Translated by Titus Burckhardt

A selection from the Rasa’il al-darqawiyya, an important document among the Sufi brotherhoods of North Africa.

“You will perhaps find a benefit in distress which you have not been able to find in fasting nor in prayer; therefore when it descends upon you, defend yourself no longer and do not be concerned with searching for some remedy, lest you drive away the good which comes toward you freely, and give up your will entirely to your Lord; then you will see marvels.” Our Master used to say when someone was overcome with dismay: “Relax your mind and learn to swim.”

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And click here for a PDF (11.9MB) of the original Arabic full text of the Letters.

With thanks to World Wisdom Books and the journal Studies in Comparative Religion.