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5
96-145

  • The story is long: I will shorten it. The door opened: he was delivered from grief and pain.
  • How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
  • At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
  • Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
  • But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
  • Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel). 100
  • The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
  • So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
  • Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
  • From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
  • (Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded). 105
  • There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
  • A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
  • Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
  • And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
  • Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee. 110
  • We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
  • O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
  • We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
  • He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
  • They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were. 115
  • (Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
  • For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”
  • The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.
  • The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
  • He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”
  • Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing. 120
  • In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
  • That Hand of God, cheerfully washing the filth by himself— far from him be the evil eye!
  • The amulet vanished from his mind, and a great rapture arose in him: he tore his collar,
  • Smiting his face and head with both hands, beating his pate against wall and door,
  • In such a wise that blood poured from his nose and head, and the Prince (Mohammed) took pity on him. 125
  • He uttered shrieks, the people gathered round him: the infidel was crying, “O people, beware!”
  • He smote his head, saying, “O head without understanding!” He smote his breast, saying, “O bosom without light!”
  • Prostrating himself, he cried, “O (thou who art) the whole earth, this despicable part is abashed on account of thee.
  • Thou, who art the whole, art submissive to His command; I, who am (but) a part, am unjust and wicked and misguided.
  • Thou, who art the whole, art humble and trembling in fear of God; I, who am (but) a part, am (engaged) in opposition and in rivalry.” 130
  • At every moment he was turning his face to heaven, saying, “I have not the face (to look towards thee), O qibla of the world!”
  • When he had trembled and quivered beyond (all) bounds, Mustafá clasped him in his arms,
  • Quieted him and caressed him much and opened his (inward) eye and gave him (spiritual) knowledge.
  • Till the cloud weeps, how should the garden smile? Till the babe cries, how should the milk begin to flow?
  • The one-day-old babe knows the way: (its instinct says), “I will cry, that the kind nurse may come.” 135
  • Do not you know that the Nurse of (all) nurses gives no milk gratis without (your) crying?
  • He (God) hath said, “Let them weep much.” Give ear, that the bounty of the Creator may pour forth the milk.
  • The cloud's weeping and the sun's burning are the pillar of this world: twist these two strands (together).
  • If there were not the sun's heat and the cloud's tears, how would body (substance) and accident become big and thick?
  • How would these four seasons be flourishing unless this glow and weeping were the origin? 140
  • Since the burning (heat) of the sun and the weeping of the clouds in the world are keeping the world fresh and sweet,
  • Keep the sun of your intelligence burning, keep your eye glistening with tears like the cloud!
  • You must needs have a weeping eye, like the little child: do not eat the bread (of worldliness), for that bread takes away your water (spiritual excellence).
  • When the body is in leaf (well-furnished), on that account by day and night the bough, (which is) the soul, is shedding its leaves and is in autumn.
  • The leafage (flourishing state) of the body is the leaflessness (unprovidedness) of the soul. Be quick! You must let this (body) dwindle and that (soul) increase. 145