Hazrat Ali’s letter on governance and citizenship
The common stories about Islam or Muslims have to do with the chopping of arms and killing of infidels. We are told that Muslims…
A World with No Boundaries
With every breath the sound of love surrounds us, and we are bound for the depths of space, without distraction. We’ve been in orbit…
The Veil – Attar
By Farid al-Din ‘Attar (1142-1220) 1 We are the Magians of old, Islam is not the faith we hold; In irreligion is our fame,…
Makhdoom a people’s poet – a poem
Found this poem and its translation by Makhdoom Mohiuddin Our city is strange – it whispers in the nights when you walk on roads…
Waves of anger and fear…
W.H. Auden’s “September 1, 1939,” is on my mind.. September 1, 1939 W. H. Auden [1907 – 1973] I sit in one of the…
Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai
If you are seeking Allah If you are seeking Allah, Then keep clear of religious formalities. Those who have seen Allah Are away from…
On the eve of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary
Centuries ago, Guru Nanak composed these lines: Within every body Is the Lord hidden; Within every body Is His light. Searching his body, his…
Yeh jungle hamare basaey huyae hain
Woh Gor-i-Ghariban par Aur hanse kar bole Yeh jungle hamare basaey huyae hain (Walking past the graveyard of paupers His Majesty conferred / This…
Missing Things
by Vernon Scannell I’m very old and breathless, tired and lame, and soon I’ll be no more to anyone than the slowly fading trochee…
Of Autumn and Roses
I sent this poem to Fahmida Riaz a few days ago to comfort her. Little did I know that there would be another death…
Ominous shadows
Raunaqe bazaar-o- mehfil kam nahin hai aj bhee Saneha is sheher mein koi magar honay ko hai Read here >>…
The almost forgotten radical message of Iqbal
Yesterday was the Iqbal day- year after year it has become just another empty ritual. High sounding speeches and statements, visits to Iqbal’s tomb…
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…
Ecstasy and Order – Salman Chishty on Rumi
My young friend, Salman Chishty, from Ajmer (India) wrote this piece for the HT on the eve of Rumi’s birth anniversary.He was quick to…
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.…
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…
Ecstasy and Order
Ecstasy and Order – Mevelana Rumi – The 30th of September this year marks the 800th birth anniversary of one of the greatest Sufi…