Love is called ‘Mahabba’ because it obliterates everything but the Beloved from the heart. He also said: “Love means that you are jealous for the Beloved least one like yourself love Him.

Love is called ‘Mahabba’ because it obliterates everything but the Beloved from the heart. He also said: “Love means that you are jealous for the Beloved least one like yourself love Him.

The gnostic does not look to anything other than Him, does not speak by the speech of anything other than Him, and does not perceive any protector for himself other than God Most High.

The gnostic does not look to anything other than Him, does not speak by the speech of anything other than Him, and does not perceive any protector for himself other than God Most High.

Sincere recollection of God by a devotee lies in forgetting his recollection because awareness of recollection implies the devotee’s association to his own self.

Sincere recollection of God by a devotee lies in forgetting his recollection because awareness of recollection implies the devotee’s association to his own self.

Someone asked: “What is love?” He replied: “It is like a cup (of fire) which blazes terribly. When it takes root in the senses and settle in the heart; it annihilates.”

Someone asked: “What is love?” He replied: “It is like a cup (of fire) which blazes terribly. When it takes root in the senses and settle in the heart; it annihilates.”

Dissociate with all, for that is the sign of attaining to the nearness of God. Cherish no thought but of Him, for every thought besides Him is mere stupidity.

Dissociate with all, for that is the sign of attaining to the nearness of God. Cherish no thought but of Him, for every thought besides Him is mere stupidity.

For the enlightened one, a moment’s forgetfulness of the Lord is the greatest heresy.

For the enlightened one, a moment’s forgetfulness of the Lord is the greatest heresy.

More precious than a thousand years past and a thousand years to come is this present moment for you. Be not deluded by anything material. Know that in the realm of the soul past and future are the same as present.

More precious than a thousand years past and a thousand years to come is this present moment for you. Be not deluded by anything material. Know that in the realm of the soul past and future are the same as present.

The Sufi is separated from mankind and united with God as He says (to Moses): “I have attached you to Myself.” (20:41)

The Sufi is separated from mankind and united with God as He says (to Moses): “I have attached you to Myself.” (20:41)

The Sufis are children in the lap of God; Sufism is a flaming flash of lightning and Sufism is being protected from paying heed to creation.

The Sufis are children in the lap of God; Sufism is a flaming flash of lightning and Sufism is being protected from paying heed to creation.

God is indeed Merciful. I know His mercy, but I have never asked Him to be merciful to me.

God is indeed Merciful. I know His mercy, but I have never asked Him to be merciful to me.

Thankfulness is awareness of the Giver of blessings, not the blessings.

Thankfulness is awareness of the Giver of blessings, not the blessings.

The enlightened saint (Aarif) sees none besides God, meets none besides Him and loves none besides Him.

The enlightened saint (Aarif) sees none besides God, meets none besides Him and loves none besides Him.

Steadfastness means that you face every moment as if it were the Resurrection.

Steadfastness means that you face every moment as if it were the Resurrection.

The greatest loss of an individual is to be deprived of His vision.

The greatest loss of an individual is to be deprived of His vision.

The very least sign of poverty (Faqr) is that if all the wealth of this world were given to one man and he spent it all in charity in one day, but then it occurred to him that he should have saved enough for one day’s food, he would not be truthful in this poverty.

The very least sign of poverty (Faqr) is that if all the wealth of this world were given to one man and he spent it all in charity in one day, but then it occurred to him that he should have saved enough for one day’s food, he would not be truthful in this poverty.

He who delivers a sermon as a matter of routine and the audience who hear it in that spirit do not reap benefit from the discourse; they rather lose by doing so.

He who delivers a sermon as a matter of routine and the audience who hear it in that spirit do not reap benefit from the discourse; they rather lose by doing so.

Nothing in the world can attract me, nor can anything enslave me by its virtue or beauty.

Nothing in the world can attract me, nor can anything enslave me by its virtue or beauty.

