Islamic Mystical Poetry: Sufi Verse from the early Mystics to Rumi (Penguin Classics)

Great to have such a comprehensive anthology of Sufi poets from all over the Islamic empire in one volume. The introductory essays were however extremely short and I would have liked to learn more about each poet.

An excellent collection of fine poetry from the many special poets in the mystical world. Highly recommended.

Really teaches you the fundamentals and the thought process in the introduction of teh book. It even has an effect on you.

wonderful

Beautiful content to leaf through

Wonderful Sufi wisdom and spirituality

A good selection of poets, so this is very good as a basic introduction. But many of the translations are old-fashioned and dreary, and there is too little background information. These poems need a bit of introduction in order for a western reader to really understand their depth and extraordinary beauty.

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It is no exaggeration to say that were i restricted to owning but one book my choice would be Mahmood Jamal's "Islamic Mystical Poetry: Sufi Verse from the Early Mystics to Rumi." And among the poems chosen for this 332-page anthology, I would be sustained above all by the verse which opens the book. It was written by Mohyuddin Ibn 'Arabi (1165-1240), a Spaniard by birth who, Jamal tells us, "is universally acknowledged as the greatest mystic of Islam." It is as follows:"My heart has become capable of every form: it is apasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,And a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Kaaba and theTables of the Torah and the book of the Qur'an.I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love'sCamels take, that is my religion and my faith."The images and sentiments in this verse thrill. Above all, i am inspired by the appreciation that Ibn 'Arabi expresses for each of the three Abrahamic faiths, a tolerance one needs pray for today. Sufi poetry is most strikingly characterized by recurring references to love, wine-drinking, and ecstatic transports. In some cases, these references are obvious and in other cases more coded, but the general purpose is to express a desire for personal knowledge of the Lord. This goal needs no explanation in a text translation of Abu Hafs Suhrawardi (1145-1234) that is included in the introduction. "The common folk listen to music according to nature, and the novices listen with desire and awe, while the listening of the saints brings them a vision of the Divine gifts and graces, and these are the gnostics to whom listening means contemplation. But finally, there is the listening of the spiritually perfect to whom, through music, God reveals Himself unveiled."

This is a beautiful, inspirational collection of poetry from many important authors that also includes biographical information and a glossary. The poems are deep and moving, rife with emotion and spirit. Very highly recommended for any poetry lover.

The poems in this book are all about love for God. Each word, every line is coated with sugar of love and reading them melts my heart, the heart which is the doorway to God.The poets whoes works hae been included are: Rabia Basri, Mansur Hallaj, Abu Said Ibn Abil Khair, Sheikh Abdullah Ansari, Ahmad Jam, Sanai Ghaznavi, Nizami Ganjavi, Fariduddin Attar, Umar Ibn Al Farid, Mohyuddin Ibn Arabi, Jalaluddin Rumi, Iraqi, Sa'di Shirazi, Mahmud Shabistari, Sultan Veled, Yunus Emre, Amir Khusrow Dehlavi, Ashiq Pasha, Hafiz Shirazi, Maghribi, Shah Nimatullah, Qasimul Anwar, Kabir, Abdur Rahman Jami, Sarmad, Sultan Bahu, Baba Bulle Shah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shah Naiz and Mian Muhammad BakshA total of two hundred and thirty five poems are collected in this book. The poets range vastly in time and space and language. They are from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Indo-Pakistan. Many of them were Sultans while many were fakirs. Few like Bulle Shah spoke Punjabi language while few Turkish. Many like Rumi gained recognition during their lifetime while Sarmad got executed by Aurangzeb. But however far they might be from one another in human context but the thing which strings them on the same thread is their intense love and longing for Almighty Allah.