As a younger man, Attar went on pilgrimage to Makka Mukarramah and traveled extensively throughout the region, seeking wisdom in Egypt, Damascus, India, and other areas, before finally returning to his home city of Nishapur.

The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which was his profession. It is said that he saw as many as 500 patients a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies which he prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while attending to his patients.

About thirty works by Attar survive, but his masterpiece is the Mantic at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds). In this collection, he describes a group of birds (individual human souls) under the leadership of a hoopoe (spiritual master) who determine to search for the legendary Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront their own individual limitations and fears while journeying through seven valleys before they ultimately find the Simurgh and complete their quest. The 30 birds who ultimately complete the quest discover that they themselves are the Simurgh they sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh can translate as 30 birds) while giving us an esoteric teaching on the presence of the Divine within us.

Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other Sufi poets. It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when Attar was an old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars dispute this possibility.

Farid ud-Din Attar was apparently tried at one point for heresy and exiled from Nishapur, but he eventually returned to his home city and that is where he died.

A traditional story is told about Attar's death. He was taken prisoner by a Mongol during the invasion of Nishapur. Someone soon came and tried to ransom Attar with a thousand pieces of silver. Attar advised the Mongol not to sell him for that price. The Mongol, thinking to gain an even greater sum of money, refused the silver. Later, another person came, this time offering only a sack of straw to free Attar. Attar then told the Mongol to sell him for that was all he was worth. Outraged at being made a fool, the Mongol cut off Attar's head.

Whether or not this is literally true isn't the point. This story is used to teach the mystical insight that the personal self isn't of much real worth. What is valuable is the Beloved's presence within us -- and that presence isn't threatened by the death of the body.

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The Caribbean nation of Haiti has been hit by its strongest earthquake in 200 years, causing what is being described as "a catastrophe of major proportions".

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125 ml milk
50g butter melted
1 egg
5ml vanilla
125ml flour
5ml baking powder
15ml instant coffee powder
60ml brown sugar
60ml ground almonds

Sauce
250ml water
30ml cocoa powder
125ml brown sugar
Cream to serve

Combine milk, butter, egg and vanilla in a jug and mix well. Mix flour, baking powder, coffee, sugar and almonds in a bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and mix well. In a sauce pan bring the water, sugar, cocoa to boil. Pour the cocoa mixture into a 20 cm oven proof dish. Pour the coffee batter into sauce. Bake at 180 for 20 – 30 minutes. The batter will bake and rise to the top, leaving a delicious sauce underneath. Serve with lashings of whipped cream.

It is permissible to offer Nafl Salaah while sitting. However, by sitting down, he will only get half the reward. It is better to stand and offer the Salaah. The Nafl Salaahs after the Witr Salaah are also included in this rule. However, if a person cannot stand up because of some sickness, then he will receive the full reward. As for Fard and Sunnah Salaahs, as long as a person does not have a valid excuse, it will not be permissible to sit and offer them.

~ BEHISHTI ZEWAR ~