Once Shibli was confined to lunatic asylum. Dear friends came to visit him. Shibli started pelting them with stone, so they ran away. Shibli‘ laughed and said: “O you liars, if you were my dear friends, 'you would have been patient when I put you to trial, but you ran away.”

Once Shibli was confined to lunatic asylum. Dear friends came to visit him. Shibli started pelting them with stone, so they ran away. Shibli‘ laughed and said: “O you liars, if you were my dear friends, 'you would have been patient when I put you to trial, but you ran away.”

For a long time, I used to think that I was rejoicing the love of God and was intimate with contemplation of Him: now I know that intimacy is impossible except with a congener.

For a long time, I used to think that I was rejoicing the love of God and was intimate with contemplation of Him: now I know that intimacy is impossible except with a congener.

Shibli prayed to God: “O Allah, thou art Almighty and Great, resurrect me blind on the Day of Resurrection, so that even my eyes may not behold ‘Thee.’

Shibli prayed to God: “O Allah, thou art Almighty and Great, resurrect me blind on the Day of Resurrection, so that even my eyes may not behold ‘Thee.’

Sufi is separated from mankind and united with God, as God hath said: “And I chose thee for Myself, He separated him from all others,”

Sufi is separated from mankind and united with God, as God hath said: “And I chose thee for Myself, He separated him from all others,”

Sufism is polytheism, because it is the guarding of the heart from the vision of ‘other’ and ‘other’ does not exist.

Sufism is polytheism, because it is the guarding of the heart from the vision of ‘other’ and ‘other’ does not exist.

The Lower self is a part of the external or the unreal world and thus the saint guards his inner self.

The Lower self is a part of the external or the unreal world and thus the saint guards his inner self.

There are two kinds of jealousy: human jealousy for one another and divine jealousy for their hearts. Divine jealousy is for the breaths of men, lest they be wasted on other-than-God.

There are two kinds of jealousy: human jealousy for one another and divine jealousy for their hearts. Divine jealousy is for the breaths of men, lest they be wasted on other-than-God.

Someone asked: “Why does the sun pale at the time of sunset?” Shibli replied: “Because it has been cut off from the place of perfection. It becomes yellow for heart of standing before God.”

Someone asked: “Why does the sun pale at the time of sunset?” Shibli replied: “Because it has been cut off from the place of perfection. It becomes yellow for heart of standing before God.”

Someone asked: “What kind of patience is most difficult for the patient?” He said: “Patience. onward God, patience for God, or patience with God. And finally, ‘Patience away from God?’ Saying this he shrieked, and his soul was almost destroyed.

Someone asked: “What kind of patience is most difficult for the patient?” He said: “Patience. onward God, patience for God, or patience with God. And finally, ‘Patience away from God?’ Saying this he shrieked, and his soul was almost destroyed.

One who sleeps an hour in the night in forgetfulness (of God) is left behind in the spiritual race by one thousand years in the end.

One who sleeps an hour in the night in forgetfulness (of God) is left behind in the spiritual race by one thousand years in the end.

That which is in your fate you shall receive in spite of all obstacles and that which is not in your destiny, by no effort on your part you can secure it. So, what is there against which you have to practice piety (Zuhd).

That which is in your fate you shall receive in spite of all obstacles and that which is not in your destiny, by no effort on your part you can secure it. So, what is there against which you have to practice piety (Zuhd).

Tasawwuf is control of the faculties and observance of the breaths.

Tasawwuf is control of the faculties and observance of the breaths.

I am the dot under the letter be.

I am the dot under the letter be.

For the gnostic there is no attachment, for the lover there is no grievance, for the servant there is no claim, for the one who fears God, there is no rest, and for no one is there escape from God.

For the gnostic there is no attachment, for the lover there is no grievance, for the servant there is no claim, for the one who fears God, there is no rest, and for no one is there escape from God.