Category: Islam

Odds and Ends, Fes Medina

On By JonathanIn Culture, Islam, Photos, TravelLeave a comment

These are rosaries for sell outside of the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, the founder and (current) patron saint of Fes. The haram-precinct surrounding the shrine is filled with small shops selling rosaries, incense, candles, and other devotional aids, as well as sweet-meats (Idriss being the patron of sweet meats as well as the city, apparently).

The Millenium Falcon in miniature showed up at a flea-market at the edge of the Andalusian Quarter, along with a host of other wonderful items, including stacks of used Heinenkin bottles…

The rose-petal and rose-water vendor down Tella Kabira, just below the meat-sellers quarter. The olfactory contrast is intense.

Zellij tile and calligraphy in a medrasa in the Andalusian quarter.

Potatoes and herbs on or near Zanqa Romain.

An interesting piece of decoration of the exterior of the Moulay Idriss shrine. I’m afraid I have no idea of its symbolic import- assuming it has some- so if perchance anyone out there knows, I’d love to be filled in.

There Are Thorns Everywhere

On By JonathanIn East & West, Islam, Peace, Poetry2 Comments

After this there was much discussion of patience and forbearance. He [Nizam ad-Din Awliya] said: ‘Everyone who bears injury is better than he who can scarcely repress anger, for one must not be bent on retaliation.’ These two lines of poetry came on his blessed tongue:

   May God befriend all those who are my foes,
   May all who hurt me gain increased repose.

After that he added another couplet:

   May all who in my path place thorns from spite
   Lead lives that flower like a thornless rose rose.

Then he remarked: ‘If someone puts a thorn in your path and you put a thorn in his, there are thorns everywhere! And he concluded: ‘It is like this among men, that you are straight with those who are straight with you, and crooked to those who are crooked. But among dervishes, it is like this, that you are straight with those who are straight with you, and with the crooked, you are also straight!’

Amir Hasan Sijzi, Morals for the Heart