thread for Islamic poetry

How the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyama inspired Victorian hedonists

"Yet the poem’s message was even more radical than this, for the Rubáiyát was a rejection not just of Christian morality, but of religion itself. There is no afterlife, Khayyám implied, and since human existence is transient – and death will come much faster than we imagine – it’s best to savour life’s exquisite moments while we can. This didn’t mean throwing oneself into wild hedonistic excess, but rather cultivating a sense of presence, and appreciating and enjoying the here and now in the limited time we have on Earth."

Oscar Wilde was heavily influenced by Omar Khayyam's Ruibayat.

Islam has a rich poetic tradition that is not reducible to modern Wahhabi/Salafist fanaticism.

[miguel1984]

Strength, is that you?