The Open itinerary

“We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.”

“Sharing my heart’s state with you is what I desire Hearing the story of the heart is what I desire My foolish wish: hiding an open tale from my rivals is what I desire On the Night of Destiny, so dear and noble Sleeping with you until day is what I desire Oh, such a delicate pearl, like this! Piercing it in the dark of night is what I desire. O morning breeze, please come to my aid tonight For blooming at dawn is what I desire Sweeping the dust of your path with the tips of my eyelashes for the sake of your honour, is what I desire Reciting rascal poems like Hafez against all odds, is what I desire”

قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

“There is no such thing as early or late in life,” Aziz said. “Everything happens at the right time.”

“This holy month of Ramadhan I wish you healing in your most damaged parts. I wish you a miraculous breakthrough in the phase you are so badly stuck in. I wish you tears of joy in the eyes which have grown tired of crying. I wish you guidance in your lost ways. I wish you the peace you so badly want to experience. I wish you contentment in what you already have. I wish you a healed broken heart. I wish that all the love you have given away finds its way back to you. I wish that God, the Most Kind, responds to your every prayer. I wish God forgives all your sins and converts your shattered dreams into beautiful realities. I wish God blesses you with knowledge of Him and deep understanding of the Quran. I wish that you come out of Ramadhan as a stronger and happier believer. I wish that God lifts up every burden that is weighing you down. I wish you love.”

Remember that this world which you covet so ardently and attempt to acquire so earnestly, and which sometimes annoys you and sometimes pleases you so much, is neither your home nor a permanent destination. You have not been created for it, nor invited to it as your resting-place. It shall neither remain with you for ever, nor will you remain in it eternally. If it has enticed you away with its charrns, it has also warned and cautioned you of real dangers lurking in its folds. Take account of the warnings it has given you and do not be seduced or deceived by its allurements. Let these warnings frighten you from being too greedy to possess it. Try to advance towards the place where you are invited for eternal bliss and turn your face away from the vicious world.