How the magicians paid respect to Moses, on whom be peace, saying, “What dost thou command? Wilt thou cast down thy rod first, or shall we?”
The magicians in the time of the accursed Pharaoh, when they contended with Moses in enmity,
Yet gave Moses the precedence—the magicians held him in honour—
Because they said to him, “’Tis for thee to command: (if) thou wishest to be the first, do thou cast down thy rod first (of all).”
“Nay,” said he, “first do ye, O magicians, cast down those tricks (objects of enchantment) into the middle (where all can see them).”
This amount of respect purchased their (belief in) (the true) religion, so that it (the true belief) cut off the hands and feet of their contention (prevented them from disputing further with Moses).
When the magicians acknowledged his (Moses') right, they sacrificed their hands and feet (as a penance) for the sin of that (contention).
To the perfect man (every) mouthful (of food) and (every) saying is lawful. Thou art not perfect: do not eat, be mute,
Inasmuch as thou art an ear and he a tongue, not thy congener: God said to the ears, “Be silent.”
When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.
For a while it must close its lips (and refrain) from speech, until it learns to speak;
And if it is not (silent like) an ear but makes babbling sounds, it makes itself the dumbest creature in the world.
He that is deaf by nature, he that had no ear at the beginning, is dumb: how should he burst into speech?
Since, in order to speak, one must first hear, do thou come to speech by the way of hearing.
Enter ye the houses by their doors, and seek ye the ends in their causes.
There is no speech independent of the way of hearing except the speech of the Creator who is without want.
He is the Originator, He follows no master; He is the support of all things, He hath no support,
(While) the rest, (engaged) in handicrafts and talk, follow a master and have need of a pattern.
If thou art not alien to (unfit to hear) this discourse, assume the frock of a dervish and (take to shedding) tears in some deserted place,
Because Adam by means of tears escaped from that reproof: moist tears are the breath (speech) of the penitent.
For weeping's sake Adam came (down) to the earth, that he might be weeping and moaning and sorrowful.
Adam, (cast out) from Paradise and from above the Seven (Heavens), went to the “shoe-row” for the purpose of excusing himself.
If thou art from the back of Adam and from his loins, be constant in seeking (forgiveness) amongst his company.
Prepare a dessert of heart-fire (burning grief) and eye-water (tears): the garden is made open (blooming) by cloud and sun.
What dost thou know of the taste of the water of the eyes? Thou art a lover of bread, like the blind (beggars).
If thou make this wallet empty of bread, thou wilt make it full of glorious jewels.
Wean the babe, thy soul, from the Devil's milk, and after that make it consort with the Angel.
Whilst thou art dark and vexed and gloomy, know that thou art sucking from the same breast as the accursed Devil.
The mouthful that gave increase of light and perfection is obtained from lawful earnings.
The oil that comes and quenches our lamp—when it quenches a lamp, call it water.
From the lawful morsel are born knowledge and wisdom; from the lawful morsel come love and tenderness.
When from a morsel thou seest (arise) envy and guile, (and when) ignorance and heedlessness are born (of it), know that it is unlawful.
Wilt thou sow wheat and will it produce barley? Hast thou seen a mare bring forth an ass's colt?
The morsel is seed, and thoughts are its fruit; the morsel is the sea, and thoughts are its pearls.
From the lawful morsel in the mouth is born the inclination to serve (God) and the resolve to go to yonder world.
