OMAR KHAYYAM

Abu-ol Fath Ebne Ebrahim , otherwise known as Omar Khayyam was born in the latter halh of the 11th. Century. Although famous for his poetry, Khayyam was also a renowned mathematician, scientist and astronomer. He was the creator of the Persian (Jalali) calendar that is more accurate than the Julian calendar in use today by the West. He also made incredible contribution in other scientific fields such as solving the cubic equation problems in Algebra and creating an astronomical table. However, when we think Khayyam, we think of his Rubaiyat, or collection of existentialist poetry. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is among the few masterpieces that have been translated into most languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, and Urdu. His love affair with the here-and-now was a brave stance in the Islamic world of his day where the earthly life was often shunned for the glory of the afterworld.
Khayyam was keenly aware of his mortality and the fleeting nature of life. His references to wine and love are mystical and hypnotic tools to convey his singular advice: life is worth living to its fullest every day, for each day gone will not be replaceable.

The palace where Jamshid held his cup
The doe and the fox now rest and sup
Bahram who hunted game non-stop
Was hunted by death when his time was up.

Then to the rolling Heav'n itself I cried,
Asking, "What Lamp had Destiny to guide
Her little Children stumbling in the Dark?"
And--"A blind understanding!" Heav'n replied.

There was the Door to which I found no key
There was a Veil through which I could not see
Some little talk awhile of ME and THEE
There was – and then no more of THEE and ME.
When you and I behind the Veil are past,
Oh but the long long while the World shall last,
Which of our Coming and Departure heeds
As much as Ocean of pebble-cast
Alike for those who TO-Day prepare,
And those that after some To-Morrow stare,
A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries
“Fools! Your reward is neither Here nor There!”