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2
380-404

  • The prophet said that two angels are (always) praying here in the markets, (saying), 380
  • “O God, do Thou give the prodigal a boon in return, and O God do Thou give the miserly a bane (in return).”
  • Especially (does this apply to) the prodigal who has freely spent his soul (life) and made his throat a sacrifice to the Creator.
  • He offers his throat, like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael): the knife cannot do anything to (hurt) his throat.
  • On this account, then, the martyrs are living and joyous: do not, infidel-like, look at the body (alone),
  • Since God hath given them in return the spirit of everlastingness—a spirit safe from grief and pain and misery. 385
  • The debtor Shaykh acted in this fashion for years, taking and giving like a steward.
  • He was sowing seeds till the day of death, that on the day of death he might be a most glorious prince.
  • When the Shaykh's life reached its end and he saw in his (bodily) existence the signs of death,
  • The creditors were seated together around him, (while) the Shaykh was gently melting on himself, like a candle.
  • The creditors had become despairing and sour-faced: the pain in (their) hearts was accompanied by pain in (their) lungs. 390
  • “Look at these evil-thinking men,” said the Shaykh. “Hath not God four hundred gold dinars?”
  • A boy outside shouted “Halwá!” and bragged of (the excellence of) the halwá in hope of (getting) some dángs.
  • The Shaykh with (a nod of) his head directed the famulus to go and buy the whole of the halwá,
  • (Saying to himself), “so that the creditors, when they eat the halwá, for a (short) while may not look bitterly on me.”
  • The famulus at once went out through the doorway to buy with gold the halwá entire. 395
  • He said to the boy, “How much is the halwá in the lump?” The boy said, “Half a dinar and some small change.”
  • “Nay,” he replied; “don't ask too much from Súfís: I will give you half a dinar. Say no more.”
  • The boy put the tray before the Shaykh. Behold (now) the mysterious secret thoughts of the Shaykh!
  • He made a sign to the creditors (as though to say), “Look, this gift (of sweetmeat) is a present (to you): eat this gladly, it is lawful (food).”
  • When the tray was emptied, the boy took it and said, “Give me the gold, O Sage.” 400
  • The Shaykh said, “From where shall I get the money? I am in debt and going towards non-existence.”
  • The boy in (his) grief dashed the tray upon the ground; he raised (his voice in) lamentation and weeping and moaning.
  • The boy was weeping with loud sobs because of the swindle, (and crying), “Would that both my legs had been broken (ere I came hither)!
  • Would that I had loitered round the bath-stove and had not passed by the door of this monastery!