In Praise of Wine | Faridh Ibn Al

Mystical Poem We have drunk a wine in memory of the Beloved that intoxicated us before the creation of the vine. This beautiful metaphor taken from the masterpiece of Ibn Al-Farid (1181-1235) The Praise of Yin (Al-Kkamriya) has left an indelible mark on all Muslim mysticism. He is one of the greatest poets of the Arabic language, on par with Rumi for the Persian language. Like the Song of Songs, the Dark Night, and the Spiritual Canticles of John of the Cross, Ibn Al-Farid expresses divine love through secular figures. He skillfully and imaginatively uses all the resources of erotic and bacchic symbolism so prevalent in Arabic and Persian mystical poetry, especially in the works of Ibn 'Arabi, Hafiz, and Omar Khayyam. The translator, Emile Dermenghem, preceded his translation with a relevant study on Sufism and comparative mysticism. It is followed by the comments of Nabolosi and Baurini, essential insights for a better understanding of this treasure of Arabic and universal mystical poetry. "Take this wine pure, or only mix it with the saliva of the Beloved. Any other mixture would be sinful…"