and is constant even in tribulations. "These are His favoured few," says Junaid of Baghdad.[1] But there are many who pose as his lovers and with much talk of his love lack the signs of true love. They are deluded by the devil, slaves of their passions, seeking a hollow reputation, shameless hypocrites who try to deceive the omniscient Lord their creator. They are all enemies of God, whether they are revered as divines or Sufis. Sahl of Taster who used to address everyone as "Friend", was once asked by a person the reason of his doing so, as all men could not be his friends. Sahl whispered in his ear saying: "He will either be a believer or a hypocrite; if he is a believer, he is God's friend; if a hypocrite, the devil's friend."
Abu Turab Nakshabi has composed some verses describing the signs of love. Their translation is as follows:
Do not profess your love. Hearken to
- ↑ A celebrated Sufi called Syed Uttaifa (chief of the sect) He died at Baghdad in 911 A.D.
