Story of the cow that is alone in a great island. God most High fills the great island with plants and sweet herbs which are cows' fodder, and the cow feeds on all that (vegetation) till nightfall and grows fat (and big) as a mountain-crag. When night comes, she cannot sleep for anxiety and fear, (for she thinks), “I have fed on the whole field: what shall I eat to-morrow?” So in consequence of this anxiety she becomes thin like a toothpick. At daybreak she sees the whole field is greener and richer than it was yesterday, and again she eats and grows fat. Then again at nightfall the same anxiety seizes her. For years she has been experiencing the like of this, and (yet) she puts no confidence (in the Provider).

There is in the world a green island where a sweet-mouthed cow lives alone.

She feeds on the whole field till nightfall, so that she grows stout and big and choice.

During the night she becomes thin as a hair from anxiety, because she thinks, “What shall I eat to- morrow?”

At rise of dawn the field becomes green: the green blades and grain have grown up to (a man's) middle.

The cow falls to ravenously: till night she feeds on that (vegetation and devours it) entirely.

Again she becomes stout and fat and bulky: her body is filled with fat and strength.

Then again at night she (is stricken) by panic (and) falls into a fever (of anxiety), so that from fear of seeking (vainly) for fodder she becomes lean,

Thinking, “What shall I eat to-morrow at meal-time?” This is what that cow does for (many) years.

She never thinks, “All these years I have been eating from this meadow and this pasture;

My provender has never failed (even) for a day: what, (then), is this fear and anguish and heart-burning of mine?”

(No); when night falls that stout cow becomes lean again, thinking, “Alas, the provender is gone.”

The cow is the carnal soul, and the field is this world, where she (the carnal soul) is made lean by fear for her daily bread,

Thinking, “I wonder what I shall eat in the future: whence shall I seek food for to-morrow?”

Thou hast eaten for years, and food has never failed: leave the future and look at the past.

Bring to mind the food and viands thou hast eaten (already): do not regard what is to come, and do not be miserable.