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1
376-400

  • Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!

  • We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.

  • (Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of the mouse?

  • Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn has been ravaged by its guile,

  • O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse, and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn. 380

  • Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”

  • If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?

  • Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?

  • Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;

  • But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars, 385

  • Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.

  • Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.

  • Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).

  • The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.

  • At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power. 390

  • There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.

  • This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.

  • He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.

  • One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.

  • He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the intellect too is carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses. 395

  • Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;

  • And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare, leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.

  • Like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the world of) form.

  • He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).

  • He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the inner meaning of “Sleep is the brother of Death”; 400