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6
3221-3270

  • When you say at one shop, “I am ‘Umar: kindly sell bread to this ‘Umar,”
  • He (the baker) will say, “Go to that other shop: one loaf from that (shop) is better than fifty from this.”
  • If he (the customer) had not been seeing double, he would have replied, “There is no other shop”;
  • And then the illumination produced by not seeing double would have shot (rays) upon the heart of him (the baker) of Kásh, and ‘Umar would have become ‘Alí.
  • This (baker) says, (speaking) from this place (shop) to that (other) baker, “O baker, sell bread to this ‘Umar”; 3225
  • And he too, on hearing (the name) ‘Umar, withholds bread (from you) and sends (you) to a shop some way off,
  • Saying, “Give bread to this ‘Umar, O my partner,” i.e. “apprehend the secret (my real meaning) from (the tone of) my voice.”
  • He also will pass you on from there (to another baker), (saying to him), “Hark, ‘Umar is come to get some bread.”
  • When you have been ‘Umar in one shop, go (your way) and do not expect to obtain bread in all Káshán.
  • But if you have said in one shop, “(I am) ‘Alí,” (then you may) obtain bread from this place (shop) without being passed on (to another shop) and without trouble. 3230
  • Since the squinter who sees two (instead of one) is deprived of the enjoyment of delicious food, (your case is worse, for) you are seeing ten, O you who would sell your mother!
  • Because of seeing double, wander (to and fro) like ‘Umar in this Káshán of earth, since you are not ‘Alí.
  • In this ruined monastery the man who sees double is (continually) removing from one nook to another, O (you who say to yourself), “The good (which I seek) is (to be found) there.”
  • But if you get two eyes that can recognise God, (you will) see (that) the (entire) expanse of both worlds (is) full of the Beloved,
  • (And so) you escape from being transferred from place to place in this Káshán (which is) filled with fear and hope. 3235
  • (If) you have seen buds or trees (reflected) in this River, do not suppose that they are a phantom (illusion) like (those of) any (ordinary) river;
  • For by means of the very reflexion of these images God is made real to you and sells (to you) the fruit (of reality).
  • By means of this Water the eye is freed from seeing double: it sees the reflexion, and the basket is filled (with fruit).
  • Therefore this (Water) is really an orchard, not water: do not, then, like Bilqís, strip yourself from (fear of being splashed by) the waves.
  • Diverse loads are (laid) upon the backs of asses: do not drive (all) these asses with one (and the same) stick. 3240
  • One ass is laden with rubies and pearls, another with (common) stones and marble.
  • Do not apply this (uniform) principle to all rivers; in this River behold the Moon (itself), and do not call it a (mere) reflexion.
  • This is the Water of Khizr, not the water drunk by herbivorous animals and beasts of prey: everything that appears in it is Real.
  • From the bottom of this River the Moon cries, “I am the Moon, I am not a reflexion: I am conversing and travelling with (the River).
  • That which is (in the world) above is in this River: take possession of it either (in the world) above or in that (River) as you please. 3245
  • Do not assume this River to be of (the same class as) other rivers: know that this ray of the moon-faced (Beauty) is the Moon (itself).
  • This topic is endless. The poor stranger wept exceedingly: he was heart-broken by grief for (the death of) the Khwája.
  • How the (Inspector's) bailiff sought subscriptions in all parts of the city of Tabríz, and how (only) a small amount was collected, and how the poor stranger went to visit the Inspector's tomb and related this (pitiful) tale on his grave by the method of concentrating the mind on prayer (for his help), etc.
  • The calamity of his debts became notorious, and the bailiff was distressed by his grief.
  • He (the bailiff) went round the city to collect subscriptions and everywhere, in hope (of exciting compassion), he told all that had happened;
  • (But) that devoted beggar obtained by means of begging no more than a hundred dinars. 3250
  • (Then) the bailiff came to him and took his hand and went (with him) to (visit) the grave of that very wonderful generous man.
  • He said, “When a servant (of God) gains the Divine favour so that he entertains a fortunate man,
  • And gives up his own wealth for his sake and sacrifices his own dignity for the sake of (conferring) dignity on him,
  • Gratitude to him (the benefactor) is certainly (the same as) gratitude to God, since (it was) the Divine favour (that) caused him to show beneficence.
  • To be ungrateful to him is to be ungrateful to God: beyond doubt his right (to gratitude) is consequent on (that of) God. 3255
  • Always give thanks to God for His bounties, and always give thanks and praise to the Khwája (your benefactor) too.
  • Though a mother's tenderness is (derived) from God, (yet) ’tis a sacred duty and a worthy task to serve her.
  • For this reason God hath said, ‘Do ye bless him (the Prophet),’ for Mohammed was one to whom (the attributes of Divine Providence) were transferred.
  • At the Resurrection God will say to His servant, ‘Hark, what have you done with that which I bestowed on you?’
  • He will reply, ‘O Lord, I gave thanks to Thee with (all) my soul, since the source of my daily provision and bread was in Thee.’ 3260
  • (Then) God will say to him, ‘Nay, you did not give thanks to Me, inasmuch as you did not give thanks to him who made a practice of generosity.
  • You have done wrong and injustice to a generous man: did not My bounty come to you by his hand?’”
  • When he (the debtor) arrived at the tomb of his benefactor, he began to weep bitterly and broke into loud lamentation.
  • He said, “O thou who wert the support and refuge of every noble (righteous) man and the hope and helper of wayfarers,
  • O thou on whose heart the care for our means of livelihood (lay constantly), O thou whose beneficence and charity were (like) the universal provision of sustenance, 3265
  • O thou who wert (as) kinsfolk and parents to the poor in (paying) their taxes and expenses and in discharging their debts,
  • O thou who, like the sea, gavest pearls for those near (to thee) and (didst send) rain as a gift to those afar,
  • Our backs were warmed by thee, O sun (who wert) the splendour in every palace and the treasure in every ruin.
  • O thou in whose eyebrow none ever saw knots (wrinkles), O thou (who wert) generous and bountiful as (the archangel) Michael,
  • O thou whose heart was connected with the Sea of the Unseen, O thou who wert the invisible ‘Anqá on the Qáf (mountain) of munificence, 3270