Category: Articles

Struggle With One’s Nafs

The behavioral absolutes of the shari’ah (Islamic law) set the outer limits that the Sufi must keep within. But the Sufi struggle with one’s nafs puts further curbs on the Sufi’s behaviour and consciousness. Usually this struggle is spoken of as having two dimensions: negation (nafy) and affirmation (ithbat), corresponding to the two components of […]

God Speaks to Moses

  Farid ud-Din AttarOne day God spoke to Moses and said:‘Visit Satan, question him, use your head.’So Moses descended to Hell’s burning halls;Satan saw him coming, a smile did he installOn his fiery face. Moses proudly asked himFor advice, waiting for Satan’s crafty whim;Satan spoke through his coal-black teeth:‘Remember this rule which sense bequeathsNever say […]

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