(Wikimedia Commons public domain)
Rabi‘a al-‘Adawiyya of Basra (AD 717 to AD 801) was a great early mystic of Islam. Here are four passages from her:
O God! if I worship Thee in fear of Hell, burn me in Hell; and if I worship Thee in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise; but if I worship Thee for Thine own sake, withhold not thine everlasting beauty.
I seek forgiveness from God for my lack of sincerity when I say that I seek the forgiveness of God.
O my Lord, whatever share of this world You have bestowed on me, bestow it to my enemies, and whatever share of the next world You have for me, give it to my friends. You are enough for me.
I will not serve God like a laborer, in expectation of my wages.
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