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2
492-541

  • The professional mourner utters burning words (of grief), but where is the glow of heart (heartfelt sorrow) and the rent skirt?
  • Between the true knower and the blind imitator there are (great) differences, for the former is like David, while the other is (but) an echo.
  • The source of the former’s words is a glow (of feeling), whereas the imitator is one who learns old things (by rote).
  • Beware! Be not duped by those sorrowful words” the ox bears the load, but it is the cart that moans (creaks). 495
  • Even the imitator is not disappointed of the (Divine) recompense: the professional mourner gets his wages at the (time of) reckoning.
  • (Both) infidel and true believer say “God,” but there is a good difference between the two.
  • The beggar says “God” for the sake of bread; the devout man says “God” from his soul.
  • If the beggar distinguished (God as He really is) from his own saying (the name of God), neither less nor more would remain before his eye.
  • For years that bread-seeker says “god”; like the ass, he carries the Qur’án for the sake of (being fed with) straw. 500
  • Had the word on his lips shone forth in his heart, his body would have been shivered to atoms.
  • In sorcery the name of a demon finds the way (to success); you are earning a petty coin by means of the Name of God.
  • How a peasant stroked a lion in the dark, because he thought it was his ox.
  • A peasant tied an ox in the stable: a lion ate his ox and sat in its place.
  • The peasant went into the stable to (see) the ox: the man, groping into corners, was seeking the ox at night.
  • He was rubbing his hand on the limbs of the lion, back and side, now above, now below. 505
  • The lion said, “If the light were to become greater, his gall-bladder would burst and his heart would turn to blood.
  • He is stroking me like this so boldly because in this (dark) night he thinks I am the ox.”
  • God is saying, “O blind dupe, did not Túr (Sinai) fall in pieces at My Name?
  • For if We had sent down (revealed) a Book to the mountain, it would have been riven asunder, then cut to pieces, and then it would have departed (disappeared).
  • If Mount Uhud had been acquainted with Me, it would have been shivered to pieces and its heart would have been filled with blood.” 510
  • You have heard this from your father and mother; in consequence you have embraced it thoughtlessly.
  • If you become acquainted with this without blind imitation, by (His) grace you will become immaterial, like a voice from Heaven.
  • Hear this (following) story as a deterrent, in order that you may know the banefulness of blind imitation.
  • How the Súfís sold the traveller's beast (to pay) for the (expenses of the) mystic dance.
  • A Súfí, after journeying, arrived at a monastery (for Súfís); he took his mount and led it to the stable.
  • With his own hand he gave it a little water and some fodder: (he was) not such a Súfí as the one we told of before. 515
  • He took precaution for it against neglect and craziness, (but) when the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, of what avail is precaution?
  • The Súfís were destitute and poor: poverty almost comprises an infidelity that brings (the soul) to perdition.
  • O thou rich man who art full fed, beware of laughing at the unrighteousness of the suffering poor.
  • On account of their destitution that Súfí flock, all of them, adopted (the expedient of) selling the ass,
  • Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.” 520
  • They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
  • Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
  • How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
  • We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
  • Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul. 525
  • And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
  • The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
  • When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
  • They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
  • The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit. 530
  • Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
  • (Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
  • Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
  • (But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
  • When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain. 535
  • He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
  • From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"
  • By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”
  • When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
  • The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage. 540
  • He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.