What follows is not a poem in the Arabic, but part of a chapter from the Kitab al-Tajalliyat. However, since it was translated in the form of a poem by Henry Corbin in Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn ‘Arabi, it has become deservedly famous.
FROM
“Alone with the Alone – Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn’Arabi”
BY
Henry Corbin
MUSIC
Armand Amar
PRODUCTION
Satash8
I am the reality of the world.
the centre of the circumference,
I am the parts and the whole.
I am the will established between Heaven and Earth,
I have created perception in you only in order to be
the object of my perception.
If then you perceive Me, you perceive yourself.
But you cannot perceive Me through yourself.
It is through My eyes that you see Me and see yourself.
Through your eyes you cannot see Me.
I have shown myself to you so often and you have not seen Me.
I have made Myself fragrance so often,
And you have not smelled Me.
Savorous food, and you have not tasted Me.
Why can you not reach Me through the object you touch?
Or breathe Me through sweet perfumes?
Why do you not see Me?
Why do you not hear Me?
For you My delights surpass all other delights.
And the pleasure I procure you surpasses all other pleasures.
For you I am preferable to all other good things.
I am Beauty!
I am Grace!
Love Me.
Love Me alone!
Love yourself in Me, in Me alone.
Attach yourself to Me,
No one is more inward than I.
Others love you for their own sakes.
I love you for yourself.
And you, you flee from Me.
Dearly beloved!
You cannot treat Me, for if you approach Me,
it is because I have approached you.
I am nearer to you than yourself,
Than your soul, than your breath.
Who among creatures would treat you as I do?
I am jealous of you over you.
I want you to belong to no other, not even yourself.
Be mine, be for Me, as you are in Me,
though you are not even aware of it.
Dearly beloved!
Let us go toward Union.
And if we find the road that leads to separation,
we will destroy separation.
Let us go hand in hand.
Let us enter the presence of Truth.
Let it be our judge,
and imprint its seal upon our Union for ever.