Come, flee to the grace of God to attain excellence, Zikr Allah, Saturday August 25 , 7:30 pm

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With such a gait, when will you reach the station? With such
a habit, how will you gain the goal?
You are very heavy of soul and camel-hearted; when will you
arrive among the nimble-spirited?
With such grossness how will you be modest? with such a
joining [attachment for the world], how will you reach the one
who enjoys the union?
Since there is no broadness in the mind, how will you achieve
the society of the difficult secret?
You are like water left in this clay; so how will you attain the
pure water and clay?
Disregard the sun and moon like Abraham, else how will you
attain the perfect sun?
Since you are weak, go, flee to the grace of God, for without
the Gracious how will you attain the excellence?
Without the tender care of that sea of loving kindness, how
will you reach the shore of such a wave?
Without the Boraq* of love and the labor of Gabriel how will
you like Mohammad attain all the stages?
You take shelter in those who are without shelter; how will
you attain the shelter of the welcoming king?
Before besmellah sacrifice yourself utterly; else, when you lie
dead, how will you attain the Name of God?*

-- Translation by A.J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 2"
University of Chicago Press, 1979


* Boraq is the legendary steed of Mohammad which carried him to his ascension.
* Besmellah al-rahman al-rahim (in the name of God, most gracious, most merciful) is repeated in the beginning of every chapter of the Qur'an. Also it is mentioned when a bird or animal is slaughtered.
 

Surah 6. Al-An'am, Ayah 76-78

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ 
فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

fa- lammaa janna calay -hi al- layl ra'aa kawkab(an) qaala haadhaa rabb -e fa- lammaa 'afala qaala laa uh.ibb al- 'aafilen 

fa- lammaa ra'aa al- qamar baazigh(an) qaala haadhaa rabb -e fa- lammaa 'afala qaala la- 'in lam yahdi -ne rabb -e la- akonanna min al- qawm ad.- d.aallen

fa- lammaa ra'aa ash- shams baazighah qaala haadhaa rabb -e haadhaa akbar fa- lammaa 'afalat qaala yaa qawm -e 'inni -y bare' min maa tushrikon

When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star. He said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not things that set."

When he saw the moon rising in splendor He said: "This is my Lord." but when the moon set he said: "Unless my Lord guide me I shall surely be among those who go astray."

When he saw the sun rising in splendor he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set he said: "O my people! I am (now) free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah."

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Join the Columbus Sufi Circle

to flee to the gtace of God,

chanted Zikr Allah, poetry,

followed by sohbet, sweets.

Saturday, August 25  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

 

Zikr Allah Ramadan 2, 1433 Saturday, July 21, 7:30 pm, Zawiyya al Mu'min

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ‡

 أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ‡

  شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآَنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ‡

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so

that you may guard (against evil).

 

(Fasting is) for a fixed number of days; and if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed

number (Should be made up) from days later, and for those (who miss the fast for illness or travel) who are able to do it, is a ransom of

 feeding one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him.

And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.

The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'an, guidance for mankind, and clear

proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present,

let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same)

number of other days. Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire hardship for you; and (He

desires) that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided

you, and that peradventure you may be thankful.

Qur'an (2:183-185)

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When it comes to material food, if you eat too little,
you'll stay hungry like the crow and become angry and anemic;
if you eat your fill, you'll get indigestion.
Partake of God's food, which is easily absorbed,
and ride like a ship on the ocean of spirit.
Be patient and persistent in fasting: keep expecting God's Food.
For God, who acts with goodness and is long-suffering,
bestows His gifts on those who are hopeful.
The full-fed person doesn't wait expectantly for bread,
wondering when it might arrive;
but the one who is without food keeps asking, "Where is it?"
hungrily hopeful, that one watches for it.
Unless you are hopeful, that abundant felicity will not come to you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gar khvori kam gorosneh mâni cho zâgh
var khvori por girad ârughet demâgh
Az ta`âm Allâh o qut khvosh govâr
bar chonân daryâ cho kashti shaw sovâr
Bâsh dar ruzeh shakibâ o moserr
dam be-dam qut-e Khodâ-râ montazer
K-ân Khodâ-ye khub kâr bord-bâr
hadyeh-hâ-râ mi dehad dar entezâr
Entezâr-e nân na-dârad mard-e sir
keh sabok âyad vazifeh yâ keh dir
Bi navâ har dam hami guyad keh ku
dar majâ`at montazer dar jost o ju
Chon na-bâshi montazer na-âyad beh-to
ân navâleh-ye dawlat haftâd-e to

-- Mathnawi V: 1746-1753
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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Join the Columbus Sufi Circle

as we " expect God's food ... hungrily hopeful",

as we practice remembrance of God,

Zikr Allah, poetry,

followed by iftar for thode fasting,
sohbet, sweets.

Saturday, July 21, 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