Zikr Allah, Feb. 27, 7:30

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God created suffering and heartache so that
joyful-heartedness might appear through its opposite.
Hence hidden things become manifest through
opposites. But since God has no opposite, He remains hidden.
For the sight falls first upon light, then upon
color: Opposites are made manifest through opposites, like
white and black.
So you have come to know light through light's
opposite: Opposites display opposites within the breast.
God's light has no opposite within existence,
that through its opposite it might be made manifest.
Therefore our "eyes comprehend Him not, but He
comprehends the eyes" (Koran VI 104): Learn this from Moses at
Mount Sinai*.
Know that form springs from meaning as the
lion from the thicket, or as voice and speech from thought.
Form was born from speech and then died. It
took its wave back to the sea.
Form comes out from Formlessness: Then it
returns, for "unto Him we are returning" (Koran II 156).

-- Mathnavi I, 1130-34
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

* Rumi alludes here to Moses' words in the Koran: "Oh
my Lord, show me, that I may behold Thee!" The verse
continues, "Said He, `Thou shalt not see Me; but behold
the mountain if it stays fast in its place, then thou shalt
see Me.' And when his Lord revealed His theophany to
the mountain, He made it crumble to dust; and Moses fell
down swooning" (Koran VII 143).

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Let's follow Form back to Formlessness
follow the 99 names to the One

Please join the Columbus Sufi Circle on February 27, 7:30 pm
Zawiyya alMu'min
1000 Urlin Avenue, Apt.1507
Grandview Heights OH 43212

contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or call 614-446-3337 if you have questions or need help with directions

Dances this friday at Maynard Avenue United Methodist

This Friday night is one of the monthly neighborhood potlucks at Maynard Avenue UMC. Rev. Patty Wagner has invited us to bring some Dances of Universal Peace for their February program. Aatoon will join with me in leading just a few Dances there.

www.maynardav.org

The “Intentional Community” group of Simply Living (I am told) is actually the core group from the neighborhood at the monthly potlucks --- where up to 50 folks can gather. It is a multigenerational group. And while some of the church members may find the Dances a stretch, Patty is interested in challenging them. She’s very excited about our coming.

If anyone is interested in coming to support the Dance circle as advanced/experienced dancers and/or as musicians, please feel free. You can bring a dish and come at 6:00 for the meal (it is advertised as 5:30 start time but she says the meal really never begins till 6:00) or you can simply come at 7:00 for the dance circle.

Please feel free to forward this email.

Much love to all,

Munira

Rev. Elizabeth A. (Munira) Reed, Ph.D.