Selections from Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s Sawāniḥ

Love comes and goes, it has increase, decrease and perfection, and the lover has states within it. In the beginning he may deny it, then he may submit to it. Then he may be disgraced and again take to the path of denial. These states change according to the moment and the individual; sometimes love increases and the lover denies it, sometimes love decreases and the one who possesses it denies the decrease. For love must open the castle of the lover to have a house for itself within, so that the lover becomes tame and surrenders.

I said to the heart, ‘Do not tell the secret to the companion!

Beware! Tell no more of love’s tale.’

The heart said to me, ‘Don’t say this again.

Expose your body to affliction and say no more.’