Lessons from the Unseen — Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya on the Sirr

Among the earliest saints of the path, Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya is remembered as the mother of Divine Love. Her sirr was consumed not by fear of hell or desire for paradise, but by an unquenchable longing for God alone.

She is said to have prayed: “O Lord, if I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell. If I worship You for hope of Paradise, exclude me from it. But if I worship You for Your own sake, do not withhold from me Your Eternal Beauty.”

In her teaching, the sirr is a flame. It burns away motives, calculations, and bargains, leaving only the naked fire of love.

A practice inspired by Rābiʿa:

1. Sit quietly and place your hand over your heart.

2. Whisper, “I seek nothing but You, my Beloved.”

3. With each breath, feel as though you are feeding the flame inside the sirr.

4. Let every distraction be fuel for the fire — thoughts, fears, desires. Offer them to the flame.

5. Rest in the warmth that remains.

The lesson from Rābiʿa: love is the purifier. When the sirr is aflame with love, nothing false can survive.

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