Sufism had its origins in the early days of Islam and was defined by its mystical and philosophical absorption with the search for God and the love and grace of God. The striving for union with God was the ultimate Sufi goal but could not be achieved until death, so earthly life devoted itself to worship God, love mankind, respect nature and conquer the Self, severing the chains of our worldly life.

Along the centuries numerous interpretations and definitions of Sufism have waxed and waned but the undeniable beauty of their verse in its myriad of forms including the musical Ghazal (love song), Masnavi (narrative) and Rubai (quatrain) always remains.

Our chronological volume of the classic Sufi poets helps us understand the spiritual direction of Sufism, starting with Rabia in the 8th century through to Khwaja Ghulam Farid over a thousand years later.

It is a journey of fascinating thoughts and beauty.

1 - The Poetry of the Sufis - An Introduction

2 - Your Hope Is My Heart by Rabia al Basri

3 - In My Soul by Rabia al Basri

4 - In Love by Rabia al Basri

5 - The Holy Water by Rabia al Basri

6 - If I Adore You by Rabia al Basri

7 - Your Image Is In My Eye by Mansur Al Hallaj

8 - I Do Not Cease Swimming by Mansur Al Hallaj

9 - Thy Spirit Is Mingled In My Spirit by Mansur Al Hallaj

10 - Awareness Is Rapture by Abdullah Ansari

11 - I Came by Abdullah Ansari

12 - The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam

13 - The Walled Garden by Sanai Ghaznavi

14 - All Pervading Consciousness by Farid ud-Din Attar

15 - Bird Parliament or The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar (an Extract)

16 - Why Was Adam by Farid ud-Din Attar

17 - Intoxicated By the Wine of Love by Farid ud-Din Attar

18 - An Ocean Without Shore by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

19 - With My Very Own Hands by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

20 - Fire by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

21 - Listen O Dearly Beloved by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

22 - You Speak of the Glory of God by Shams Tabrizi

23 - I Shall Not Place You In My Heart by Shams Tabrizi

24 - A Life Without Love by Shams Tabrizi

25 - The Past Is an Interpretation by Shams Tabrizi

26 - How Philosopher's Deceive Themselves by Jalaluddin Rumi

27 - What Is To Be Done by Jalaluddin Rumi

28 - Till Man Destroys Self by Jalaluddin Rumi

29 - You Who Are My Soul's Repose by Jalaluddin Rumi

30 - Fasting by Jalaluddin Rumi

31 - Only Breath by Jalaluddin Rumi

32 - Your Grief For What You've Lost Holds A Mirror by Rumi

33 - Description of Humility by Saadi

34 - One Body by Saadi

35 - On the Excellence of Learning by Saadi

36 - Who Attains the Secret of Unity. From the Mystic Rose Garden by Mahmud Shabistari

37 - Why Call They a Creature United. From the Mystic Rose Garden by Mahmud Shabistari

38 - Life's Mighty Flood by Hafiz

39 - Slaves of Thy Shining Eyes by Hafiz

40 - Sleep On Thine Eyes by Hafiz

41 - Stop Being So Religious by Hafiz

42 - Beloved by Hafiz

43 - The Heart is the Thousand Stringed Instrument by Hafiz

44 - My Heart Cries by Kabir

45 - My Body and My Mind by Kabir

46 - All Things Are Created by the Om by Kabir

47 - Song 9 - Oh How May I Ever Express That Secret Word by Kabir

48 - All Jewels by Kabir

49 - Song 49 - That Which You See Is Not by Kabir

50 - Kalam - I by Sultan Bahu

51 - The City of Baghdad by Sultan Bahu

52 - Neither Hindu Nor Muslim by Bulleh Shah

53 - There Is a Thief In the Folds of My Arms by Bulleh Shah

54 - Wind Blew! The Sand Enveloped the Body by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai

55 - If You Are Seeking Allah by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai

56 - Kafi 18 by Khwaja Ghulam Farid

57 - Beauty of Truth by Khwaja Ghulam Farid