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4
1261-1310

  • The two eyes of the Intellect are (fixed) on the end of things: it endures the pain of the thorn for the sake of that Rose
  • Which does not fade and drop in autumn—far from it be the wind (breath) of every nose that cannot smell!
  • How the Demon sat on the place (throne) of Solomon, on whom be peace, and imitated his actions; and concerning the manifest difference between the two Solomons, and how the Demon called himself Solomon son of David.
  • Even if thou hast intellect, associate and consult with another intellect, O father.
  • With two intellects thou wilt be delivered from many afflictions: thou wilt plant thy foot on the summit of the heavens.
  • If the Demon called himself Solomon and won the kingdom and made the empire subject (to him), 1265
  • (It was because) he had seen (and imitated) the form of Solomon's action; (but) within the form the spirit of demonry was appearing.
  • The people said, “This Solomon is without excellence: there are (great) differences between (that) Solomon and (this) Solomon.”
  • He (the former) is like wakefulness, this one is like sleep; (there is as much difference) as between that Hasan and this Hasan.
  • The Demon would reply, “God has bestowed on Ahriman a pleasing form (aspect) in the likeness of me.
  • God hath given my aspect to the Devil: let him not cast you into his net! 1270
  • If he appear with the pretence (that he is really I), beware! Do not have regard to his (outward) form.”
  • The Demon was saying this to them from guile, but in good (enlightened) hearts the reverse of this was apparent.
  • There is no playing tricks with the discerning man, especially (with) him whose discernment and intelligence speak of the Unseen.
  • No magic and no imposture and fraud will bind a veil upon the owners of (spiritual) empire.
  • Hence they were saying to themselves in reply (to the Demon), “Thou art going upside down, O thou who art addressed falsely (by the name of Solomon). 1275
  • Upside down likewise thou wilt go Hellward, the lowest among the low.
  • If he (Solomon) has been deposed and reduced to poverty, (yet) the radiant full-moon is on his forehead.
  • If thou hast carried off the (royal) signet-ring, (yet) thou art (as) a Hell frozen like (the region of) piercing cold.
  • On account of (the Demon's) ostentation and vain show and pomp and grandeur how (should we lay) the head (in obeisance before him)? for we will not lay (before him) even a hoof.
  • And if heedlessly we should lay the forehead (on the ground in homage) to him, a preventing hand will rise up from the earth, 1280
  • (As though to say), ‘Do not lay the head before this headlong-fallen one; beware, do not bow down to this ill-fated wretch!’”
  • I would have given a very soul-quickening exposition of this (story), were it not for the indignation and jealousy of God.
  • Still, be content and accept this (insufficient) amount, that I may explain (the whole of) this at another time.
  • He (the Demon), having called himself by the name of the prophet Solomon, makes it a mask to deceive every (foolish) boy.
  • Pass on from the (outward) form and rise beyond the name: flee from title and from name (and enter) into reality. 1285
  • Inquire, then, about his (spiritual) degree and his (interior) actions: in the midst of his degree and actions seek (to discover) him.
  • How Solomon, on whom be peace, entered the Farther Mosque daily, after its completion, for the purpose of worshipping and directing the worshippers and devotees; and how medicinal herbs grew in the Mosque.
  • Every morning, when Solomon came and made supplication in the Farther Mosque.
  • He saw that a new plant had grown there; then he would say, “Tell thy name and use.
  • What medicine art thou? What art thou? What is thy name? To whom art thou hurtful and for whom is thy usefulness?”
  • Then every plant would tell its effect and name, saying “I am life to that one, and death to this one. 1290
  • I am poison to this one, and sugar to that one: this is my name (inscribed) on the Tablet by (the pen of) the Divine decree.”
  • Then (by hearing) from Solomon about those plants the physicians became learned and wise authorities (on medicine),
  • So that they compiled medical books and were relieving the body from pain.
  • This astronomy and medicine is (knowledge given by) Divine inspiration to the prophets: where is the way for intellect and sense (to advance) towards that which is without (spatial) direction?
  • The particular (individual) intellect is not the intellect (capable) of production: it is only the receiver of science and is in need (of teaching). 1295
  • This intellect is capable of being taught and of apprehending, but (only) the man possessed of Divine inspiration gives it the teaching (which it requires).
  • Assuredly, in their beginning, all trades (crafts and professions) were (derived) from Divine inspiration, but the intellect added (something) to them.
  • Consider whether this intellect of ours can learn any trade without a master.
  • Although it (the intellect) was hair-splitting (subtle and ingenious) in contrivance, no trade was subdued (brought under command) without a master.
  • If knowledge of a trade were (derived) from this intellect, any trade would be acquired without a master. 1300
  • How Qábíl (Cain) learned the trade of grave-digging from the crow (raven), before knowledge of grave-digging and graves existed in the world.
  • When was grave-digging, which was the meanest trade (of all), (acquired) from thought and cunning and meditation?
  • If Qábíl had possessed this understanding, how should he have placed (the body of) Hábíl (Abel) on his head?—
  • Saying, “Where shall I hide this murdered one, this man bestained with blood and earth?”
  • He espied a crow which had taken up a dead crow in its mouth and was approaching (ever) so quickly.
  • It came down from the air and began skilfully to dig a grave for it (the dead crow) for the purpose of teaching (him). 1305
  • Then with its talons it raised dust from the ground and speedily put the dead crow in the grave.
  • It buried it, then it covered it with earth: the crow was endowed with knowledge through the inspiration (given) of God.
  • Qábíl cried, “Oh, fie on my intellect! for a crow is superior to me in skill.”
  • Concerning the Universal Intellect He (God) hath said, “The sight did not rove (má zágh),” (but) the particular intellect is looking in every direction.
  • The Intellect whose sight does not rove (‘aql-i má zágh) is the light of the elect; the crow-intellect (‘aql-i zágh) is the sexton for the (spiritually) dead. 1310