SUFI-Abstaining (zuhd) from the world means to give up
expectations, not to eat tough food or to wear coarse
garments.43
A
Rain is of two kinds: the rain of mercy and the rain of
vengeance. The rain of mercy is a sign of felicity, and the
rain of vengeance is a sign of misery. Shortage of rain
of mercy may be due to three things: first, the heart’s
mingling with simulation (riyā’); second, the intelligence’s
mingling with pretentiousness (daʿwā); third, the inner-
most self’s (ḍamīr) mingling with hypocrisy (nifāq). The
rain of vengeance may shower on the heart due to three
things: first, eating what is prohibited; second, forsaking
what is permitted; third, evil inclinations.
A
What’s so wrong with the species-survival hypothesis? Simple:
Natural selection works almost entirely within species. Lions with sharper
teeth do better than other lions at capturing prey. Gazelles with faster
hooves do better than other gazelles at evading lions. Sharp teeth and fast
hooves evolved because they’re good for their owners, not because they’re
good for the species. Certainly, these traits are also good for the species. If
lions or gazelles didn’t keep getting better at catching or evading each other,
they could very well go extinct. But that’s not why these traits were
favored. We know it’s not because, in some cases, traits are favored despite
being bad for the species. The primatologist Jane Goodall discovered in the
1960s, much to her surprise, that male chimpanzees occasionally band
together to kill members of other groups.4 This gives the killers an
advantage, gaining them territory and females. But it’s hardly advantageous
for the species. Chimps are endangered, and thus the last thing they ought to
be doing is going around murdering each other. Nonetheless, as long as
killer chimps do better than pacifists, violence will be the norm, even if it’s
suboptimal for the species as a whole. Bottom line: Evolution ain’t about
the good of the species.
A
Here are some quotes attributed to or inspired by Sufi mystics that might be linked to the spirit of "Nuri" (a name meaning "light" in Arabic, and also possibly referencing Abu al-Husayn al-Nuri, a prominent early Sufi):
Quotes by or inspired by Abu al-Husayn al-Nuri (d. 907 CE)
He was known as "Nuri" because of his spiritual illumination (nūr = light).
-
“I love God and God loves me. If I am denied seeing Him, still my love for Him increases.”
-
“The Sufi is he whose soul has been freed from all else but God.”
-
“Love is the annihilation of the lover in the beloved.”
-
“A drop of sincerity can outweigh an ocean of deeds.”
-
“The heart is the house of God. So purify it of all else.”
General Sufi-Inspired Quotes on Divine Light (Nūr)
-
“Your light is hidden in your darkness. Go into your darkness and you will find your light.”
-
“He who knows the light sees all creation as a mirror of the Beloved.”
-
“The candle of the heart is lit by the spark of divine love.”
-
“To walk the Sufi path is to become nothing so that God becomes everything in you.”
Would you like these quotes formatted as images, made into a short poem or prayer, or paired with commentary for deeper reflection?
A
No comments:
Post a Comment