Abdul-Qader Bedil (1642–1720 CE) was Sufi saint and an influential poet of the late Mughal period, but details about his life are ambiguous. There are conflicting claims that he was born in Afghanistan, from where his family came, or in India, and he also appears to have two graves, one in Delhi, and the other in the region of Kabul. He taught religious tolerance, and the Unity of Being.

The eternal mysteries,
following wisdom’s lead,
brought forth
the human form
as their living proof.

As long as the drop
hadn’t emerged from the sea,
the ocean
didn’t notice
the depths of its splendor.

Translation David and Sabrineh Fideler