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5
815-864

  • Hence the worldly are blind of heart: they are drinkers of the brackish water of clay. 815
  • Continue to give brackish water and buy (the favour of) the blind in the world, since thou hast not the Water of Life within thee.
  • In such a (despicable) state (as has been described) thou wouldst fain live and be remembered: in blackness of face (shame and opprobrium), like a negro, thou art rejoicing.
  • The negro in (his) blackness is pleased (with himself), for he has (always) been a negro by birth and nature;
  • (But) he that (even) for a day is beloved and beautiful, if he become black, will seek to repair (the misfortune).
  • When the bird that can fly remains (helpless) on the earth, it is in anguish and grief and lamentation; 820
  • (But) the domestic fowl walks complacently on the earth: it runs about picking grain and happy and bold,
  • Because by nature it was (always) without (the power of) flight, while the other (bird) was (naturally) a flier and open-winged.
  • The Prophet, on whom be peace, said, “Pity three (classes of men): the mighty man of a people who is abased, and the rich man of a people who is impoverished, and a learned man whom the ignorant make sport of.”
  • The Prophet said, “Take pity on the soul of him who was rich and then became poor,
  • And on him who was mighty and became despised, or on one (who is) virtuous and learned (dwelling) amongst the (people of) Mudar.”
  • The Prophet said, “Show pity to these three classes (of men), (even) if ye are of (the hardness of) rock and mountain: 825
  • (Namely), him who was made lowly after having been a chief, and the rich man, too, who became impecunious,
  • And, thirdly, the learned man who in this world becomes afflicted (by living amongst) the foolish;
  • For to come (fall) from high to low estate is like the amputation of a limb from the body.”
  • The limb that is cut off from the body becomes dead: (when) newly cut off, it moves, but not for long.
  • (Similarly) he who drank of the cup of Alast last year, this year he suffers the pain and headache (in consequence of having drunk), 830
  • While he who, like a dog, is by nature attached to the kennel —how should he have the desire for (spiritual) sovereignty?
  • (Only) he that has sinned seeks to repent; (only) he that has lost the (right) way cries “Alas!”
  • Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable, and how the donkey assailed the stranger, now with hostility and now with mockery, and how it was afflicted by (having to eat) dry straw which is not its (proper) food. And this is a description of the chosen servant of God amongst worldlings and those addicted to passion and sensuality; for “Islam (was) strange (when it first) appeared, and will become strange again, and blessed are the strangers.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth.
  • A hunter captured a gazelle: the merciless man put it into a stable.
  • (Acting) like oppressors, he made a stable full of cows and donkeys the prison of the gazelle.
  • The gazelle, wild with terror, was fleeing in every direction: at night he (the hunter) poured (pieces of chopped) straw before the donkeys. 835
  • (Moved) by hunger and (ravenous) appetite, every cow and donkey was devouring the straw, (as though it were) sweeter than sugar.
  • Now the gazelle would run in fright from side to side, now it would turn its face away from the smoke and dust of the straw.
  • Whosoever is left (in company) with his opposite, they (who are wise) have deemed that punishment (terrible) as death,
  • So that Solomon said, “Unless the hoopoe make a respectable excuse for his absence,
  • I will kill him or inflict upon him a torment, a torment severe beyond (all) calculation.” 840
  • Hark, what is that torment, O trusted (friend)? To be in a cage without thy congener.
  • O Man, thou art in torment on account of this body: the bird, thy spirit, is imprisoned with one of another kind.
  • The spirit is a falcon, and the (bodily) properties are crows: it has (receives) painful brands from the crows and owls.
  • It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city of Sabzawár.
  • Story of Mohammed Khwárizmsháh who took by war (force) the city of Sabzawár, where all (the inhabitants) are Ráfizís (extreme Shí‘ites). (When) they begged him to spare their lives, he said, “I will grant (you) security as soon as ye produce from this city a man named Abú Bakr and present him to me.”
  • Mohammed Alp Ulugh Khwárizmsháh marched to battle against Sabzawár, (the city) full of refuge (for the wicked). 845
  • His troops reduced them (the inhabitants) to straits; his army fell to killing the foe.
  • They prostrated themselves before him, crying, “Mercy! Make us thy thralls, (but) spare our lives!
  • Whatever thou requirest (in the way of) tribute or presents will come to thee from us with increase (abundantly) at every fixed time (of payment).
  • Our lives are thine, O lion-natured (prince): let them be on deposit with us for a (little) while.”
  • He replied, “Ye will not save your lives from me unless ye bring an Abú Bakr into my presence. 850
  • Unless ye bring to me as a gift from your city one whose name is Abú Bakr, O people who have fled (from righteousness),
  • I will mow you down like corn, O vile folk: I will accept neither tribute nor blandishments.”
  • They offered him many sacks of gold, saying, “Do not demand an Abú Bakr from a city like this.
  • How should there be an Abú Bakr in Sabzawár, or a dry sod in the river?”
  • He averted his face from the gold and said, “O Magians (infidels), unless ye bring me an Abú Bakr as an offering, 855
  • ’Tis of no avail. I am not a child that I should stand dumbfounded (fascinated) by gold and silver.”
  • Unless thou prostrate thyself (in humble submission to God), thou wilt not escape (from punishment), O wretch, (even) if thou traverse the (whole) mosque on thy séant.
  • They (the inhabitants of Sabzawár) despatched emissaries, (to inquire) where in this desolate (corrupt) place an Abú Bakr was (to be found).
  • After three days and three nights, during which they made haste (in searching), they found an emaciated Abú Bakr.
  • He was a wayfarer and, on account of sickness, had remained in the corner of a ruin, in utter exhaustion. 860
  • He was lying in a ruined nook. When they espied him, they said to him hurriedly,
  • “Arise! The Sultan has demanded thee: by thee our city will be saved from slaughter.”
  • He replied, “If I had the foot (power to walk) or any (means of) arrival, I myself would have gone by my own road to my destination.
  • How should I have remained in this abode of my enemies? I would have pushed on towards the city of my friends.”