Eid al-Fitr meal in Malaysia
Spiritual Sunday
Rumi wrote the following poem to mark the end of Ramadan—the Eid al-Fitr celebration–which occurs Wednesday. Millions of Muslims around the world will break their month-long fast, pray to Allah, and give alms to the poor. The poem celebrates the heightened connection with God that Ramadan has made possible and which Rumi describes as “the silence of bewilderment.”
The Zulaikah in the poem is Potiphar’s wife from the story of Joseph. As Muslims interpret the story, her lust for Joseph represents her longing for God. “Occlusion” means blockage.
Mercy Has Heard That “O Lord” and Has Come
By Rumi
Translated by A. J. Arberry
Do not despair, my soul, for hope has manifested itself;
the hope of every soul has arrived from the unseen.
Do not despair, though Mary has gone from your hands,
for that light which drew Jesus to heaven has come.
Do not despair, my soul, in the darkness of this prison,
for that king who redeemed Joseph from prison has come.
Jacob has come forth from the veil of occlusion,
Joseph who rent Zulaikha’s veil has come.
You who all through night to dawn have been crying “O Lord,”
mercy has heard that “O Lord” and has come
O pain which has grown old, rejoice, for the cure has come;
O fastened lock, open, for the key has come.
You who have abstained fasting from the Table on high,
break your fast with joy, for the first day of the feast has come.
Keep silence, keep silence, for by virtue of the command “Be!”
that silence of bewilderment has augmented beyond all speech.