Suffi Literature

[Pensive]

Who is your favourite Suffi poet? My reading of Suffi literature has been quite limited but the works of Bulleh Shah have got me interested in it such as Bulleh kee jana mein kon (Bulleh doesn't know himself what he is). Can you please recommend me some good Suffi poetry. Also tell us about your favourites in this way.

[Lote-Tree]

Who is your favourite Suffi poet? My reading of Suffi literature has been quite limited but the works of Bulleh Shah have got me interested in it such as Bulleh kee jana mein kon (Bulleh doesn't know himself what he is). Can you please recommend me some good Suffi poetry. Also tell us about your favourites in this way.


Fari-Uddin Attar - The Conference of Birds.
Rumi - The Mathnawi


Even this can be considered:

Nizami - Layla and Majnun
Omar Khayyam - Rubaiyats.

[Pensive]

Fari-Uddin Attar - The Conference of Birds.
Rumi - The Mathnawi


Even this can be considered:

Nizami - Layla and Majnun
Omar Khayyam - Rubaiyats.

Thanks Lote, would try to check out any of these (if not all). :)

[Hira]

I have only read a few poems of Rumi. But check this (http://www.poetseers.org/spiritual_and_devotional_poets/sufi) out. Check these videos out too! Video1 (http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=QqVBGv2hpQ4&feature=related) and Video2. (http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=m2nYZSoIMY8) Loved them!

[blazeofglory]

Who is your favourite Suffi poet? My reading of Suffi literature has been quite limited but the works of Bulleh Shah have got me interested in it such as Bulleh kee jana mein kon (Bulleh doesn't know himself what he is). Can you please recommend me some good Suffi poetry. Also tell us about your favourites in this way.

Pensive I am really fond of Sufi poems and they are my favorite ones. Have you read the Conference of the Birds by Attar. I am deeply moved by the poems.

I am really happy that you have started this thread with Sufi poems. I was always moved by Sufi poems. Rumi was really a great poet.

[blazeofglory]

Sufism is really a great philosophy and it is not just philosophy but a way of life, and I like Sufism for just its own sake, and as a matter of fact it is very true to life and one can come across Sufis anywhere, in any profession and of course it is very hard to know them. They are too simple, un-hypocritical.

[Pensive]

I have only read a few poems of Rumi. But check this out.

Thank you, it's a very helpful link, so many works to be read online.


Pensive I am really fond of Sufi poems and they are my favorite ones. Have you read the Conference of the Birds by Attar. I am deeply moved by the poems.

Good to hear that. Oh no, not yet, but it's in my 'to-be-read' list now. :)


I am really happy that you have started this thread with Sufi poems. I was always moved by Sufi poems. Rumi was really a great poet.

I am glad to see your reply as well. Oh yes, my grandfather recommended Rumi to me as well, I tried some of his poems but they were too romantic for me (well actually at that time I tried his love poems so they were supposed to be) but following that link Hira has provided, there seem to be others too. I should better try them as well. :)


Sufism is really a great philosophy and it is not just philosophy but a way of life, and I like Sufism for just its own sake, and as a matter of fact it is very true to life and one can come across Sufis anywhere, in any profession and of course it is very hard to know them. They are too simple, un-hypocritical.

Yes, Sufism is very interesting and Suffi values very fascinating.

[crazefest456]

Sufism is really a great philosophy and it is not just philosophy but a way of life, and I like Sufism for just its own sake, and as a matter of fact it is very true to life and one can come across Sufis anywhere, in any profession and of course it is very hard to know them. They are too simple, un-hypocritical.

That's very true. I have teachers in my school who are sufi, but I only found out after someone actually told me because their cousin was related to one of the teachers. You could see their philosophy being presented in anything they do!

[Dark Star]

You may want to look into the work of Hafiz. Goethe was a huge fan of his and the translation I've read of his works is great.

I'm not sure how Omar Khayyam could be classified as a Sufi poet, though.

[Saladin]

You should also take a look on Saadi (another great persian/sufi poet). There is a poem of him on the UN-building at New York. Which says the following:

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.

Check out The Rose Garden/Gulestan.

Ralph Waldo Emerson were a great fan of Saadi.

[mazHur]

Baba Bulleh Shah

Punjabi
اکو الف پڑھو چھٹکارا اے

کیوں ہویائیں شکل جلاداں دی
کیوں پڑھنائیں پنڈ کتاباں دی
سر چانائیں پنڈ عذاباں دی
اگے پینڈا مشکل بھارا اے

بن حافظ حفظ قرآن کریں
پڑھ پڑھ کے صاف زبان کریں
پر نعمت وچ دھیان کریں
من پھردا جیوں ہلکارا اے

English translation
Salvation is in just reciting alaf (A, Allah

Your appearance (look) has become like that of hangmen

Why do you study a cartful of books?

You are [with such studies] putting a heavy burden of curses on your head

A difficult journey is ahead of you



You have become a hafiz by memorizing the Quran

By reading over and over you have polished your tongue (accent)

However, your heart is lured by the worldly goods

Your heart wanders like a mad [dog].

(nothing is mine!!)