The Sufistic Quatrains of Omar KhayyamOmar Khayyam
ReligionSufism
The Sufistic Quatrains of Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam
FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-1883; Sufi poetry
The first person to take the name of Sufi was Abou-Hachim of Koufa. The
first convent or _Khanakah_ was founded in Khorasan by Abou-Said, the
Persian, although the prophet had prohibited monkish life in Islam.
Another convent was established at Ramia, in Syria, and Saladin founded
one in Egypt. Sufism then was divided into two schools: The Persian
Bestâmi (A.D. 875) inclined towards Pantheism; Djonaid, of Bagdad,
preached a system reconcilable with Musulman dogmatism. One of the most
celebrated doctors of this school was Halladj, burnt alive in A.D. 922.
They discoursed upon Sufism under the Kalifs Al-Motazz and Al-Mohtadi,
and preached it under Al-Motamid. The principal Sufi writers are:
Mohammed Salami an Nichabouri (A.D. 1021), El-Kochairi (A.D. 1072),
Ghazli (A.D. 1111), Sohrawdi (A.D. 1234), Ferid-ed-din Attar (A.D.
1230), Djami (A.D. 1492), and Ech-Cha'rani (A.D. 1565).
This Mysticism, so sweet and so full of sentiment, exhales itself in
poesy, and is as much stamped with tenderness and resignation as it is
overflowing with sensuality and drunkenness. The best and most
illustrious of the Persian poets are of this sect: Djelal-ed-din
er-Roumi, author of the «_Mesnewi_», Djami, author of «_Salaman
ou-Absa_», Ferid-ed-din Attar, author of «_Mantik-ut-tair_»; S'adi,
Hafiz de Chiraz, Bayazid-al-Bestami.
Just as Sufis leave the true faith for its semblance, so they also
exchange the external features of all things for the internal (the
corporeal for the spiritual) and give a spiritual significance to
outward forms. They behold objects of a precious nature in their natural
character, and for this reason, the greater part of their words have a
spiritual and visionary meaning.
For instance, when, like Omar, they mention wine, they mean a knowledge
of God, which, extensively considered, is the love of God. Wine, viewed
extensively, is also love: love and affection are here the same thing.
The wine-shop with them means the _murshid i kiamil_ (spiritual
director), for his heart is said to be the depository of the love of
God; the wine-cup is the _telkin_ (the pronunciation of the name of God
in a declaration of faith as: There is no God but Allah), or it
signifies the words which flow from the _murshid's_ mouth respecting
divine knowledge, and which, heard by the _salik_ (the Dervish, or one
who pursues the true path), intoxicates his soul, and divests his mind
(of passions) giving him pure, spiritual delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account