The Poetry of the Sufis

Sufism had its origins in the early days of Islam and was defined by its mystical and philosophical absorption with the search for God and the love and grace of God. The striving for union with God was the ultimate Sufi goal but could not be achieved until death, so earthly life devoted itself to worship God, love mankind, respect nature and conquer the Self, severing the chains of our worldly life. Along the centuries numerous interpretations and definitions of Sufism have waxed and waned but the undeniable beauty of their verse in its myriad of forms including the musical Ghazal (love song), Masnavi (narrative) and Rubai (quatrain) always remains. Our chronological volume of the classic Sufi poets helps us understand the spiritual direction of Sufism, starting with Rabia in the 8th century through to Khwaja Ghulam Farid over a thousand years later.It is a journey of fascinating thoughts and beauty.1 - The Poetry of the Sufis - An Introduction2 - Your Hope Is My Heart by Rabia al Basri3 - In My Soul by Rabia al Basri4 - In Love by Rabia al Basri5 - The Holy Water by Rabia al Basri6 - If I Adore You by Rabia al Basri7 - Your Image Is In My Eye by Mansur Al Hallaj8 - I Do Not Cease Swimming by Mansur Al Hallaj9 - Thy Spirit Is Mingled In My Spirit by Mansur Al Hallaj10 - Awareness Is Rapture by Abdullah Ansari11 - I Came by Abdullah Ansari12 - The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam13 - The Walled Garden by Sanai Ghaznavi14 - All Pervading Consciousness by Farid ud-Din Attar15 - Bird Parliament or The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar (an Extract)16 - Why Was Adam by Farid ud-Din Attar17 - Intoxicated By the Wine of Love by Farid ud-Din Attar18 - An Ocean Without Shore by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi19 - With My Very Own Hands by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi20 - Fire by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi21 - Listen O Dearly Beloved by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi22 - You Speak of the Glory of God by Shams Tabrizi23 - I Shall Not Place You In My Heart by Shams Tabrizi24 - A Life Without Love by Shams Tabrizi25 - The Past Is an Interpretation by Shams Tabrizi26 - How Philosopher's Deceive Themselves by Jalaluddin Rumi27 - What Is To Be Done by Jalaluddin Rumi28 - Till Man Destroys Self by Jalaluddin Rumi29 - You Who Are My Soul's Repose by Jalaluddin Rumi30 - Fasting by Jalaluddin Rumi31 - Only Breath by Jalaluddin Rumi32 - Your Grief For What You've Lost Holds A Mirror by Rumi33 - Description of Humility by Saadi34 - One Body by Saadi35 - On the Excellence of Learning by Saadi36 - Who Attains the Secret of Unity. From the Mystic Rose Garden by Mahmud Shabistari37 - Why Call They a Creature United. From the Mystic Rose Garden by Mahmud Shabistari38 - Life's Mighty Flood by Hafiz39 - Slaves of Thy Shining Eyes by Hafiz40 - Sleep On Thine Eyes by Hafiz41 - Stop Being So Religious by Hafiz42 - Beloved by Hafiz43 - The Heart is the Thousand Stringed Instrument by Hafiz44 - My Heart Cries by Kabir45 - My Body and My Mind by Kabir46 - All Things Are Created by the Om by Kabir47 - Song 9 - Oh How May I Ever Express That Secret Word by Kabir48 - All Jewels by Kabir49 - Song 49 - That Which You See Is Not by Kabir50 - Kalam - I by Sultan Bahu51 - The City of Baghdad by Sultan Bahu52 - Neither Hindu Nor Muslim by Bulleh Shah53 - There Is a Thief In the Folds of My Arms by Bulleh Shah54 - Wind Blew! The Sand Enveloped the Body by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai55 - If You Are Seeking Allah by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai56 - Kafi 18 by Khwaja Ghulam Farid57 - Beauty of Truth by Khwaja Ghulam Farid