Islamic Poetry

As Islam moved from its Arabian heartland to a wider geographic area, its core message remained albeit adapted to different lands, to different ears. Poets were ever eager to provide an alternate way of delivering the ‘message’ in beautiful verse. Their simplicity was embracing, their ornateness a humble offering to greater forces. The poems here are both profound and wide-ranging.

What if one land held the story of empire, faith, poetry, and power, all at once? From the first kings who ruled the ancient world to the modern struggles shaping global politics, Iran is not just a country—it is a civilization that has never stopped evolving. This gripping, fast-paced history takes you deep into the heart of Persia—where empires rose with breathtaking ambition, poets reshaped the soul of a nation, and revolutions changed the course of history. Walk through the gates of Persepolis. Stand beside Cyrus the Great as he builds the first global empire. Witness the rise of ...

Brought to you by Penguin. Composed in the twelfth century in north-eastern Iran, Attar's great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism - an esoteric system concerned with the search for...

A comprehensive examination of the struggle to reconcile philosophy and Islam. From the introduction of Greek Philosophy into the Muslim world in the eighth century, right through to modern times, Majid Fakhry charts the evolution and interaction of philosophy, theology, and mysticism in the Islamic context. Highlighting key individuals, movements, concepts, and writings, Fakhry also explores the conflicts and controversies between anti- and pro-philosophical parties.

The Calligraphy of Being: An Unfinished Perfection is a spiritual novel about art, faith, and the search for meaning. Zayn Malik, a celebrated calligrapher in Istanbul, has mastered the sacred forms of beauty yet feels empty inside. His calligraphy is flawless, but his heart is barren. When he discovers an ancient hidden manuscript that seems to address his inner thirst, Zayn is drawn into a journey that takes him from Istanbul to Cairo and into the desert — an outer voyage mirroring his inner transformation. Along the way he meets seekers, sages, and skeptics: a blind Shaykh who ...

In these two poems, Iqbal discusses the fall of the Muslim ummah, probes into its causes, shows his bereavement and offers a solution along with a message of hope. In the first poem, Iqbal complaints to God about the deplorable condition of the Muslim world and society and prays for divine help. In the second poem, which he wrote a few years later, he relays a response to the complaints on behalf of God. In elaborating the causes of the rise and fall of the Muslim ummah, Iqbal hoped that Muslims would use them as a springboard for reviving their former status of prestige and glory. Iqbal's ...

A guide to meditative breathing practices in Western religions and how these practices provide a direct experience of God Reveals how Western spiritual traditions, such as the Book of Genesis, the Jewish teachings of ruach, and the poetry of Rumi, contain hidden instruction for meditative...

Ecstatic Sufi Poetry Comes Alive To fully experience the ecstatic poetry of the Middle and Near East, you must hear it as originally intended: stirred ablaze by inspired music and rhythms before a live audience. On I Want Burning, Coleman Barks fuses his passionate scholarship with a deep...

Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the history of the Islamic world through its religion, thinkers, poetry, empire and rulers 'An ever-growing library of wisdom' The Economist Since 1998, In Our Time has been the go-to radio programme for knowledge seekers and inquiring minds. Tackling big topics...

An anthology of unbroken verses that celebrates hope and healing. The Maverick Dervish is a soul-stirring anthology of unbroken verses that delve deep into the mysteries of spirituality. Crafted in rich mystical imagery, Jaihoon weaves a tapestry of lyrical beauty that celebrates the power of hope and healing, inspiring readers to embrace their inner light and connect with the Divine.

Here is a brand new translation of the Holy Koran into modern, contemporary English, concise and fully in rhyme form. The ebook represents the Arabic text line by line above the English and not whole paragraphs, so you can relate to the original word by word. It is poetical, mimicking the original in its beauty and mesmerizing language that will help you to appreciate the Arabic original as a native English speaker. By using the ebook with the audiobook, you can also learn English as a native Arabic speaker. Volume one covers the first three of 30 chapters of the Koran.

Listen to this mesmerizing and modern translation of the Holy Koran that will help you appreciate its beauty.

Brought to you by Penguin. I was standing outside an apartment block that had been split apart by a missile. The words of a poem came to me when I could no longer find my own. In nearly four decades as a journalist covering conflict from Rwanda to Kosovo to Palestine, Channel 4 News...

One’s initial impression might be a kindly, generous, encouraging, positive, wise spiritual leader offering guidance to those looking for a bit of light in the world around us. But then, to our surprise, we realize that the map he provides us in these poems takes us deep inside God, Islam, and the love of God, where we need to go. He has not only done so, but in a language that is accessible to even children.