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Muslim / Sufi
13th Century

About Umar Ibn al-Farid

Timeline (1181 - 1235)

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English version by
Th. Emil Homerin

Original Language
Arabic

In truth, I led my prayer leader in prayer (from The Poem of the Sufi Way)

Themes
  Heart
 
 
 
 

 

Recommended Books

From Arab Poet to Muslim Saint: Ibn Al-Farid, His Verse, and His Shrine, by Th. Emil Homerin
Umar Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verses, Saintly Life, Translated by Th. Emil Homerin
The Wine of Love and Life: Ibn Al-Farid's Al-Khamriyah and Al-Qaysari's Quest for Meaning, by Dawud Ibn Mahmud Qaysari

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!

 

 

-- from Umar Ibn al-Farid: Sufi Verses, Saintly Life, Translated by Th. Emil Homerin

Amazon.com

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.