Knowledge

For all the knowledge that can be attained,
true knowledge is the knowledge of yourself;
if you are unable to connect soul to brain,
then for all the books that adorn your shelf,

for all the reading that you have pursued
to understand the powers above,
do you really believe that you hold the truth,
when knowledge is stale, without acknowledging love?

Do not brag about the books that you read,
or your generous deeds and good intentions,
if you cannot embody this holy creed,
then your faith is no better than full abstention.

The true meaning of the four holy books
is found in the Elif, the very first letter;
and as far as one ever needs to look
through the alphabet—you couldn't do any better.

"Teacher, about this Elif?" I hear you say—
so I shall explain once more from the start:
that for any pilgrimage that you can make,
the best one of all is the one to the heart.
Yunus Emre (1240-1321)
(Translated by Prontobard - 2022)

[Elif is the Turkish form of Alif – the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, which can also mean honesty]