Love

Rabia al BasriRabia al Basri

1 min read · 12.4K reads

I have loved Thee with two loves -
a selfish love and a love that is worthy of Thee.
As for the love which is selfish,
Therein I occupy myself with Thee,
to the exclusion of all others.
But in the love which is worthy of Thee,
Thou dost raise the veil that I may see Thee.
Yet is the praise not mine in this or that,
But the praise is to Thee in both that and this.
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Rabia al Basri
About the poet

Rabia al Basri

717 - 801/IraqNot much is known about Rabia al Basri, except that she lived in Basra in Iraq, in the second half of the 8th century AD. She was born into poverty. But many spiritual stories are associated with her and what we can glean about her is reality me…

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More from Rabia al Basri

  1. Reality

    In love, nothing exists between heart and heart.Speech is born out of longing,

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  2. My God and My Lord

    Eyes are at rest, the stars are setting.Hushed are the stirrings of birds in their nests,Of monsters in the ocean. You are the Just who knows no change,The Balance that can never swerve,The Eternal which never passes away. The doors of Kings are bolted now and guarded by soldiers.Your Door is open to all who call upon You. My Lord,Each love is now alone with his beloved.And I am alone with You.__

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  3. My Beloved

    My peace, O my brothers and sisters, is my solitude,And my Beloved is with me always,

    12.4K reads

  4. With My Beloved

    With my Beloved I alone have been,When secrets tenderer than evening airs

    12.4K reads

  5. My greatest Need is You

    Your hope in my heart is the rarest treasureYour Name on my tongue is the sweetest word

    12.4K reads

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उसने मिट्टी को छुआ भर था - प्रताप सोमवंशीपसोपेश में हूँकि कविता चिह्नों में होती है— प्रताप सोमवंशीदर्द औरों का हम - प्रताप सोमवंशीपसोपेश में हूँकि कविता चिह्नों में होती है— प्रताप सोमवंशी