بخش 76 - امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند

The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.

He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.

The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.

That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.

On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.

(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.

Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.

If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.

He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again.

(Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.

Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”

You also are a beast (of burden), for your carnal soul predominates: the predominant (quality) determines (a thing's nature), O worshipper of self.

The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).

Mustafá (Mohammed) was God's stable-overseer for the beasts, (which are) the iniquitous carnal soul.

Moved by lovingkindness, He (God) said, “Say, ‘ta‘álaw (come ye), to the end that I may train you: I am the trainer.’”

(The Prophet said), “Since I have trained the carnal souls, I have suffered many kicks from these beasts.

Wherever there is one fond of training, he hath no means of avoiding kicks.

Of necessity the most affliction falls on the prophets, for ’tis an affliction to give training to the raw (ignorant).

Ye are stumbling along: at my word (in obedience to my command) go at a jog-trot, that ye may become gentle and be suitable for the king to ride.

The Lord said, ‘Say, Come ye, say, Come ye, O beasts that have shied away from discipline.

If they come not, O Prophet, be not grieved: be not full of hatred on account of those twain without steadfastness.’”

The ears of some are deaf to these (cries of) ta‘álaw: every beast hath a different stable.

Some are put to flight by this call: the stall of every horse is separate.

Some are chagrined by this story, for every bird hath a separate cage.

Even the angels too were not peers: for this reason they formed diverse ranks in Heaven.

Children, though they are at one (the same) school, surpass each other in (their) lessons.

Sense-perceptions are possessed by Easterner and Westerner, (but) the function of sight belongs to the ocular sense (alone).

Though a hundred thousand ears be arrayed in rank, they all are in need of the clear eye.

Again, the ranks of ears have a (special) function in respect of hearing the (words of the) Spirit and the Traditions (of the Prophet) and the Revelation.

A hundred thousand eyes do not possess that avenue (faculty): no eye is acquainted with hearing.

Similarly, enumerate each sense, one by one: each one is removed from (incapable of doing) the work of another.

The five external and the five internal senses are (arrayed) in ten ranks in the standing posture of the (angels) ranked (for worship of God).

Any one who (disobediently) draws back from the rank of (the true) religion will go into the rank that is behind.

Do not make little of the (Divine) Word ta‘álaw (come ye): this Word is an exceedingly great elixir.

If a copper (a base person) turn away in repugnance from your saying (this Word), by no means withhold the elixir from him.

If his magician-like soul has bound (cast a spell upon) him at the present time, (yet) your saying will profit him in his latter end.

O slave (of God), say, Come ye, say, Come ye: take heed, for verily God inviteth unto the (Abode of) Peace.

Then come back, sire, from egoism and headship: seek a leader, do not desire leadership.