بخش 59 - مثل

A certain man was on the way to his shop (when) he found the road in front of him barred by women.

He was hurrying along hot-foot, and the way was blocked by a crowd of women (beautiful) as the moon.

He turned his face to one woman and said, ‘O vile (creature), how numerous you are, little girls, eh!’

The woman turned towards him and replied, ‘O man of trust, do not think it dreadful that there are so many of us.

Consider that notwithstanding the multitude of us on the earth you (men) find it insufficient for your enjoyment.

Propter paucitatem feminarum inciditis in paedicationem: infamissimi in mundo sunt agens et patiens.’

(O Súfí), do not regard these happenings of Time which (proceed) from heaven (and) come to pass intolerably here.

Do not regard the (anxious) husbanding of (one's) daily bread and livelihood and this dearth (of food) and fear and trembling,

(But) consider that in spite of all its (the World's) bitternesses ye are mortally enamoured of it and recklessly devoted to it.

Deem bitter tribulation to be a (Divine) mercy, deem the kingdom of Merv and Balkh to be a (Divine) vengeance.

That Ibráhím fled not from destruction and remained (safe), while this Ibráhím fled from (worldly) honour and rode away.

That one is not burnt, and this one is burnt. Oh, wonderful! In the Way of search (for God) everything is upside down.”