Sufism is the mystical dimension of Islam and poetry has ever been the most powerful vehicle for conveying Sufi ideas. Islamic Mystical Poetry includes a selection of poetry ranging from the ninth to the twentieth century, representing the peak of Islamic mystical writing. 

My heart has become capable of every form: it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,

And a temple for idols and the pilgrim’s Kaaba and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Qur’an.

I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love’s camels take, that is my religion and my faith.

            —Mohyuddin Ibn ‘Arabi

Geographically covering most of the Islamic world, the selection include poems from the greatest of the greats: Rabia Basri, Mansur Hallaj, Ansari of Heart, Sanai Bhaznavi, Fariduddin Attar, Inb ‘Arabi, Jalalluddin Rumi, Mahmud Shabistari, Sultan Veled, Yunus Emre, Amir Khusrow, Hafiz, Kabir, Jami, Sarmad, Bulleh Shah, and a number of others.

With titles like “The Face of Beauty,” “The Heart is a River,” “I am so Drunk,” and “The Moon Shines in My Body,” these poems have resonated down the centuries with many hearts. Reflecting both private devotional love and the attempt to attain union with God and become absorbed into the Divine, many poems in this edition are imbued with the symbols and metaphors that unfold the central ideas of Sufism: the Lover, the Beloved, the Win and the Tavern; while others are more personal, echoing the poet’s battle to leave earthly love behind.

The fire of the rose’s cheek

Burnt the nightingale’s heart;

The laughing flame

Tormented the devoted moth…

The Sufi that yesterday

Was ranting against wine and cup,

Took a sip last night

Got drunk and became wise!

            —Hafiz

These translations capture the passion of the original poetry and are accompanied by an introduction on Sufism and the common themes, including suggested further readings.