I" so that you become like me.'
So long as you live for yourself you'll be
A drum booming pride a cymbal of infidelity.
Vanity, resentment, envy and anger shall be cemented
Into your inner state; you shall be like a demented
Dog with lolling tongue, infected with indolence of sin.
You shall become your own tracked prisoner within.

-- from The Conference of the Birds: The Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid ud-Din Attar, Translated by Raficq Abdulla

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About Farid ud-Din Attar

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World