If You’ve Donned the Belt of Infidelity – Abdur Rahman’s Corner
Peace, one and all…
You’re of our tradition if you’ve donned the belt of infidelity;
religion is far away from you and you’re laughing at yourself.
If you haven’t gone past infidelity, don’t fake religion.
You can found faith if you’ve been razed by infidelity.
Fifty fiends lurk beneath your religious facade
if you don’t assume the belt of infidelity.
Every bit of the world is an obstacle along your Path;
overcome them bit by bit if you are a clever person.
I recommend you to burn yourself like wild rue;
to the evil eye you always follow the wild rue.
Stride forth valiantly if you’re the lion of the Path;
draw away and hide in a corner if you’re afflicted.
O base nature, you only claim as long as you remain
unlike my soul that has risen above the world.
There’s nothing in either world to compare with this truth;
You see your own worth when both worlds are ended.
Attar, you’re a man of love; be wiped out from both worlds
so that you build a bridge upon the anchor of your spirit.
Attar, Fifty Poems of Attar, n. 49
