Vintage Rumi

Classic advise from Hz Mawlana (RA) :
There’s a basket full of loaves on your head,
yet you’re begging for crusts of bread from door to door.
Pay attention to your own head, abandon giddiness.
Why are you knocking at every other door?
Go, knock at the door of your own heart.
Masnavi BK 5 1073-1074

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Hz Mian Muhammad Bakhsh (RA) and Saif ul-Malook

Hz Mian sahib was a scholar, sufi and poet of the nineteenth century (C 1830-1907) who is renowned for being the author of the Punjabi masnavi Saif ul-Malook. Biographical details can be found here and there is an interesting piece here.
Hz Mian sahib belonged to the Qadiri-Hujrawi line of Sufis and is revered to [...]

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The Sign of Being Dried-up

The Sign of Being Dried-Up
The sign of being a dried-up branch,
unconnected to root-water in the deep ground,
is that you have no inclination to sway.
Moist, fresh limbs are easily pulled
any direction, even rounded into
a hoop for a basket handle.
This is symbolic talk, but the symbol itself
is a fire to consume your fantasies
about how you are in [...]

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The Complete Human Being

A really interesting and thoughtful essay by Kabir Helminski of the Threshold Society.
“When I first entered on the Mevlevi Way, I was told that the aim was “completion”: “If you are a Jew, you will become a completed Jew; if you are a [...]

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Darood Taj – Invocation of the Crown

Irving Darvish bhai has posted an excellent translation of the famous Darood Taj (The Invocation of the Crown) on his blog. Darood Taj is a popular Darood ( prayer of blessings upon the Holy Prophet, alayhisalatu was-salaam) much in use in the sub-continent. It is particularly loved by those following the sufi path and [...]

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Nusrat sings Bulle Shah

This is the first of a four part qawwali where Nusrat sings some of the most well known verses of Hz Bulle Shah.

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Hz Bulle Shah (RA)

Hz Bulle Shah is in many ways quintessential sufi poet. He language is bold and he gets to the heart of the matter straight away. Moreover he has expressed the highest truths of sufism in the language and culture of hia native Punjab thus conveying the message in the tongue of his people. This [...]

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Illuminated Manuscripts of the Burda

Two beautiful manuscripts of this magnificent poem. May Allah elevate the rank of Imam al-Busiri (RA). The Burda is truly blessed and a means of blessings for all who hear it. From its beginning the poem has been associated with miracles. Read about the reason for its composition here and here.

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Burda Manuscript

A manuscript of the Burda in the Czech Republic library. This is an image of the opening page. For a translation of these opening verses go here. Manuscripts courtesy of al-Burda.

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Qasida al-Burda ( The Poem of the Mantle)

Here is an excellent documentary on the celebrated poem of Imam al-Busiri (RA). It features Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Abdal-Hakim Murad. Some profound comments on religion by AHM as usual. Not to be missed!

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