1. Love is the essence of life, but it also requires freedom and space. In the poem On Love, the prophet Almustafa teaches us that love is the reason we are here, and that we should love one another with all our hearts. But he also warns us not to cling to each other, or to impose our wills on our beloved. He says, “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”¹ This means that we should respect each other’s individuality and autonomy, and allow our love to grow and flow naturally.
2. Joy and sorrow are inseparable, and both are necessary for growth. In the poem On Joy and Sorrow, the prophet Almustafa explains that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin, and that we cannot have one without the other. He says, “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.”² This means that we should not avoid or deny our sorrow, but embrace it as a part of our journey. Sorrow can help us appreciate joy more, and joy can give us strength to endure sorrow.
3. Children are not our property, but our responsibility. In the poem On Children, the prophet Almustafa reminds us that children are not ours to mold or control, but to guide and nurture. He says, “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”³ This means that we should not try to make them like us, or to fulfill our dreams through them. We should let them discover their own paths, and support them with love and wisdom.
4. Work is not a burden, but a blessing. In the poem On Work, the prophet Almustafa tells us that work is not a punishment or a necessity, but a joy and a privilege. He says, “You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.”⁴ This means that we should not work for money or fame, but for the sake of expressing our talents and serving our fellow beings. We should find work that aligns with our passions and purposes, and do it with gratitude and excellence.
5. Freedom is not a license, but a responsibility. In the poem On Freedom, the prophet Almustafa warns us that freedom is not a right or a privilege, but a duty and a challenge. He says, “And if it is a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed. For how can a tyrant rule the free and the proud, but for a tyranny in their own freedom and a shame in their own pride?”⁵ This means that we should not abuse our freedom to harm or oppress others, but to liberate and empower them. We should also be aware of our own inner limitations and prejudices, and strive to overcome them.
6. Pain is not a curse, but a teacher. In the poem On Pain, the prophet Almustafa reveals that pain is not a random or cruel occurrence, but a meaningful and beneficial one. He says, “Much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity.” This means that we should not resist or resent our pain, but accept and learn from it. Pain can help us heal our wounds, grow our strengths, and awaken our potentials.
7. Death is not an end, but a beginning. In the poem On Death, the prophet Almustafa comforts us that death is not a loss or a tragedy, but a transition and a mystery. He says, “For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?” This means that we should not fear or mourn death, but celebrate and embrace it. Death can free us from our limitations, and reunite us with our source.
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