Omid Safi

The Obama Campaign, at it's best, has not been about Obama. It's been about a mass movement, a coming together of longtime activists and newcomers, who have dared to restore hope to politics, to dream that there is a place in the arena of politics for the good. That's what makes the character assassination and subsequent resignation of Mazen Asbahi from the Obama Campaign so hard to take, so bitter.

Sometimes we are given blessings in unexpected places.  Friendship and conversations of the heart are among them.

Sadr al-Din Qunawi, Atesh-Baz Veli, karatay, Ince Minaret, and Ala al-din Mosque

and of course, Masnavi. 

'Abd al-Rahman Jami said of Mawlana Rumi that he is like a prophet, but with no scripture.    so true.

I didn't grow up with a strong sense of visiting shrines, and there is a part of me that is still somewhat less than comfortable with the whole ambience, but standing before the mausoleum of Mawlana, all of that was forgotten.  First there were tears, then a calmness like I had not felt, and finally joy, unabashed joy.   alhamdulilah. 

This was an amazing day, and an even more amazing night.  It started by attending the first day of the “Modern World and Ibn Arabi” conference, organized by the Turkish Women’s Cultural Association and the Ministry of Culture of Istanbul.  The conference will be an almost weeklong affair, with lectures in Istanbul, followed to Damascus where the participants will visit the shrine of Ibn ‘Arabi there, insha’allah.