Khawaja and the Hindi Parrot
Prophets and saints who possess the transcendental spirit (rûh-i qudsí) and soar to God on the wings of love, ecstasy, and self-abandonment.
The bird of my soul is in quite a distress
Anyone beseeching may never express
What to talk of an innocent, helpless bird
Who is lost from the Wise Solomon’s herd? (1)
Weeping and wailing in gratitude or complain
Hue and cry angels of seven heavens ascertain
Instantly receiving hundreds of messages from God
Being welcomed 60 times, once he says Oh Lord!
Thou mistakes cherished more than thy conformity
Thou disbelief is dearer than entire faith in eternity
Some people reach special heights every moment
Allah blesseth them crown with exquisite adornment
Body stays on the earth, spirit is taken to heaven
Eternity blessed beyond consciousness of wise men
That station you can never behold in your imagination
Each moment, you’ll be thinking of a new destination (2)
Time and space have bounds, but not for Him
Each resident of Paradise has four streams
(1) King Solomon, or Prophet Suleiman (AS), had an army that included jinns, men, animals, and birds. Allah taught him the speech of birds (Qur’an, 27:16), And Solomon was David’s heir. He said: “O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)”
(2 )This passage describes “satisfaction,”
achieved by Sufis in pursuit of ‘Truth.’ It is
the height that any Sufi on the way may
achieve.
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