The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, as translated by Edward Fitzgerald, is elucidated by Abdullah in the light of his own and Sufi teaching. Omar Khayyam is shown to be a man modern readers can relate to sympathetically as he struggles with the questions of life and death during his long search for the Truth.

We should never be taken in by the outward form, even of something as beautiful as the rose. When the petals of the rose shrivel, its seeds are scattered indiscriminately ... The inner spiritual message is for all mankind, no matter what form it is contained in. The message is greater than any sect's way of understanding it and goes out to all, just as the Sun shines on everyone, sinner and saint.

Fitzgerald's first translation of the Rubaiyat was inspired for the benefit of all mankind. Allah works in mysterious ways. Whenever he wants something to come through in a pure way, it will happen in spite of everything.