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5
2745-2794

  • Although that (state) is a reality, while this (description) is (only) an image, O son, (which is employed) in order that he (who offers it) may bring it nearer to thy understanding. 2745
  • They liken anguish to thorns; it is not that (in reality), but they do so as a means of arousing (thy) attention.
  • When they called a hard heart “stony,” that was (really) inappropriate, (but) they made it serve as a similitude.
  • The archetype of that (object of comparison) is inconceivable: put the blame on thy conceptual faculty, and do not regard it (the archetype) as negated (nonexistent).
  • How the Shaykh, in obedience to the intimation from the Unseen, went with his basket four times in one day to the house of a certain Amír for the purpose of begging; and how the Amír rebuked him for his impudence, and how he excused himself to the Amír.
  • One day the Shaykh went four times to the palace of an Amír, in order to beg like a dervish,
  • (With) a basket in his hand, crying, “Something for God's sake! The Creator of the soul is seeking a piece of bread.” 2750
  • ’Tis preposterous, O son: it makes even Universal Reason giddy-headed (astounded).
  • When the Amír saw him, he said to him, “O impudent man, I will tell you something, (but) do not fasten on me the name of niggard.
  • What callousness and effrontery and (insolent) behaviour is this, that you come in (here) four times in one day?
  • Who here is attached to you, Shaykh? Never have I seen a sturdy beggar like you.
  • You have brought (all) beggars into contempt and disgrace: what abominable importunity, worthy of ‘Abbás (himself), is this that you have shown! 2755
  • ‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup is (merely) your groom: may no freethinker (mulhid) have such an ill-starred soul!”
  • He replied, “O Amír, I am devoted to the (Divine) command. Be silent! Thou art not acquainted with my (inward) fire: do not boil (rage) so much!
  • Had I found in myself any greed for bread, I would have ripped my bread craving belly.
  • During seven years, (inspired) by the ardour of Love that cooks the body, I have eaten (nothing but) vine-leaves in the wilderness,
  • So that, from my eating withered and fresh leaves, this bodily colour of mine had turned green.” 2760
  • So long as thou art in the veil of the Father of mankind (Adam), do not look slightingly on the lovers (of God).
  • The acute men who have split hairs (in profound investigation) and with (all) their soul have (studied and) apprehended the science of astronomy,
  • And the sciences of sorcery and magic and (natural) philosophy, and, though they do not know (these sciences) with real knowledge,
  • Yet have endeavoured (to know them) as far as they possibly can, and have surpassed all their rivals—
  • Love was jealous and withdrew from them: such a (manifest) Sun became invisible to them. 2765
  • (I marvel), how did such a Sun withdraw its face from the light of an eye that observed a star in the daytime?
  • Abandon this (revilement); hark, accept my counsel: regard the lovers (of God) with the eye of love.
  • (Their) time is precious and their souls are on the watch (for the Beloved): at that moment they cannot excuse themselves to thee.
  • Apprehend (their real state), do not be dependent on their words, do not wound the breasts (hearts) of the lovers.
  • Hast not thou formed a bad opinion of this enthusiasm (of theirs)? (Thou hast done so from prudence): do not abandon prudence, always act with caution; 2770
  • (But) it (prudence) is either necessary or allowable or absurd: take this middle course in prudence, O interferer.
  • How the admonition of the Shaykh and the reflexion of (the impression produced by) his sincerity moved the Amír to weep; and how after (having shown) that irreverence he gave up (to him the contents of) his treasury; and how the Shaykh preserved himself (from temptation) and refused to accept (the gift) and said, “I cannot take any action in the absence of an intimation (from God).”
  • He (the Shaykh) said this and began to weep with ecstatic cries, the tears rolling hither and thither down his cheeks.
  • His sincerity touched the Amír's heart: Love is ever cooking a wondrous potful.
  • The sincerity of the lover affects (even) an inanimate thing: what wonder if it make an impression on the mind of one possessed of knowledge?
  • The sincerity of Moses made an impression on the rod and the mountain; nay, on the majestic sea. 2775
  • The sincerity of Ahmad (Mohammed) made an impression on the beauty of the moon; nay, it stopped the course of the shining sun.
  • With face turned to face in lamentation, both the Amír and the Dervish had fallen to weeping.
  • After they had wept much for a while, the Amír said to him, “Arise, O worthy man,
  • And choose from the Treasury whatever thou wilt, albeit thou deservest a hundred such (treasuries).
  • The (treasure-) house is thine: choose anything thou desirest, (though) in truth the two worlds are little (in thy estimation).” 2780
  • He replied, “I have not been given permission (by God) to pick out anything with my own hand.
  • I cannot of my own accord commit such an intemperance as to intrude in this way like an interloper."
  • He made this excuse and took his leave: what prevented (him from complying) was (the fact) that the (Amír's) munificence was not sincere.
  • Was it not (the case) that it (the munificence) was sincere and unmixed with rancour and wrath? (Yes; but) every (kind of) sincerity did not come into the Shaykh's consideration.
  • He said, “God hath so commanded me, saying, ‘Go as a beggar and ask for a piece of bread.’” 2785
  • How the (following) intimation came to the Shaykh from the Unseen: “During these two years thou hast taken and given by Our command; henceforth give but do not take; always put thy hand under the mat which on thy behalf We have made to be like the wallet of Abú Hurayra, and thou wilt find (there) whatever thou mayst desire.” (The object of such miracles is) that the people of the world may gain certainty that beyond this (world) is a world where, if you take a handful of earth, it will turn to gold; if a dead man enter it he will become living; if the most ill-starred enter it he will become the most fortunate; if infidelity enter therein, it will become faith; if poison enter therein, it will become an antidote (to poison). It (that world) is neither inside of this world nor outside; neither beneath it nor above it; neither joined with it nor separate from it: it is devoid of quality and relation. At every moment thousands of signs and types are displayed by it (in this world). As manual skill to the form of the hand, or glances of the eye to the form of the eye, or eloquence of the tongue to the form of the tongue, (such is the relation of that world to this): it is neither inside of it nor outside, neither joined with it nor separate. And indication is sufficient for a person of intelligence.
  • For two years that man of (high spiritual) accomplishment carried on this business (of begging); after that (time) the command came to him from the Creator—
  • “Henceforth continue to give, but do not beg from any one: We from the Unseen World have bestowed on thee this power.
  • Whoever begs of thee (any amount), from one (piece of money) to a thousand, put thy hand beneath a (certain) mat and produce (what he wants).
  • Hark, give (it) from the incalculable treasure of (Divine) mercy: in thy hand earth will become gold: give (it)!
  • Give whatsoever they ask of thee: have no anxiety as to that: know that the bounty of God is more than (every) more. 2790
  • In Our bounty there is no retrenchment or reduction; no sorrow or regret for (having shown) this generosity.
  • Put thy hand beneath the mat, O trusted man, in order to blindfold (deceive) the evil eye.
  • Fill thy fist, therefore, from beneath the mat and give (the money) into the hand of the beggar whose back is broken (by poverty).
  • Henceforth give from the wage that is not grudged: give the hidden pearl to every one who desires (it).