That they might discern, You bestowed a Book, the Furqan
Filled with countless millions of wisdoms, O God, that treasure-mine
In Your divine manner You created so much wisdom
That they might cast it off, You clothed them in the garment of heedlessness
We could not grasp the wisdom of the age and of time
Time holds no sway, O God; will Your mercy not reach us?
What is the secret of love? My insight has been bound
What is the secret of Muhammad? My longing never rests, it grows
I am in love with the rose-like face of that Chosen Messenger
Would that I could lay my head upon the path of the radiant moon You love
I am weary now, my God, of this anguished state of mine
No patience or resolve is left to me; I am sick of my condition
The mind could not attain, O Lord, either perfection or wisdom
You created wisdom, and made us captive to heedlessness
Beyond the mind's grasp; our reason was not condemned to decline
Beyond the mind's grasp; we found not love, nor attained perfection
Should it strike my perception, should the meteor of insight rise,
Love is the meteor of my soul, the very craving of my self
Were we to set reason aside and gaze with a thousandfold surrender,
Ah, if You would grant it, we might grasp perfection with true understanding
Reason cannot fathom the secret of the divine mysteries
Take my reason, give me love, that I may reach the being of nonbeing
Should I reach the perfection of love, what if it be by Your grace and generosity?
Would it not befit the Generous to draw me near through His generosity?
What is the pre-eternal decree within the divine knowledge?
Will the everlasting wine not be offered from the stored-up cask?
By Your pardon, grant me grace, though my sigh may not reach the heavens
My love and supplication are to You; I have no other refuge
Behold, "Ve sekahüm rabbûhûm şarâben tahûra" 1
It is Your divine promise: "Ve kâne sa‘yüküm meşkûra" 2
It grants a thousand delights to whoever drinks, deep and everlasting
The joy of union that springs from yearning for Absolute Beauty
Let us pass from bodily pleasure to spiritual delight
From the mirror of transient beauty to that Divine Face
"Ve ma teşaûne illâ en yeşâ Allah" 3 is manifest;
This humblest one hopes for Your generosity and begs for mercy
"Yûdhilû men yeşâu fi rahmetih "4 says Your Book
You are the Lord of Generosity; may I attain Your generosity through Your address
I have no complaint; each of Your works is filled with a thousand wisdoms
To hope for Your grace is the sole aspiration of this poor one
That address of Yours is the speech of the Truth, union with the Beloved, my God
I have fallen in love; grant me the secret of that Book, my God
Konya, October 1993
(1) Their Lord gives them a pure drink to drink (76/21).
(2) Your striving has been appreciated (76/22).
(3) Yet you will not unless Allah wills (76/30).
(4) He admits whom He wills into His mercy (76/31).