Inspirations

is just that angel which resembles it.

The bleary-eyed who cannot bear the sun –

the star is meant for him to find his way.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) Said to Zayd, ‘Do Not Tell this Secret More Plainly than This, and Keep Watch over Your Obedience’

The Prophet said, ‘My followers are stars,

a lamp for travellers, and for Satan stoning.’

If every person had the eye and strength

to take the light of the celestial sun,

Who would have need of stars, O wretched man,

to give an indication of the sun?

The moon declares to earth and cloud and shades,

‘I was a mortal “but it is revealed…” ’

And in my nature I was dark, like you.

The sun revealed to me a light like this.

Compared with suns, I have a darkness in me,

but I have light for darkness of the souls.

I’m fainter so that you can bear my truth,

for you are not a man of brilliant suns.

I’m blended in like vinegar and honey,

so I can reach the sickness in the liver.

O addict, when you’ve shaken off your illness,

leave off the vinegar and feed on honey.

The throne, which is the heart set free from lust –

now see ‘the Merciful sits on the throne’.

Thereafter God controls the heart directly,

for now the heart has found the true relation.

These words go on forever – where is Zayd

that I may warn him not to seek disgrace?

Returning to the Story of Zayd

You’ll not find Zayd, for he has disappeared: