SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

When every prophet will refuse his people

Muhammad will not reject us but he will fetch us

o you for whose sake we travel long distances, blessed

is the man who sees you.

(TL/SOAS, SOM/XII/I)

The second poem portrays the mystical relationship between

FAIIMAH and Somali Sufi women and is arranged in the form

of an imaginary dialogue:

[FADUMO:]

[HAWEENKA: ]

Anoo canab ah 00 binta layli nuur ah

00 waliba burhaan leh 00 binta rasuul ah

Beeraq mid aan odhanin baab khayr leh u

ma furo:

Sitooy beeraq

Sitooy beeraq

Sitooy beeraq.

5.7 •

[FATIMAH:] Since I am sweet as the grapes, and since I am

the light of the night

[THE WOMEN:]

And even more, I have a gift: I am the

daughter of the Prophet

Among the women, I shall not open a

gainful door for the one who does n0t say,

'I love you.'

o noble woman, we love you

o noble woman, we love you

o noble woman, we love you.

(TL/SOAS, SOM/XII/l)

The sitaac:!. poems are recited at women's prayer meetings

and sometimes at homes in private.