How would the ringdoves call like seekers, "Where, oh where?" Zikr Allah al "ala, Sat May 19, 7:30 pm

Surah 87: Surah al 'ala

Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
  Who created and proportioned......

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Without the eyes – two clouds – the lightning of the heart:

How would the herbage grow of union, sweet to taste?
How would the fountains all gush forth with water pure?
How would the rosebed tell its secret to the meadow?
How would the violet make contracts with jasmine?
How would the plane tree lift its hands in prayer, say?
How would the trees' heads toss free in the air of Love?
How would the blossoms shake their sleeves in days of
spring
To shed their lovely coins about the garden wide?
How would the tulip's cheek be red like flames and blood?
How would the rose draw out its gold now from its purse?
How would the ringdoves call like seekers, "Where, oh
where?"
How would the stork repeat his laklak from his soul,
To say: "O Helper high, Thine is the kingdom, Thine!"
How would the dust reveal the secrets of its heart?
How would the sky become a garden full of light?

-- Mathnawi II: 1655-64
Translation by Annemarie Schimmel
"I Am Wind, You are Fire"
Shambhala, 1992

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Join the Columbus Sufi Circle
as we practice remembrance of God,

call like seekers, "Where, oh

where?"

Zikr Allah, poetry,
followed by sohbet, sweets.
Saturday, May 19, 7:30 pm
Zawiyya al Mu'min
1000 Urlin Avenue, # 1507
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or 614-446-3337 for more information

The tribe gathers; Zikr Allah, Saturday, April 21, 7:30 pm

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Spring, and no one can be still,
with all the messages coming through.

We walk outside as though going to meet visitors,
wild roses, trilliums by the water.

A tight knot loosens.
Something which died in December
lifts a head out,
and opens.

Trees, the tribe gathers!
Who has a chance
against such an elegant assemblage?

Before this power,
human beings are chives to be chopped,
gnats to be waved away.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"These Branching Moments,"
Copper Beech Press, 1988

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Join the Columbus Sufi Circle
as we practice remembrance of God,
lift a head out,
and open
Zikr Allah, poetry,
followed by sohbet, sweets.
Saturday, March 17, 7:30 pm
Zawiyya al Mu'min
1000 Urlin Avenue, # 1507
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or 614-446-3337 for more information

What is the warm breeze of Spring? -Dhikr Allah, March 17, 7:30pm, Zawiyya al Mu'min

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"The Breath of My Presence"

I smell the fragrance of my Beloved
and my heart is lost.
I see a ray of light from His face
and my soul is enraptured.

Why are the earth and all its creatures
bubbling up in delight? -
A drop from the Saaqi's* cup
has spilled upon the ground.

One who is frozen and withered
is lost in his own affairs.
Don't be lost in your own affairs -
be lost in mine!

The Spring reveals all the secrets of the earth.
My spring reveals all the secrets of the soul.

The roses of the earth
only hide the thorns and brambles.
When my roses bloom
they remove every thorn from the heart.

What is the cold wind of winter? -
the breath of your denial.
What is the warm breeze of Spring? -
the breath that lets me into your life.

-- Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved "
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997

Star note:
*Saaqi: cupbearer, or one who pours wine; a symbol of God's grace.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Join the Columbus Sufi Circle
as we practice remembrance of God,
make remembrance the sun
Zikr Allah, poetry,
followed by sohbet, sweets.
Saturday, March 17, 7:30 pm
Zawiyya al Mu'min
1000 Urlin Avenue, # 1507
Columbus, Ohio 43212

Contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or 614-446-3337 for more information