340 quotes
The khalifa said to Laila ‘Art thou really she
For whom Majnun lost his head and went distracted?
Thou art not fairer than many other fair ones.’
She replied, ‘Be silent; thou art not Majnun!
If thou hadst Majnun’s eyes,
The two world’s would be within thy view.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Mankind like waterfowl are sprung from the sea, the sea of soul
Risen from that sea, why should the bird make here his home?
Nay, we are pearls in that sea, therein we all abide,
Else why does wave follow wave from the sea of soul.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Who is he in my ear that hearkens to my voice,
Or who is he that utters words in my mouth?
Who is he in mine eye that looks out of mine eye
Or what is the soul—wilt thou not say—of which I am the garment?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
We have been in heaven, we have been friends of the angels
Thither, sire, let us return for that is our country,
How different a source have the world of dust and the pure substance,
Though we came down, let us haste back—what place is this?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Good news! Good news! Lo! the spring is at hand,
If the blossoms did not shine as bright helmets,
How could the fruits display their globes?
When the blossoms are shed, the fruits come to a head,
When the body is destroyed, the soul lifts up its head.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
What rays of wisdom poured on water and on land
Ere earth could nourish seed, yield corn to our demand!
The earth, a faithful trustee, gives back what we sow,
No fraud, embezzlement, in its trust do we know.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
The Word is become foul with mingled earth,
The water is become muddy; close the mouth of the well,
Till God makes it again pure and sweet,
Yea, till He purifies what He has made foul;
Patience will accomplish thy desire, not haste,
Be patient, God knows what is best.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
We are the family of the Lord and His sucking babes,
The Prophet said ‘The people are God’s family,’
He who sends forth the rain from heaven,
Can He not also provide our daily bread?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Thou and I individuals no more shall be mingled in ecstasy,
Joyful and secure from foolish babble, thou and I.
All the bright plumed birds of heaven will devour their hearts with envy
In the place where we shall laugh in such a fashion thou and I.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Accept His command and you will be able to execute it,
Seek union with Him and you will find yourselves united,
Exertion is giving thanks for Gad’s blessings,
Think ye that your fatalism gives such thanks?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Let not a weakling like you censure me;
What seems night to you is broad day to me,
What seems a prison to you is a garden to me,
Busiest occupation is rest to me,
Your feet are in the mire, to me mire is rose,
What to you is funeral wailing is marriage drum to me.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
After all soul is linked to body
Though it in nowise resembles the body
The power of the light of the eye is mated with fat
The light of the heart is hidden in a drop of blood
Joy harbours in the kidneys and pain in the liver
The lamp of reason in the brains of the head.
These connections are not without a why and how
But reason is at a loss to understand the how.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
O heart, why art thou a captive in the earth that is passing away?
Fly forth from this enclosure, since thou art a bird of the spiritual world;
Thou art a darling bosom-friend, thou art always behind the secret veil;
Why dost thou make thy dwelling-place in this perishable abode?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Weep that at length thou may’st be of a smiling countenance,
For this lamentation hath great value with God;
And the value which sorrow hath there, where else has it such?
Happy the eye that thus weeps,
Noble the heart that thus burns,
In the end all our weeping shall be turned to smiles,
The man who considers the end is a blessed servant.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
His argument is this; he says again and again
‘If there were aught beyond this life, we should see it.’
But if the child sees not the state of reason,
Does the man of reason therefore forsake reason?
And if the man of reason sees not the state of love
Is the blessed moon of love thereby eclipsed?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Love of God cuts short reasonings, O beloved,
For it is a present refuge from perplexities.
Through love bewilderment befalls the power of speech
It no longer dares to utter what passes;
Therefore it closes lips from saying good or bad
So that its treasure may not escape it.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
If all dissolute men were shut up in prison
They would all be temperate and devout and pious.
When power of choice is absent, actions are worthless
But beware lest death snatch away your capital,
Your power of choice is a capital yielding profit
Remember well the day of final account.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
The body loves green pastures and running water,
For this cause that its origin is from them.
The love of the soul is for wisdom and knowledge,
That of the body for houses, gardens, and vineyards;
The love of the soul is for things exalted on high,
That of the body for acquisition of goods and food.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
Beats there a heart within that breast of thine,
Then compass rev’rently its sacred shrine;
For the true spiritual K‘aba is the heart
And no proud pile of perishable art,
When God ordained the pilgrim rite, that sign
Was meant to lead thy heart to things divine,
A thousand times he treads that round in vain,
Who e’en one human heart would idly pain.
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)
When the drop departed from its native home and returned
It found a shell and became a pearl.
Did not Joseph go on a journey from his father weeping?
Did he not in the journey come to fortune and kingdom and victory?
Attributed A Dictionary of Oriental Quotations (1911)