How Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, went to visit the sick Companion; and an exposition of the profit of visiting the sick.

A notable amongst the Companions (of Mohammed) fell ill, and in that illness of his became (thin) as a thread.

Mustafá went to visit him, since his (Mustafá's) nature was all kindness and generosity.

There is profit in your visiting the sick: the profit thereof is returning to you again.

The first profit is that the sick person may perchance be a Qutb and a glorious (spiritual) king;

Inasmuch as you have not the heart's two eyes, O contumacious man, so that you cannot distinguish firewood from aloes- wood,

(You may despair of finding the true friend of God; but) since there exists a treasure in the world, do not grieve: deem no ruined place empty of treasure.

Betake yourself to every dervish at random, and when you find the mark (of the true saint), frequent (him) assiduously.

As the inward-seeing eye was not (granted) to you, think always (that) the treasure (may be) in everybody.

And if he be not a Qutb, he may be a friend of the (Súfí) Way; if he be not the king, he may be the cavalier of the host.

Deem it, then, incumbent (on you) to attach yourselves to the friends of the Way, whosoever it may be, and whether (he be) footman or rider.

And if he be a foe (to you), still this kindness is good, for by kindness many a foe hath been made a friend;

And though he do not become a friend, his enmity is lessened, because kindness becomes the balm for enmity.

There are many profits besides these, but I am afraid of being tedious, good friend.

The gist (of the matter) is this: be the friend of the whole community (of Súfís): like the idol-maker, carve a friend out of the stone,

Because the throng and multitude of a caravan will break the backs and spears of the highwaymen.