The Divine Tavern

By Ali Ashraf

The Divine Tavern is a collection of poetry about the spiritual journey of the human soul through seven stages of life beginning from beauty and ending at Sufism, which is believed to be the highest level of human consciousness in the world of mysticism. It includes seven sections of poems, each section representing a different stage of the spiritual journey. The voice of this book is mainly in the first person to create a direct impact of firsthand experience in this spiritual journey evolving from human to divine love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ali Ashraf
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223501459

Ali Ashraf

Ali Ashraf (Suhrawardi) is a poet and writer from Pakistan. He mainly writes about grief, love, and spirituality. He is an author of four English poetry collections; his debut poetry collection 'The Divine Tavern', his second poetry collection 'The Rosary of Love', and his two recent poetry collections 'Invocations: Islamic Sufi Poetry Collection' and 'Sad But Not Depressed: Sad Love Poetry Collection'. Ali has also recently published his debut Urdu poetry collection with its English translation called 'JAZB: Urdu Poetry with English Translation'. Ali has a master's degree in English and he currently resides in Lahore, Pakistan. He is deeply interested in Sufism and is a member of the Suhrawardi Sufi order. Ali shares his recent poetry and updates on Instagram @aliashraf_poetry and @aliashraf_urdupoetry

Book preview

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.

—RUMI

Dedicated to all the people of the world and beyond.

Preface

It is said by Sufis that to break the heart of an innocent human being is a greater sin than breaking the walls of Qa'aba, but why so? Because in heart, the perfect illusion (i.e. this beautiful universe) resides and when this illusion is broken, one begins to see reality as it is, which might lead to intense heartache. One begins to realise that all reality seems is, in reality, nothing but an illusion and what really is reality cannot be said or expressed. One is not left with much choice but to be sorrowful.

Sufis says that the tears that are shed at this stage of the spiritual journey are holier than the water on which Jesus walked, the water that kissed his blessed feet. The reason being is that these tears grow wings and fly to reach the throne of God and touch it, but it cannot be witnessed and neither can it be seen except by those who have pure souls.

The journey of the soul, if it is destined to reach God, will always pass through the abandoned valley of sorrows and heartache. Without tears, it is impossible to reach God, and without heartache, it is impossible to fall in love with him.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where tears are shed but for the wrong causes, where sadness prevails but because of the wrong reasons. In such a world, this poetry collection is an attempt to bring back the true meaning of tears and despair, and to bring back the pure cause that is worth crying for.

Beauty

Love

Grief

Death

God

Self

Sufi

Beauty

the garden

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the chirping birds

they’re your friends,

the shining sun

is your lamp.

the stars at night

are for you to play

to master your paintbrush

to give them shapes.

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the bowing tree

is your shade

the grass underneath

is your bed.

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the playful butterflies

they giggle when you see

they are gifts for you

from faraway