بخش 136 - کرامات شیخ شیبان راعی قدس الله روحه العزیز

Just as Shaybán Rá‘í (the shepherd), because of the froward wolf, used to draw a line round his flock at the hour of the Friday prayers,

In order that no sheep should go beyond that line, and that no wolf or mischievous robber should come inside.

’Twas on the model of Húd's circle of refuge, in which his followers were safe from the sarsar wind.

(Húd said to them), “Stay quietly within this line for eight days and view the terrible mutilation (which is being inflicted) outside.”

It (the wind) lifted (the unbelievers) into the air and flung them on the stones, so that flesh and bone were torn asunder.

One party it hurled against each other in the air, so that their bones crumbled like poppy-seed.

There is no room in the Mathnawí to describe fully that chastisement whereat Heaven trembled.

If, O icy wind, thou art doing this by (thine own) nature, (then) try to invade the line and circle drawn by Húd!

O natural philosopher, perceive that this kingdom (of God) is above Nature, or else come and (if thou canst) wipe out this (narrative) from the Holy Book!

Prohibit those who recite the Qur’án (professionally) and impose a ban (upon them), or punish the teacher and put terror into him!

Thou art helpless and unable to understand the cause of this helplessness: thy helplessness is a reflexion (foretaste) of the Day of Retribution.

O perverse man, thou hast many a helpless plight before thee: (when) the hour comes, lo, the hide-aways will emerge!

Happy is he whose (spiritual) food is this helplessness and bewilderment and who in both worlds is sleeping in the shadow (protection) of the Beloved.

He (such an one) is conscious of being helpless both in the stable (of the present life) and in the last (future) state: he is dead (to self), he has adopted “the old women's religion.”

(He is) like Zalíkhá, (who), when Joseph beamed upon her, found the way from decrepitude to youth.

Life depends on dying (to self) and on suffering tribulation: the Water of Life is in the (Land of) Darkness.