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6
487-511

  • His predicament is the same as that of his qibla (object of desire): call him ‘dead’ inasmuch as he seeks the dead.

  • Any one who lives with these (worldly) people is a monk, for his companions are (like) clods and stones.

  • In sooth, (actual) clods and stones never waylaid (and ruined) any one, (while) from those clods come a hundred thousand corruptions.”

  • The bird said to him, “(Well), then, the Jihád (spiritual war) is (waged) at the time when a brigand like this is on the road. 490

  • The valiant man enters on the unsafe road for the purpose of protecting and helping and fighting.

  • The root (innate quality) of manhood (only) becomes apparent at the time when the traveller meets his enemies on the road.

  • Since the Messenger (of Allah) was the Prophet of the sword, (the people of) his community are heroes and champions.

  • In our religion the right thing is war and terror; in the religion of Jesus the right thing is (retirement to) cave and mountain.”

  • He (the fowler) said, “Yes; if one has help (from God) and strength to make a mighty attack on evil and mischief. 495

  • (But) when there is no strength, ’tis better to abstain: spring easily away in flight from what cannot be endured.”

  • It (the bird) replied, “Firmness of heart is needed for achievement, but a (firm) friend does not lack friends.

  • Be a (firm) friend, that you may find friends innumerable; for without friends you will be left helpless.

  • The Devil is a wolf, and you are like Joseph: do not let go Jacob's skirt, O excellent one.

  • Generally the wolf seizes (his prey) at the moment when a year-old sheep strays alone by itself from the flock. 500

  • He who has abandoned (the performance of) the Sunna with the (Moslem) community, has not he drunk his own blood (exposed himself to destruction) in such a haunt of wild beasts?

  • The Sunna is the (safe) road, and the community are like (your) companions (on the road): without the road and without comrades you will fall into (sore) straits;

  • (But) not the fellow-traveller who is an enemy to Reason and seeks an opportunity to carry off your clothes,

  • (And only) goes about with you in order to find a mountain-pass where he can plunder you!

  • Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road! 505

  • By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.

  • The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.

  • The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.

  • On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.

  • What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend. 510

  • I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.