The Palace of Sharaf Al-Nisa

I said, ‘Yonder mansion of pure ruby which gathers tribute from the sun,

yon station, yon abode, yon lofty palace whose portico the houris throng pilgrim robed—

tell me, you who inspired the travellers to search, who is the owner of this habitation?’

Rumi replied: ‘This is the mansion of Sharaf al Nisa; the birds on its roof sing in the angels’ choir.

Our ocean gave not birth to such a pearl; no mother gave birth to such a daughter.

By her grave the earth of Lahore vies with heaven; none in this world comprehends her secret.

She was all ecstasy and yearning, anguish and burning, eyes and lamp to the governor of Panjab;

radiance of the family of Abd al Samad, her poverty is an image remaining eternally.

To cleanse her being wholly with the Quran, not for one moment did she cease recitation;

at her side a double edged sword, the Quran in her hand, flesh, body, mind and soul drunken with God;

solitude with sword, Quran and prayer— O happy life, passed in supplication!

When the last breath issued from her lips, looking upon her mother most yearningly

she spoke: “If you would have knowledge of my secret, regard this sword and this Quran.

These two forces preserve each the other and are the axis of all life’s creation.

In this world, which dies every moment, only these two were your daughter’s intimates.

Now that I take my leave I have this to say to you: do not remove the sword and the Quran from me.

Take to your heart these words I speak; better my tomb without dome and lamp;

for believers, sword and Quran suffice— let this be the furniture of my grave.”

For long ages, beneath this golden dome, the sword and the scriptures lay upon her shrine.

Her resting place, in this inconstant world, spoke a message to the people of the Truth

until the Muslims did with themselves what they did and time’s revolution rolled up their carpet.

The man of God was mindful of other than God, the lion of the Lord took to the trade of the fox;

the quicksilver fire and fever departed from his heart— you know well what befell Panjab—

the Khalsa snatched away sword and Quran and in that land Islam expired.’