(Muhammad Niyazi al-Misri was born in Malatya, Turkey, to a devout family. In the mid-1600s, Niyazi Misri became the spiritual leader of the Istanbul Tekke of the Helveti Sufis.)
I thought that in this whole world
no beloved for me remained.
Then I left myself.
Now no stranger in the world remains.
I used to see in every object a thorn
but never a rose–
the universe became a rose garden.
Not a single thorn remains.
Day and night my heart
was moaning “Ahhh!”
I don’t know how it happened–
now no “Ahhh” remains.
Duality went, Unity came.
I met with the Friend in private;
The multitude left, the One came.
Only the One remains.
Religion, piety, custom, reputation–
these used to matter greatly to me.
O Niyazi — what has happened to you?
No trace of religion now remains.
Translated by Jennifer Ferraro / Translated by Latif Bolat
