Sunna-some is greater Sufism

 
Fad has it become to recreate
The saintly styles of Sufis past

Last night asked I this question
To Ba Yazid, the Sultan of Bistam

“How can we be like the departed Dervish—
To worship Him living on bak-sheesh?

At home nor office nor our campus—
Are we blessed to ascend the spiritual bus

O Sheikh, reveal to us a cut short—
For our souls with saints to escort”
 
Said he in reply-
 
“You crawl among the demonic mammons
Swelling your wants up to the Heaven Sevens
Destined are you never to taste saints’ sweets
For, against the indulgent-wall is your backs
 
You may no longer aspire for the idyllic Past
For, Robe and Rosary are now to Time unchaste
 
Invoke the ways of the Beloved instead,
Awake not ever from the dream of his rose-bed
 
Let Medina be your journey and station—
Your ecstasy, fantasy and intoxication
 
Junaid and Hallaj are gone
Basri and Baghdadi no more
Misri and Ajmeri have faded
Rumi and Rifai lay buried

The Master of Umar and Uwais—
His ways alone can Love incise
 
Be if you among the ‘Sahib us-Sunna’
Enrolled will you be amid Ashab us-Suffa
 
Lover— if be Sunna-some
Lo! Conquered has he Sufism

Feb 06 2019. Edit 2024