How the Christians followed the vizier.

The Christians all gave their hearts to him: what (how great), indeed, is the strength of the (blind) conformity of the vulgar!

They planted love of him within their breasts, they were regarding him as the vicar of Jesus.

He inwardly (in reality) was the accursed one-eyed Antichrist. O God, do Thou (hear and) answer the cry (of those in trouble) —what a good helper art Thou!

O God, there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are as greedy foodless birds.

From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare, though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Símurgh.

Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!

We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.

(Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of the mouse?

Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn has been ravaged by its guile,

O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse, and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn.

Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”

If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?

Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?

Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;

But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,

Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.

Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.

Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).

The spirits are set free every night from this cage, (they are) done with ordinance and talk and tale.

At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power.

There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.

This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.

He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the vulgar too are carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses.

Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;

He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).

He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the inner meaning of “Sleep is the brother of Death”;

But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts a long tether on its leg,

So that in the daytime He may lead it back from that meadow and bring it from the pasture (to go) under the load.

Would that He had guarded this spirit as the Men of the Cave or as the Ark of Noah,

That this mind and eye and ear might be delivered from the Flood of wakefulness and consciousness!

Oh, in the world there is many a Man of the Cave beside you, before you, at this time:

The Cave is with him, the Friend is in converse with him; but your eyes and ears are sealed, (so) what does it avail?