Rumi, who died in 1273 C.E. was a very influential Muslim mystic, though at one point he appears to have stopped seeing himself seen as being one way vs. another, as he put aside duality:
Jalaluddin Rumi |
What to do, Muslims? For I do not recognize myself; not
a Christian I nor Jew, Zoroastrian nor Muslim....
Not of India am I nor China, not Bulgar-land nor Turkistan;
not the Kingdom of Both Iraqs nor the Land of Khurasan.
Not of this World am I nor the next, not of heaven or hell;
not of Adam nor Eve, not of Paradise nor Ridwan.
My place is no place, my trace has no trace; not body
nor soul, for I belong to the soul of Love.
Duality have I put aside, I have seen both worlds as one.
One I seek, One I know, One I see, One I call.
He is the first, He the last; He the Outward, He the inward.
~Diwan-i Shams-i Tabriz*
A truly inspirational piece that tells us to put our differences aside.
*Translated from Arabic by John Alden Williams, reprinted from The World of Islam, ed. by John Alden Williams (1994).
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