Two Universal Graces

There are two graces (ni’matan) from which no being can be separated and that are inevitable for every creature: the grace of existence (ni’mat al-ijad), and the grace of sustenance (ni’mat al-imdad).
Sidi Ibn Ata’illah (ra)
So ponder O people of intellect!!

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The Qazwani and His Lion

Here’s one of my favourite anecdotes from the Masnavi:
Hear from the narrator this story about the way and custom
of the people of Qazwin.
They tattoo themselves in blue with the point of a
needle on body and hand and shoulders, so as to suffer no
injury.
A certain man of Qazwin went to a barber and said, “Tattoo
me (and) [...]

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Qasida Muhammadiyya of Imam Busiri (ra)

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