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6
1143-1192

  • And said (to the other), “Pray, direct thine eye towards the hair: till thou see the hair, the knot will not be untied.”
  • The one saw in the mud (only) figured clay, while the other saw clay replete with knowledge and works.
  • 1145 The body is the minaret, knowledge and obedience (to God) are like the bird: suppose three hundred birds (to be perched on it) or (only) two birds, whichever you please. 1145
  • The middle man sees the bird only: neither before nor behind (him) does he see anything but a bird.
  • The hair is the hidden light belonging to the bird, whereby the soul of the bird is enduring (for ever).
  • The works of the bird in whose beak is that hair are never counterfeit.
  • Its knowledge gushes perpetually from its soul: it (this bird) has nothing that is borrowed (from others) and (owes) no debt.
  • How this Hilál fell ill, and how his master was unaware of his being ill, because he despised him and did not recognise (his real worth); and how the heart of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, came to know of his illness and his state (of weakness), and how the Prophet, on whom be peace, inquired after this Hilál and went to see him.
  • By (Divine) destiny Hilál became ill and weak: inspiration acquainted Mustafá with his condition. 1150
  • His master was unaware of his illness, for in his eyes he (Hilál) was worth little and without importance.
  • (Such) a well-doer lay (ill) in the stable for nine days, and none took notice of his plight.
  • (But) he who was a personage and the Emperor of (all) personages, he whose oceanic mind reaches every place—
  • To him came the (Divine) inspiration: God's Mercy sympathised (with Hilál), saying (to the Prophet), “Such-and-such an one who longs for thee is fallen sick.”
  • (Thereupon) Mustafá went thither to pay a visit to the noble Hilál. 1155
  • The (Prophetic) Moon was running behind the Sun of inspiration, while the Companions followed behind him, like the stars.
  • The Moon is saying, “My Companions are stars—a model for (those who follow them in) the night-journey, and missiles hurled at the disobedient.”
  • (When) the Amír was told of the arrival of that (spiritual) Sultan, he sprang up, beside himself with joy;
  • He clapped his hands joyously, thinking that the (spiritual) Emperor had come on his account.
  • When the Amír came down from the upper chamber, he was ready to lavish his soul on the messenger as a reward (for the news he had brought). 1160
  • Then he kissed the earth (before the Prophet) and gave the salaam (with great ceremony): in his delight he made his countenance like a rose.
  • “In God's name,” he said, “bestow honour on the house (by entering it), so that this assembly-place may become a Paradise,
  • And that my palace may surpass heaven (in glory), saying, ‘I have seen the Pole on which Time revolves.’”
  • The venerable (Prophet) said to him by way of rebuke, “I have not come to visit you.”
  • He replied, “My spirit belongs to thee—what, indeed, is my spirit (before thee)? Oh, say on whose account is this solicitude?— 1165
  • That I may become dust for the feet of the person who is planted in the orchard of thy favour.”
  • Then he (the Prophet) said to him, “Where is that New-moon (Hilál) of the highest heaven? Where is he that in his humility is spread as moonbeams (like a carpet on the ground)?—
  • That king who is disguised as a slave and has come (down) to this world for the purpose of spying?
  • Do not say, ‘He is my slave and stableman’: know this, that he is a treasure (buried) in ruins.
  • Oh, I wonder to what state he has been reduced by sickness— that New-moon by which thousands of full-moons are trodden underfoot.” 1170
  • He (the Amír) said, “I have no knowledge of his illness, but he has not been at the palace-gate for several days.
  • He keeps company with the horses and mules: he is a groom, and this stable is his dwelling-place.”
  • How Mustafá, on whom be peace, came into the Amír's stable to see the sick Hilál, and how he caressed Hilál, may God be pleased with him!
  • The Prophet went eagerly into the stable (to look) for him and began to search.
  • The stable was dark, foul, and dirty, (but) all this vanished (from Hilál's mind) when friendship arrived.
  • That fierce (spiritual) lion scented the Prophet just as the scent of Joseph was perceived by his father (Jacob). 1175
  • Miracles are not the cause of religious faith; ’tis the scent of homogeneity that attracts (to itself) qualities (of the same kind).
  • Miracles are (wrought) for the purpose of subjugating the foe: the scent of homogeneity is (only) for the winning of hearts.
  • A foe is subjugated, but not a friend: how should a friend have his neck bound?
  • He (Hilál) was awakened from sleep by his (the Prophet's) scent: he said (to himself), “A stable full of dung, and this kind of scent within it!”
  • (Then) through the legs of the riding-beasts he saw the holy skirt of the peerless Prophet, 1180
  • And that (spiritual) hero came creeping out of a corner in the stable and laid his face upon his (the Prophet's) feet.
  • Then the Prophet laid his face against his (Hilál's) face and kissed his head and eyes and cheeks.
  • “O Lord,” he cried, “what a hidden pearl art thou! How art thou, O heavenly stranger? Art thou better?”
  • He (Hilál) said, “One whose sleep was disturbed (with grief), how forsooth is he when the Sun (of Prophecy) comes into his mouth?
  • The thirsty man who eats clay (to slake his thirst), how is he (when) the Water (of Life) lays him on its head (surface) and bears him happily along? 1185
  • [Explanation of (the following Tradition), that Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, hearing that Jesus, on whom be peace, walked on the water, said, ‘If his faith had increased, he would have walked on the air.’]
  • (How is he) whom the vast river takes on its head (surface), like Jesus, saying, ‘In the Water of Life thou art safe from drowning’?”
  • Ahmad (Mohammed) says, “Had (his) faith been greater, even the air would have carried him safely,
  • Like me, who rode upon the air on the night of the Ascension and sought communion (with God).”
  • He (Hilál) said, “How is a blind filthy dog that sprang up from sleep and found itself to be a lion?—
  • Not such a lion as any one could shoot; nay, but (such an one that) by the terror of it sword and javelin would be shattered. 1190
  • The blind man, (who was) going on his belly, like a snake— (how is he when) he has opened his eyes in the garden and in spring?”
  • How is the “how” (contingent being) that has been freed from “how-ness” (conditionedness) and has attained unto the abounding life of “how-lessness”?