Ibn Ata'illah as-Sakandari RA

If you want the door of hope opened for you,

then consider what comes to you from Him;

but if you want the door of sadness opened for you,

then consider what goes to Him from you.

Nizami Ganjavi

The Contest Between Khosrau and Farhad

(excerpt from the poem Khosrau and Shirin)

Khosrau asked once: "Where do you come from, say?"

Farhad replied: "From regions far away."

Khosrau: "In what crafts does you land excel?"

Farhad: "We purchase grief and souls we sell."

Khosrau: "By selling soul what do you gain?"

Farhad: "Our bards this custom don't disdain."

Khosrau: "Your soul from love is well high fleeing?"

Farhad: "My soul? I love with all my being."

Khosrau: "Shirin's affection do you prize?"

Farhad: "O yes, I prove it with my sighs!"

Khosrau: "Is she the moon that shines at night?"

Farhad: "Though drowsy, still I see her light."

Khosrau: "When will your heart forget her glow?"

Farhad: "When I am buried, lying low."

Khosrau: "When she appears, you trembling, sigh?"

Farhad: "To please her in the dust I'd lie."

Khosrau: "But if she wounds you in the eye?"

Farhad: "I'll give both eyes without a cry!"

Khosrau: "If someone offers her his heart?"

Farhad: "My sword of steel will do its part!"

Khosrau: "She never will become your own!"

Farhad: "A glimpse of her is a joy enough alone!"

Khosrau: "If all your chattels she demands?"

Farhad: "I'll give her all, as she commands."

Khosrau: "But if she orders - go away!"

Farhad: "My head then at her feet I'll lay!"

Khosrau: "Forget this friendship, do you hear?"

Farhad: "Can friendship be destroyed by fear?"

Khosrau: "Be calm, it is a day-dream, see?"

Farhad: "Nay, calmness not made for me!"

Khosrau: "Give up your love, and bear your lot."

Farhad: "For me love without love is nought."

Khosrau: "With patience men condole for sure."

Farhad: "Some men endure, I don't endure."

Khosrau: "By what great sorrow are you torn?"

Farhad: "Our parting makes me weep and mourn."

Khosrau: "Would you desire to have a wife?"

Farhad: "Alone I can no more bear life."

Khosrau: "Give up Shirin, you must obey!"

Farhad: "Shirin is mine, that's my last say!"

Khosrau: "Her name to mention do not dare!"

Farhad: "You see and hear Farhad's despair!"

Khosrau: "And if I come to love Shirin?"

Farhad: "The world will burn to ashes clean!"

Allama Mohammad Iqbal

Your eyes are fixed on miracles that amaze,

But world of events strange attracts my gaze.

No doubt, the world of thought is strange and queer,

But world of Life and Death more odd appear.

A call to you is sent by World of Chance,

Perhaps you may transmute it with your glance.

Ahmad Shamlou

The Garden of Mirrors

A lantern in my hands
A lantern in front
I leave to combat
the monster of darkness.

Only now that all tired cradles have resigned
from their routine swinging
into a timeless stillness,
a sun from my depths
is throwing numerous luminous rays
on the ashes of the lifeless stars
of my nightly sky.

So I deem
it is the time to leave...

***

Within the wild cries of the lightening
As-if in plain conception of the rains
in the restless womb of the clouds,

Within the silent pain of the vines
when the embryo of grape growing on the end of their limbs,

Within all these pain and cries
My sob was just another word
for the common wish for relief:

In the most frightening nights of plight
I also hopelessly called the Sun
and the Sunrise.

***

You'd come from the land of hundred suns,
you'd be from the land of hundred dawns.

You'd be from the place of birth, mirror and silk.

***

In a void
with no sign of god and with no sign of fire
I helplessly implored your gaze
and your trust.

You'd be
a sever flow
Of light, of love and of life
in the empty room between two death.

And you'd be a bridge
over the tears of solitudes
the hits of lassitude.

At least.
that is how I feel the glow of your gaze and the warmth your trust

***

Your bliss
is merciless indeed,
Yet so gracious.

And your breath
Striking over the palm of my hands
a green song...

***

I stir!
Now I stir!
A lantern in my hands
A lantern in front,
I leave to polish the stains of my soul.

Then I'll put a mirror
in front of yours:

That is how I will make an eternity
from you and me.

Elsa Kazi

Abu-Said Abil-Kheir

Beg for Love.

Consider this burning, and those who burn, as gifts from the Friend.

Nothing to learn.

Too much has already been said.

When you read a single page from the silent book of your heart,

you will laugh at all this chattering,

all this pretentious learning.

Nazeer Akbarabadi

Khuli jab ki chashm e dil e hazeen,to vo nam raha na teri rahi

Hui hairat aisi kuch aankh par ki asar ki be asari rahi

Pari goshe jaan mein ajab nida ki jigar na bejigari rahi

Khabare tahhayyur e ishq sun na junoon raha na pari rahi

Na to tu raha na to main raha jo rahi bekhabari rahi…

The eyes of an anguished heart open…No longer moist.. Bereft of tears

The perplexed vision Remained unmoved.. Devoid of response

The soul heard.. An unusual sound That took the pluck of life away

As wondrous love revealed itself The fairy vanished..The ecstasy lost

Nor you remained.. Nor I was found mere oblivion was all there was…

Khamsa by Nazeer Akbarabadi for Siraj Aurangabadi