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| View All Poems by Niffari (Muhammad ibn al-Hasan an-Niffari) | Next Poem >>

The Standing "My Time Has Come"

by Niffari (Muhammad ibn al-Hasan an-Niffari)
(? - 965) Timeline

English version by
Michael A. Sells

Original Language
Arabic

Muslim / Sufi
10th Century

He stood me, saying:

If you cannot see me, you are not with me
If you see an other-than-me, you do not see me

Intimations of me in anything
     efface the meaning of meaning within it,
     and affirm it from, not through

In you is something
     that cannot be relinquished
     that cannot be turned away

When you are silent of yourself
     the proclaimer must speak

In everything is a trace of me
     If you speak of it, you change it

Put remembrance of me behind you,
     Or you'll revert to the other-than-me,
          between you and it, nothing

My moment has come
     The time has come for me to unveil my face
          and manifest my splendor

          My light will reach the courtyards
     and what is beyond
          Eyes will gaze upon me,
     hearts will gaze
          You will see my enemy
     loving me,
          my intimate companions
     judging

I will raise up thrones for them
They will send away the fire
     never to return
I will inhabit once more
     my ruined abodes
adorning them with the real
     You will see how a measure of me
expels otherness

I will gather all people into well-being
     Never again will they be divided or abased
Take out my hidden treasure
     Realize my tidings
          my readiness,
          my imminent rising
I will rise and the stars will gather around me
I will bring sun and moon together
I will enter every dwelling
"Peace to you," they will greet me
"And to you, peace," I will reply
At my beckon, the hour will rise
I am the Almighty, the Compassionate.

 

 

-- from Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Quran, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality), by Michael A. Sells

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Fire
  Heart
  Light
  Moon
  Silence


Recommended Books


Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Quran, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality), by Michael A. Sells
The Mawaqif and Mukhatabat of Muhammad Ibn 'Abdi 'L-Jabbar Al-Niffari With Other Fragments, Translated by A. J. Arberry

 

| View More Poems by Niffari (Muhammad ibn al-Hasan an-Niffari) | Next Poem >>

 

 


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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2009 by Ivan M. Granger.
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