In The Sanctuary Of Knowledge Poem by Mystic Qalandar

O my Lord,
You are the One
Who nourishes me best.
Whatever lies within me—
Capability, competence,
Insight, wisdom—
Is bestowed
From Your sanctuary of knowledge,
Never from my own self.
And that sanctuary resides
In my heart,
Where only one Teacher lives:
You—solely You, only You—
Nothing of my own making.
Yet I strayed far
From that heart's sanctuary,
And landed in Satan's universities,
Where dark teachings prevailed:
World-worship, self-worship,
Saint-worship, grave-worship,
Shrine-worship, lust-worship—
And depravity.
Delusion was called enlightenment,
Obscurity named esoteric truth.
I was compelled
To accept falsehood as truth,
And devote myself
To things devoid of light.
But then—
A longing to live a divine life
Was awakened in me by Fitrah.
Al-Haq's hidden,
Echoing voice of Truth
Rescued me.
Now, what could lead me astray
From remembrance of Truth,
From the covenant of Alast?
Is this why
The dark forces
No longer assail me with such fury?
I sought help
Through patience and prayer—
With humility, with devotion—
And reentered
My heart's sanctuary.
Now I trust
My Teacher,
My Guide,
Stands with me—
A sheltering shade.
What more could I need?
I always awaken
When it is nearly too late.
Straying from that sanctuary
Cost me dearly—
I faced crimson peril.
But my heart's eye
Read the warning
Written on the board.
And now I stand again
At that threshold
Where I began
Life's journey—
When to Alastu bi Rabbikum
I