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5
2399-2423

  • (The daily) bread is not withheld (even) from pigs and dogs: this rain and (these) clouds are not earned by Man.
  • Just as you are pitiably enamoured of the daily bread, so the daily bread is enamoured of its consumer. 2400
  • Exposition of the meaning of trust in God, (which is illustrated by) the Story of the ascetic who, making trial of his trust in God, abandoned his property and (native) town and went far away from the beaten tracks and thoroughfares of men to the foot of a remote and inaccessible mountain, (where) in extreme hunger he laid his head upon a stone and fell asleep, saying to himself, ‘I put trust in Thy providing the means (of livelihood) and daily bread; and I cut myself off from (all) means (secondary causes) in order that I may experience the causation of trust in God.’
  • A certain ascetic had heard the saying of Mustafá (Mohammed) that the daily bread surely comes from God to the spirit,
  • (And that), whether you will or no, your daily bread comes running to you because it is (so) fond of you.
  • By way of trial that man went into the desert and immediately lay down near a mountain,
  • Saying, ‘I will see whether the daily bread will come to me: (my object is) that my belief in the daily bread may become firm.’
  • A caravan lost its way and marched towards the mountain: (the travellers) saw lying (there) him who was making the trial. 2405
  • (One) said (to another), ‘How is this man destitute here in the wilderness, far from road and town?
  • Oh, I wonder, is he dead or alive? (Evidently) he has no fear of wolves or enemies.’
  • They came on and touched him with their hands: that venerable man deliberately said nothing.
  • He did not stir, he did not even move his head or open his eyes, because he was making a trial.
  • Then they said, ‘This poor disappointed man has had a stroke of apoplexy caused by hunger.’ 2410
  • They fetched bread and (also) food in a kettle, that they might pour it into his mouth and (down) his throat.
  • Thereupon the man purposely clenched his teeth, in order to see (test) the truth of that promise.
  • They felt pity for him and said, ‘This man is starving and perishing with hunger and at the point of death’;
  • (So) they brought a knife and hastily made a rift in his closed teeth.
  • They poured soup into his mouth and forced into it fragments of bread. 2415
  • He said (to himself), ‘O (my) heart, even though thou art keeping silence, thou knowest the secret and art showing a (great) disdain.’
  • His heart replied, ‘I know (the secret) and am purposely behaving (thus): God is the provider for my soul and body.’
  • How should there be a trial more (perfect) than this? The daily bread comes with joy to those who have patience.”
  • How the fox answered the ass and urged him to seek a livelihood.
  • The fox said, “Leave these stories and apply all your poor efforts to earning a livelihood.
  • God has given you hands: do some work, earn something, help a friend. 2420
  • Every one takes steps to earn something and (thereby) helps other friends (to earn),
  • Because all the earning is not done by one (craftsman): (there is) a carpenter and also a water-carrier and a weaver.
  • By means of this partnership (the order of) the world is maintained: every one, (being impelled) by want, chooses some work.