Iqbal on Mullahism
qoum kia cheez hay qoumo ke immammath kia hay is ko kia janay ye bechara do rakaath ka immam bayan may nukta tawheed aa…
Nothing but a figure of clay
Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning, and at night it is scattered to the winds. Physical beauty too has no importance,…
Fahmida Riaz on the Wall
My young friend has translated Fahmida Riaz‘s words, and how inspiring these are.. “There is a wall in front of us, we have a…
Dumbfounded by Love
Dear soul, Love alone cuts arguments short, for it alone comes to the rescue when you cry for help against disputes. Eloquence is dumbfounded…
“Naught to do with existence”
From Rumi’s Mathnavi (book III) – a parable most beautiful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One day a sufi sees an empty food sack hanging on a nail.…
Mir Dard – a ghazal’s translation
We have laid such wild misdeeds to our name. for this we came. the account is full. by the wrack of this storm, this…
Ramadan came to the heart’s temple
Ramadan came, but Bairam is with us. The lock came, but the key is with us. Mouth is closed. Eyes are opened. That brilliance…
The Breaking Wave of Love
Ah, once more he put a fire in me, And once more this crazy heart is craving the open plains. This ocean of love…
The roar of Rumi – 800 years on
Today is Mevlana’s 800th anniversary. Centuries later, his poetry and messages of love resonate across the globe. I am posting this piece by Charles…
sanon apna yaar rajhawan dey – Bulleh Shah
With due apologies to those who cannot understand Punjabi. I will work on a translation sometime later. mar na mulla bulariyan sanon apna yaar…
Remembering Neruda on Support Burma Day
The monks in Burma have resisted the oppression with grace and immense selflessness. I am reminded of a poem The Dictators by Pablo Neruda…
I thought I must give up on life..
Solomon Marni has contributed this beautiful poem for JR. I thought I must give up on life And turn into a stone; The desert…
I bow before the image of my Love
I bow before the image of my Love No Muslim I But an idolater I bow before the image of my Love And worship…
Maybe They’re Shy
Now the nightbirds will be singing of the way we love each other. Why should they sing about flowers when they’ve seen us in…
Celebrate! The month of fasting has come – Rumi
Celebrate! The month of fasting has come. Pleasant journey to the one Who is the company of the fasting. I climbed the roof to…
Byron: the elusive poet
I stumbled on this article on Byron – a romantic poet – who died young but left a legacy of fine poetry, political vision…
Bulleh Shah – poems and musings
I am free, my mind is free, I can be imprisoned nowhere. Today Bulleh Shah’s Urs (death anniversary) celebrations have commenced in Qasoor, Pakistan.…
Du’aa (Prayer) on the Independence Day
This moving poem by Faiz was written forty years ago and still sounds so fresh and relevant… Du’aa (Prayer) — A nazm for Pakistan’s…
A place unsown…
Another profund Rumination – The Absolute Being works in nonexistence – what but nonexistence is the workshop of the Maker of existence? Does anyone…
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sings Bulleh Shah
I had earlier posted a video of Abida Parveen singing Bulleh Shah. While that is an all time favourite, the global voice of Nusrat…