Abu Yazid Al-Bistami

"For a long time I used to circumambulate the Kaaba. When I attained God, I saw the Kaaba circumambulating me" - In this passage, it seems as though he is trying to say that when you have God, you are empowered. You are more than just one who is worshiping, but one that has achieved the love of God and see it surrounding you.

"Anyone whose reward from God is deferred until tomorrow has not truly worshipped Him today" - I found this sentence very interesting because generally we think of those who are forced to wait for their rewards as virtuous, but here he is saying that God rewards you everyday. God's rewards are not to be waited for, because if you truly know God and truly worship him, he does not wait to praise you for your actions.

"A single atom of the sweetness of wisdom in a man's heart is better than a thousand pavilions in Paradise" - Wisdom is more virtuous than luxury. This passage reminds me of the idea that the best things come in small packages.

"For thirty years I used to say, "Do this" and "Give that"; but when I reached the first stage of wisdom, I said, "O God, be mind and do whatever you want"". - This illustrates the surrender to God that is taught in Islam. Again, we see the importance of wisdom and this surrender to the higher power. In telling God to do whatever He wants, the individual is giving up all power and desire to be God's.

Overall, I found these passages to be enlightening and found little bits of great knowledge in each of them.