Excerpt of poem

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Translations [Ecstatic and heterodox poetry, attributed to Sidi Ahmad al-Rifa‘i but more likely of Abu’l-Huda al-Sayyadi, a 19th disciple (and chief theologian at the Ottoman court) who wrote many poems and other religious works. The rich symbolism is drawn from the Sufi tradition, and uses concepts taken from Ibn ‘Arabi, al-Jili, and others. Most listeners I spoke with didn’t understand the words, or came up spontaneously with creative interpretations (like mazamir da’ud); they do not use such poetry in ordinary sufi speech and it is not used in most orders. Yet preserved here in public inshad, signifying a “deep” esoteric secret meaning. Nearly all the public munshidin sing this qasida, if they sing classical Arabic at all. Note that it was also sung in the Bayumi hadra by a professional munshid (is he Bayumi?). However it seems unlike that such a qasida would be used in the orders, except perhaps in the rifa‘i due to its associations with him.]

6 9 In my vine (body) I planted the heart (intellect?) in the blindness of the blindness then I became the caller, and from me is the answer

10 I left the others to obliteration in the tavern of our union and I revealed my state in the Holy Presence

11 It addresses me by night; I know its signs and understand its meanings, though by intimations

12 Were I to behold its beauty, I would die of love and melt passionately from the sound of its melody

13 I extolled my essence with its very dust for I addressed my essence before the emergence of my ship (earthly body)

14 Praise is due my essence - none other when the souls responded they responded at my ka‘ba

15 It gathered the entire cosmos under its banner by it was my soul revealed, and my insight illuminated