Poetry of Ibn Arabi from the Diwān

Four Poems from the Diwān

Translated by Eric Winkel

Longing to obtain uninterrupted loving communion ceases

Longing to obtain uninterrupted loving communion ceases.
But moving, longing distress comes along with loving communion.

Imagining separation is ever-present,
After meeting the beloved. Who has this, suffers loss ever.

To the one who pleads, Make easy separation’s distress! We say,
Not every distress in life will be made easy!

This distress comes from passion itself – nowhere else.
Passionate love is a malady of the heart, buried deep inside.

This kind of malady has effective force only here –
Over there, its entity departs and goes far away.

Who tastes love sunk deep will never have a life clear of turbidity and commotion

Who tastes love sunk deep will never have a life clear of turbidity and commotion,
Except he meet his passionately beloved.

Lo! When he sees him, he is at peace, sukūn.
That was why he was so agitated, flurried!

He is the reason; his properties are varied –
For the one who recognizes what is loosened for him,

In the clarity of the religion. So consider carefully my statement,
Because it is a treasure trove which you expend.

You are traveling. But to where? Or, from where?

You are traveling. But to where? Or, from where?
But this matter – I swear by everlasting Allah! – is far removed,

A proposition reached by constrained, rational interpretation of the evidence, and His Law.
But do not be among those who are traveling to and for the Divine.

You never vacated Him, leaving any place in creation, because actually
The entity is huu. It is only you leaving, this slave wandering confused from place to place.

So travel in, and of, huu – never to! And do not be
Ignorant. How hard the intellect flails to understand!

The turning to face of the heart toward God

The turning to face of the heart toward God through remembrances is like those who travel much, not returning to their families.
Their title is ‘On the protocols of the religion of God.’

They are upon verification that the heart in the traveling is
disciplined, determined; and for this there are indications and demonstrations.

All who are described as traveling, their rest
is the voiding of the entity, and the dominion of the overwhelming states.

The Cherisher descends from the cosmic Throne to the celestial orbits
and below, bringing you revelation and a criterion.

He comes to you alone, apart from all the creation;
and in the descent to existence there is an explanation

Of His love for us, and His form
(upon which I was created) calls hu, from my base –
so do not let the human veil you (from seeing who I am)!

You are True, and that one is true; He descended
into a site of emerging manifestation, binding in there the elements.