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5
843-867

  • The spirit is a falcon, and the (bodily) properties are crows: it has (receives) painful brands from the crows and owls.
  • It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city of Sabzawár.
  • Story of Mohammed Khwárizmsháh who took by war (force) the city of Sabzawár, where all (the inhabitants) are Ráfizís (extreme Shí‘ites). (When) they begged him to spare their lives, he said, “I will grant (you) security as soon as ye produce from this city a man named Abú Bakr and present him to me.”
  • Mohammed Alp Ulugh Khwárizmsháh marched to battle against Sabzawár, (the city) full of refuge (for the wicked). 845
  • His troops reduced them (the inhabitants) to straits; his army fell to killing the foe.
  • They prostrated themselves before him, crying, “Mercy! Make us thy thralls, (but) spare our lives!
  • Whatever thou requirest (in the way of) tribute or presents will come to thee from us with increase (abundantly) at every fixed time (of payment).
  • Our lives are thine, O lion-natured (prince): let them be on deposit with us for a (little) while.”
  • He replied, “Ye will not save your lives from me unless ye bring an Abú Bakr into my presence. 850
  • Unless ye bring to me as a gift from your city one whose name is Abú Bakr, O people who have fled (from righteousness),
  • I will mow you down like corn, O vile folk: I will accept neither tribute nor blandishments.”
  • They offered him many sacks of gold, saying, “Do not demand an Abú Bakr from a city like this.
  • How should there be an Abú Bakr in Sabzawár, or a dry sod in the river?”
  • He averted his face from the gold and said, “O Magians (infidels), unless ye bring me an Abú Bakr as an offering, 855
  • ’Tis of no avail. I am not a child that I should stand dumbfounded (fascinated) by gold and silver.”
  • Unless thou prostrate thyself (in humble submission to God), thou wilt not escape (from punishment), O wretch, (even) if thou traverse the (whole) mosque on thy séant.
  • They (the inhabitants of Sabzawár) despatched emissaries, (to inquire) where in this desolate (corrupt) place an Abú Bakr was (to be found).
  • After three days and three nights, during which they made haste (in searching), they found an emaciated Abú Bakr.
  • He was a wayfarer and, on account of sickness, had remained in the corner of a ruin, in utter exhaustion. 860
  • He was lying in a ruined nook. When they espied him, they said to him hurriedly,
  • “Arise! The Sultan has demanded thee: by thee our city will be saved from slaughter.”
  • He replied, “If I had the foot (power to walk) or any (means of) arrival, I myself would have gone by my own road to my destination.
  • How should I have remained in this abode of my enemies? I would have pushed on towards the city of my friends.”
  • They raised the corpse-bearers' board and lifted our Abú Bakr (upon it). 865
  • The carriers were taking him along to Khwárizmsháh, that he (the Sultan) might behold the token (which he desired).
  • Sabzawár is this world, and in this place the man of God is wasted and goodfor- naught.