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6
4526-4575

  • Veil (the faults of others) in order that (the like) veiling may be vouchsafed to you: do not deride any one till you see (yourself in) security.
  • Many like you have been left in this chest and have landed themselves in tribulation.
  • Inflict upon another (only) the pain and injury that you would wish and approve for yourself,
  • For God is lying in wait and in ambush, ready to give retribution before the Day of Judgement.
  • All-encompassing is the Throne of Him who is throned in grandeur: over all souls is spread the Throne of His justice. 4530
  • A corner of His throne is touching you: beware, do not move a hand to act impiously or unjustly.
  • Keep a careful watch over your own behaviour: observe that the honey is (contained) in justice and that after injustice comes the sting.”
  • He (Júhí) said, “Yes, what I did is wrong, but at the same time (you must) know (the proverb) that the aggressor is the more unjust (of the two).”
  • The deputy replied, “We are aggressors, every one of us, but notwithstanding our blackness of face we are happy,
  • Like the negro who is happy and pleased, (for) he does not see his face, (though) others see it.” 4535
  • The altercation in bidding (for the chest) was prolonged: (finally) he paid a hundred dinars and bought it from him.
  • O thou that findest wickedness agreeable, thou art always in the chest: the hátifs (voices from Heaven) and those who belong to the Unseen are redeeming thee.
  • Expounding the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed) said, the blessings of God be upon him: “When I am the protector of any one, ‘Alí too is his protector,” so that the Hypocrites asked sarcastically, “Was not he satisfied with the obedience and service rendered by us to himself that he bids us render the same service to a snivelling child?” etc.
  • For this reason the Prophet, who laboured with the utmost zeal (in devotion), applied the name “protector” (mawlá) to himself and to ‘Alí.
  • He said, “My cousin ‘Alí is the protector and friend of every one who is under my protection.”
  • Who is the “protector”? He that sets you free and removes the fetters of servitude from your feet. 4540
  • Since prophethood is the guide to freedom, freedom is bestowed on true believers by the prophets.
  • Rejoice, O community of true believers: show yourselves to be “free” (pure and noble) as the cypress and the lily;
  • But do ye, like the gay-coloured garden, at every moment give unspoken thanks to the Water.
  • The cypresses and the green orchard mutely thank the water (that nourishes them) and show (silent) gratitude for the justice of Spring:
  • Clad in (fresh) robes and trailing their skirts, drunken and dancing and jubilant and scattering perfume; 4545
  • Every part (of them) impregnated by royal Spring, their bodies as caskets filled with pearly fruit;
  • (Like) Maries, having no husband, yet big with a Messiah; silent ones, wordless and devoid of articulate expression,
  • (Saying implicitly), “Our Moon hath shone brightly (upon us) without speech: every tongue hath derived its speech from our beauty.”
  • The speech of Jesus is (derived) from the (spiritual) beauty of Mary; the speech of Adam is a ray (reflexion) of the (Divine) Breath.
  • (This thanksgiving of the orchard is a lesson to you) in order that from (your) thanksgiving, O men of trust, increase (of spiritual glory) may accrue; (and if ye give thanks) then other plants are (springing up) amidst the herbage. 4550
  • Here the reverse (of the well-known Tradition) is (applicable), (for) he that is content (with a modicum of thanksgiving) shall be abased; (and similarly), in this case, he that covets (excess of thanksgiving) shall be exalted.
  • Do not go so much into the sack of thy fleshly soul, do not be (so) forgetful of thy purchasers (redeemers).
  • How next year Júhí's wife returned to the court of the cadi, hoping for the same contribution (of money) as last year, and how the cadi recognised her, and so on to the end of the story.
  • After a year Júhí, in consequence of the afflictions (of poverty), turned to his wife and said, “O clever wife,
  • Renew last year's contribution (to our household): complain of me to the cadi.”
  • The wife came before the cadi with (some other) women: she made a certain woman her interpreter, 4555
  • Lest the cadi should recognise her by her speech and remember his past misfortune.
  • The coquettish glances of a woman are fascinating, but that (fascination) is increased a hundredfold by her voice.
  • Since she durst not raise (utter) a sound, the wife's ogling looks alone were of no avail.
  • “Go,” said the cadi, “and fetch the defendant, that I may settle thy quarrel with him.”
  • (When) Júhí arrived, the cadi did not recognise him at once, for at (their first) meeting he was in the chest. 4560
  • He had (only) heard his voice outside, during the buying and selling and chaffering.
  • He said (to Júhí), “Why won't you give your wife all the money she needs for expenses?” He replied, “I am devoted with (heart and) soul to the religious law,
  • But if I die I do not possess (enough to pay for) the shroud: I am bankrupt in this game, I have gambled everything away.”
  • From (hearing) these words the cadi, as it happened, recognised him and called to mind his roguery and the trick he had played.
  • “You played that game with me,” he said: “last year you put me out of action. 4565
  • My turn is past: this year try that gamble on some one else and keep your hands off me!”
  • The knower of God has been isolated from the six (directions) and the five (senses): (necessarily, therefore), he has become on his guard against the sixes and fives of the backgammon (played by the World and the Devil).
  • He has escaped from the five senses and the six directions: he has made you acquainted with (what lies) beyond all that.
  • His intimations are the intimations of Eternity: he has transcended all conceptions and withdrawn himself apart.
  • Unless he is outside of this hexagonal well, how should he bring up a Joseph from the inside (of it)? 4570
  • He is one who goes to draw water above the unpillared firmament, (while) his body, like a bucket, is (low down) in the well, helping (to rescue the fallen).
  • The Josephs cling to his bucket, escape from the well, and become kings of Egypt.
  • The other buckets seek water from the well: his bucket has no concern with the water, it seeks (only) friends (in trouble).
  • The (other) buckets plunge into the water for food: his bucket is the food and life of the soul of the fish.
  • The (other) buckets are attached to the lofty wheel (of Fortune): his bucket is (held) in two Almighty fingers. 4575