Jami, was a 14th century Persian scholar, mystic, and poet who is often regarded as the last great mystical poet of Iran. Here’s a selceted passage from his works Yusuf-u-Zulaykhd which illustrate the Sufi’s conception of the Beloved and His significance and relationship to His world of lovers.
Passage
No mirror to reflect Its loveliness,
Nor comb to touch Its locks; the morning breeze
Never stirred Its tresses ; no collyrium
Lent lustre to Its eyes ; no rosy cheeks
Overshadowed by dark curls like hyacinth,
Nor peach-like down were there. . . . To Itself it sang of love
In wordless measure. By Itself it cast
The die of love.
One gleam fell from It on the Universe
And on the angels, and this single ray
Dazzled the angels, till their senses whirled
Like the revolving sky. In diverse forms
Each mirror showed it forth, and everywhere
Its praise was chanted in new harmonies.
F. Hadland Davis. The Persian Mystics. John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1912.
