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5
2222-2271

  • Though your life has (almost) passed, this (present) moment is its root: water it with repentance if it lacks moisture.
  • Give the Living Water to the root of your life, in order that the tree of your life may become verdant.
  • By this (Water) all past (sins) are made good: by this (Water) last year's poison is made (sweet) as sugar.
  • God hath changed your evil deeds (to good), in order that what has preceded may become wholly (acts of) piety. 2225
  • O master, cleave bravely to a repentance (like that) of Nasúh: strive earnestly both with body and spirit.
  • Hear from me the description of this repentance of Nasúh: (if) you have believed (in it before), (yet now) believe afresh.
  • Story explaining the repentance of Nasúh. As milk that flows from the teat never returns to the teat, so he who has repented like Nasúh will never think of that sin in the way of desire; nay, his loathing will increase continually, and that loathing is a proof that he has experienced the delight of being accepted (as a sincere penitent), and that the old lust has ceased to give delight, and that the former (delight) has established itself in the place of the latter, as it has been said (in verse): “Nothing breaks off (one) love except another love: why don't you take a friend (who is) fairer than he?” And when his (the penitent's) heart desires to sin again, it is a sign that he has not experienced the delight of acceptance, and that the delight of acceptance has not superseded the delight of sin, and that he has not (yet) become (like the righteous of whom God saith), “We will surely dispose him to ease,” but that the (sinful) delight (spoken) of (in the text), “We will surely dispose him to hardship,” is still remaining in him.
  • There was aforetime a man named Nasúh: he earned his livelihood by shampooing women.
  • His face resembled a female countenance: he was disguising his manliness.
  • He was a shampooer in the women's bath, and very active in (contriving) fraud and deceit. 2230
  • For (many) years he went on shampooing, and no one suspected the (real) nature and secret of his fondness (for that employment).
  • (’Twas) because, (though) his voice and countenance were woman-like, yet his lust was at full strength and wide-awake.
  • He wore the chádar and snood and veil, (but he was) a man lustful and in the prime of youth.
  • In this fashion that enamoured man was massaging and washing the daughters of emperors,
  • (And though) he often resolved on repentance and was turning his back (on sin), the miscreant carnal soul would always tear his repentance to pieces. 2235
  • That evil-doer (Nasúh) went to a gnostic and said, “Remember me in a prayer.”
  • The holy man knew his secret but, (acting) like the forbearance of God, he did not divulge it;
  • (For) on his (the gnostic's) lips is a lock, while his heart is full of mysteries: his lips are silent, though his heart is filled with voices.
  • Gnostics, who have drunk of the cup of God, have known the mysteries and kept them hidden.
  • Whosoever has been taught the mysteries of the (Divine) action, his lips are sealed and closed. 2240
  • He (the holy man) laughed softly and said, “O evil-natured one, may God cause thee to repent of that which thou knowest!”
  • Explaining that the prayer of the gnostic who is united with God and his petition to God are like the petition of God to Himself, for “I am to him an ear and an eye and a tongue and a hand.” God hath said, “And thou didst not throw when thou threwest, but God threw”; and there are many Verses (of the Qur’án) and Traditions and Narrations on this subject. And (what follows is) an exposition of the way in which God devises means in order that, taking hold of the sinner's ear, they may lead him to the repentance of Nasúh.
  • That prayer traversed the Seven Heavens: the fortune of the miserable wretch (Nasúh) at last became good;
  • For the prayer of a Shaykh (Spiritual Director) is not like every prayer: he is naughted (fání) and his words are the words of God.
  • Since God asks and begs of Himself, how, then, should He refuse to grant His own prayer?
  • The action of the Almighty produced a means that delivered him (Nasúh) from execration and woe. 2245
  • (Whilst) he was filling a basin in the bath, a jewel belonging to the King's daughter was lost.
  • A jewel was lost from her ear-rings, and every woman (in the bath began to take part) in the search (for it).
  • Then they bolted the door of the bath (and made it) fast, in order that they might first look for the jewel in the folds of the furniture.
  • They searched (all) these articles, but it was not brought to light (there), nor was any person who had stolen the jewel discovered either.
  • Then they began to search incontinently with all their might in the mouths and ears (of the bathers) and in every cleft. 2250
  • In rima inferiore et superiore and everywhere they searched for the pearl belonging to a beauteous oyster-shell. [In lower and upper (bodily) apertures and everywhere they searched for the pearl belonging to a beauteous oyster-shell.]
  • Proclamation was made: “Strip, all (of you), whoever ye are, whether ye are old or young!”
  • The lady-in-waiting began to search them, one by one, (in the hope) that the marvellous pearl might be discovered.
  • Nasúh, (stricken) with fear, went into a private place: his face (was) yellow (pale) and his lips blue on account of a (great) terror (which possessed him).
  • He saw death before his eyes: he went (to hide himself), trembling like a leaf. 2255
  • He cried, “O Lord, many a time have I turned away (from evil courses) and (then) broken my vows of penitence and my promises.
  • I have done the (foul) things that were fit to be done by me, so that such a black flood (of calamity) has arrived.
  • If my turn to be searched shall come, oh, what cruel sufferings must my soul endure!
  • A hundred sparks of fire have fallen on my heart: perceive in my orisons the smell of my (burning) heart.
  • May anguish like this not be the infidel's (portion)! I clutch the skirt of (Thy) mercy. Help, help! 2260
  • Would that my mother had not borne me, or that a lion had devoured me in the pasture!
  • O God, do Thou what is worthy to be done by Thee, for from every hole a snake is biting me.
  • I have a soul of stone, and my heart is of iron, otherwise they would have turned into blood in this sorrow and lamentation.
  • The time presses and I have (only) one moment (left): act in kingly fashion, come to my aid!
  • If Thou wilt cover me up (conceal my sin) this time, (henceforth) I repent of everything that ought not to be done. 2265
  • Accept my repentance this once more, that I may gird myself with a hundred belts for repentance.
  • If I commit any fault (in keeping my vow) this time, then do not hearken again to my prayer and words (of entreaty).”
  • Thus was he moaning while a hundred tears flowed (from his eyes). “I have fallen,” he cried, “into the hands of the executioner and policeman.
  • Let no Frank die such a death: may no mulhid (Ismá‘ílí or ‘Assassin’) have (cause to make) this lamentation!”
  • He was uttering cries of mourning over his soul, (for) he saw the face of Azrael (coming) nearer and nearer. 2270
  • He cried “O God, O God” so often that door and wall joined with him (echoed his words).