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