Because of fear of hell
Then burn me in hell.
If I worship You
Because I desire paradise
Then exclude me from paradise.
But if I worship You
For Yourself alone
Then deny me not
Your eternal beauty
This beautiful poem was by Rabia Basri, an early Sufi mystic poet. She had a great influence on Rumi. She was one of the first Sufi poets who emphasised a pure, unconditional Love of the Divine. Not a love that was motivated by any egotistical ends. Rabia knew that love motivated by selfish desires was not true love. Her disposition towards the Divine is in this sense nuanced and healthy. Certain religious traditions, by contrast, have weaponised fear and shame to control people. True religion, arguably, is not about this. True religion shouldn't instil fear and shame in people.
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