Sa’di:
In the world, I am joyful
since the world
is joyful
because of
the Beloved.

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

If someone
asks me
to describe
the Beloved,
what
can one
who has lost
her heart
say
about the Traceless?!
The lovers
have been slain
by the Beloved;
from the slain
no sound
can come.
(Sa’di, Rosegarden, translated by A. Godlas)
گر کسی وصف او زمن پرسد
بى دل ز بى نشان چه گوید
عاشقان كشتگان معشوق اند
بر نیآيد زكشتگان آواز

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

Rumi:
Where
is the One
Who makes
my soul drunk
without wine?

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

I look at the desert
I see the desert to be You!
I look at the ocean,
I see the ocean to be You!
Wherever I look,
be it mountains,
valleys,
or plains,
I see there
the signs
of Your stunning stature.
(Baba Taher, Translation by A. Godlas, Oct. 2016)
به صحـرا بنگرم
صحـرا تو بينم
به دريــا بنگرم
دريــا تو بينم
بهرجا بنگرم
كوه و در و دشت
نشان از قامت رعنا تو بينم

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

“Die before you die!” (Regarded by Sufis as a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and referring to the voluntary surrender of one’s ego, in love of God, over and over again during one’s life.) موتوا قبل أن تموتوا Mutu qabla an tamutu

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

“Indeed, a messenger has come to you from among yourselves, a messenger who is deeply concerned about whatever is distressing you, who yearns for the best for you, and who is kind and unconditionally loving toward the believers” (Qur’an, Surat al-Tawba 9:128) لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ la-qad ja’akum rasulun min anfusikum, ‘azizun ‘alayhi ma anittum, harisun ‘alaykum bil-mu’minina ra’ufun rahim.

Calligraphed by Ahmad al-Hawari أحمد الهواري , an Egyptian calligrapher, in 1432 AH.

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

“They [i.e., Adam and Eve] said: We have oppressed our selves [literally: brought darkness upon ourselves]. If You do not forgive us and enable us to receive Your mercy, we will indeed be among the losers.” (Qur’an Surat al-A’raf 7:23)
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Qalaa rabbana zalamna anfusana wa-in lam taghfir la-na wa-tarhamna la-nakunanna min al-khasirin. Calligraphy by Deniz Çimen (signed Bahri), 1437 AH.

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

“God is Infinitely Forgiving, Infinitely Loving, Possessing the Glorious Throne, Doing Whatever He Wishes” (Qur’an Sur’at al-Buruj, 85:14-16) وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ (14) ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ (15) فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُ (16 wa-huwa l-ghafuru l-wadud, dhu l-‘arshi l-majid, fa’alun li-ma yurid
“Y Él es Perdonador, el Amoroso. Dueño del Trono Sublime. El hace lo que quiere” (Spanish translation by Suleyman Ernesto Geddes )

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

“All who are on it pass away, but the face of your Lord-Sustainer, the Possessor of Grandeur and Generosity remains” (Qur’an Surat al-Rahman 55:26-27) كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ Kullu man ‘alayha fanin wa-yabqa wajhu rabbika dhu l-jalali wa l-ikram

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.

Rumi:
If the soul of the lover
breathes,
it will set fire
to the whole world.
گر جان عاشق دم زند آتش در این عالم زند
Gar jan-e ‘asheq dam zanad
atesh dar in ‘alam zanad

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.