Quotes from book
The Conference of the Birds

Name: The Conference of the Birds
Author: Attar of Nishapur

Attar of Nishapur Original title منطق‌الطیر (Persian, 1177)

The Conference of the Birds or Speech of the Birds is a celebrated literary masterpiece of Persian literature by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar, commonly known as Attar of Nishapur. The title is taken directly from the Qur’an, 27:16, where Sulayman and Dāwūd are said to have been taught the language, or speech, of the birds .

“All things are but masks at God's beck and call,
They are symbols that instruct us that God is all.”

Attar of Nishapur book The Conference of the Birds

As translated by Raficq Abdulla
The Conference of the Birds (1177)

“Sin and Contrition — Retribution owed,
And cancell'd — Pilgrim, Pilgrimage, and Road,
Was but Myself toward Myself: and Your
Arrival but Myself at my own Door…”

Attar of Nishapur book The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds (1177)

“All you have been, and seen, and done, and thought,
Not You but I, have seen and been and wrought:
I was the Sin that from Myself rebell'd:
I the Remorse that tow'rd Myself compell'd…”

Attar of Nishapur book The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds (1177)

“Come you lost Atoms to your Centre draw,
And be the Eternal Mirror that you saw”

Attar of Nishapur book The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds (1177)
Context: Come you lost Atoms to your Centre draw,
And be the Eternal Mirror that you saw:
Rays that have wander'd into Darkness wide
Return and back into your Sun subside.