PROLOGUE
bismillaah ar-rahmaan ar-rahiim
praise be to the beloved
who is the writer of all stories
who, with a hand in perfect stillness,
sets forth the ink of all (our) lives
these words are but traces
of inconceivable fingerprints
effortlessly imprinted
on the scrolls of life
praise be to the prophets and the masters
i rest as a contented babe
within the cradle of your guidance
let not a movement of “mine” emanate from me
let not the smallest inclination to act be “mine”
let only obedience to the blessings
of divine revelations
the beloved reveals through you
move this pen
and lead “my” life
praise be to nizami
nizami is a master
his account is the riverbed of this stream
that pours through me
many are the accounts of this amazing tale
some blowing high as flags flapping in the wind
some buried by ages of passing gales and zephyrs
within the churned desert sands,
grains that have forgotten
the warmth of sunlight
and have in turn
been forgotten
may all the waters of this story
what is tangible, what is more subtle
be honored by this humble stream
all praise be to the beloved
❍ ● ❍