How friends came to the madhouse for Dhu ’l-Nún—may God sanctify his honoured spirit!

It so happened to Dhu ’l-Nún the Egyptian that a new agitation and madness was born within him.

His agitation became so great that salt (bitterness) from it was reaching (all) hearts up to above the sky.

Beware, O (thou of) salty soil, do not put thy agitation beside (in comparison with) the agitation of the holy lords (saints).

The people could not endure his madness: his fire was carrying off their beards.

When (that) fire fell on the beards of the vulgar, they bound him and put him in a prison.

There is no possibility of pulling back this rein, though the vulgar be distressed by this way.

These (spiritual) kings have seen (themselves in) danger of their lives from the vulgar; for this multitude are blind, and the kings (are) without (a visible) mark.

When authority is in the hands of profligates, (a) Dhu ’l-Nún is inevitably in prison.

The great king rides alone! Such a unique pearl in the hands of children!

What pearl? (Nay), the Sea hidden in a drop, a Sun concealed in a mote.

A Sun showed itself as a mote, and little by little uncovered its face.

All motes vanished in it; the (whole) world became intoxicated by it and (then) became sober.

When the pen (of authority) is in the hand of a traitor, unquestionably Mansúr is on a gibbet.

When this affair (dominion) belongs to the foolish, the necessary consequence is (that) they kill the prophets.

Through folly the people who had lost the (right) way said to the prophets, “Lo, we augur ill from you.”

See the ignorance of the Christian appealing for protection to the Lord who was suspended (on the Cross)!

Since, according to his (the Christian's) belief, He was crucified by the Jews, how then can He protect him?

Inasmuch as the heart of that King (Jesus) bleeds on account of them (the Christians), how should there be (for them) the inviolable defence of whilst thou art amongst them?

To the pure gold and to the goldsmith the danger from the false counterfeiter is greater (than from any one else).

Josephs are concealed on account of the jealousy of the ugly, for because of enemies the beautiful live in the fire (of tribulation).

Josephs are in the pit through the guile of (their) brethren, who from envy give Joseph to the wolves.

What happened to Joseph of Egypt on account of envy? This envy is a big wolf in covert.

Of necessity, kind Jacob always had fear and dread for Joseph because of this wolf.

The outward (visible) wolf, indeed, did not prowl about (approach) Joseph; (but) this envy has actually surpassed wolves (in malignity).

This wolf dealt its wound, and by way of specious excuse came (the words), “Lo, we went to compete with one another.”

Hundreds of thousands of wolves have not this cunning; (but) this wolf will at last be put to shame—stop (and see)!—

Because on the Day of Bale the envious will without doubt be (raised from the dead and) brought together (to Judgement) in the shape of wolves.

The resurrection of the greedy vile eater of carrion (unlawful food) will be in the shape of a hog on the Day of Reckoning.

Adulteris (erit) foetor membri latentis; wine-drinkers will have stinking mouths.

The hidden stench that was reaching (only) to (people's) hearts will become sensible and manifest at the Resurrection.

The being of Man is a jungle: be on your guard against this being, if you are of that (Divine) Breath.

In our being there are thousands of wolves and hogs; (there is) goodly and ungodly and fair and foul.

To the disposition that is preponderant belongs the decision (as to what you are): when the gold is more than the copper, it (the mixture) is gold.

The manner of acting that preponderates in your nature—in that same form you must needs rise (from the dead).

At one hour a wolf enters into Man, at another hour a moon-like beauty with the face of Joseph.

Good and hateful qualities pass from bosoms into bosoms by a hidden way;

Nay, indeed, wisdom and knowledge and excellence pass from Man into the ox and the ass.

The stumbling (restive) horse becomes smooth-paced and docile; the bear dances, the goat also salaams.

Volition has passed from human beings into the dog, so that he has become a shepherd or a hunter or a guardian (of the house).

Into the dog of the Companions (of the Cave) there passed from those Sleepers a (moral) disposition, so that he had become a seeker of God.

At every moment a (different) species bursts up in the breast: now a devil, and now an angel, now wild beasts.

From that marvellous Jungle with which every lion is acquainted, there is a hidden way to the breasts which ensnare (the spiritual prey).

O you who are less than a dog, steal the spiritual pearl from within—from within (the breasts of) them that know God.

As you (must) steal, at any rate (let it be) that lovely pearl; as you are going to bear a burden, at any rate (let it be) a noble one.