Zikr Fatiha, April 23, 2011, 7:30 pm

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The Fâtihah* is unique in attracting good and averting evil.
If anything other than God appears to you,
it's the effect of His illusion;
and if all other than God vanished from sight,
it's the effect of His awakening you to what is real.

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Zânkeh u-râ Fâteheh khvod mi keshid
Fâteheh dar jarr o daf` âmad vahid
Gar namâyad ghayr ham tamvih-e Ust
var ravad ghayr az nazar tanbih-e Ust

-- Mathnawi VI:3355-3356
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

From Ibrahim Gamard:

*Fatihah: the first chapter of the Quran, consisting of seven verses
which are repeated numerous times each day by Muslims. It is a prayer
asking to be rightly guided, rather than led astray. A contemporary
(non-literal) interpretive translation for Americans (based on extensive
study of the Arabic root meanings of every word) is by the Muslim sufi
teacher Imam Bilal Hyde:
(1) "We begin in the Name of God, Everlasting Mercy, Infinite
Compassion.
(2) Praise be to God, Loving Lord of all the worlds.
(3) Everlasting Mercy, Infinite Compassion.
(4) Eternal Strength of every living being, Whose Majestic Power
embraces us on the day of the great return.
(5) Only You do we adore, and to You alone do we cry for help.
(6) Guide us, O God, on the path of Perfect harmony,
(7) The path of those whom You have blessed with the gifts of Peace,
Joy, Serenity, and Delight, the path of those who are not brought down
by anger, the path of those who are not lost along the way.

Amin. So be it."


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Munira Elizabeth Reed will lead Zikr al Fatiha
7:30 pm Saturday, April 23
Zawiyya al Mu'min
1000 Urlin Ave.
Grandview Heights OH 43212

Followed by sohbet, sweets and hot drinks

Questions? Call Hilal at 614-446-3337 or e-mail hilal1001@sbcglobal.net