Kwajah Abdullah Ansari (1006-1089 CE) was a very important Sufi in the area of present day Afghanistan, and was known as the Pir of Herat. These verses are taken from his Book of Wisdom.
And he said (may God be pleased with him!):
Do not keep company
with anyone whose state does not inspire you
and whose speech does not lead you
to God.
You might be in a bad state; then,
associating with one who is in a worse state,
you see virtue in yourself.
No deed arising from a renouncing heart is small,
and no deed arising from an avaricious heart is fruitful.
Good works
are the result of good states.
Good states
arise from the stations wherein abide
those who have spiritual realisation.
Do not abandon the Invocation
because you do not feel the Presence of God therein.
For your forgetfulness of the Invocation of Him
is worse that your forgetfulness in the invocation of Him.
Perhaps He will take you from an Invocation with forgetfulness
to one with vigilance, and from one with vigilance
to one with the Presence of God, and from one with the Presence of God
to one wherein everything but the Invoked is absent.
“And that is not difficult for God.”
Kwaja Abdullah Ansari The Book of Wisdom
Tr. Victor Danner
Ah Nawab, what a beautiful and inspiring poem. The phrase “do not abandon the Invocation” touches my heart with guidance and blessing particularly. How easy it is to be caught up in the bad news of the day and to feel virtuous as compared to others. Yet, such state are far from the Message of love, harmony and beauty. Thank you.
Thank you, Sabura. A note from the translator indicates that ‘the Invocation’ refers to the repetition of Zikar, but of course the thought applies equally to our prayers and other practices, too.
Wow Murshid .What an incredible, powerful poem , so clear and lucid !Some humble reflexions to share with u here :
On “keeping company with those whose state and speach does not lead us to God” : it might lead to a very lonely life if taken literally!Not many people have that kind of state , as a matter of fact in my experience in this materialistic world we live in only very few do.But than the poem does not point out to wich kind of people lead us to God and which don’t so it occurs to me that perhaps it is up to our state wheter we are be able to see God in everyone or not.Some close relationships can be so dense and challenging ( for example family) that often one looking for that “state ” is tempted to pull away from them in order to stay away from negative impressions .This makes me wonder about responsabiltity and service: how to be compassionate and loving and stay detached, and what is our duty as human beings towards others we love or we come across …and this again takes me back to the concept of deeds, and here the poem shines with wisdom pointing on wich is the right direction…
God bless you all of you who share here and thank you always beloved Murshid !
Huma
Dear Huma, many thanks for the reflections. Of course, if we attempt to follow mystical poetry with the logical rigour of the mind, we quickly become tangled. But if it lights the candle of the heart, then we have a light to follow.
Sending love,
Nawab
Thanks all of you for the comments on the poem, these words are as Beautifull as the poem. The heart candles are burning