بخش 89 - باز گفتن بازرگان با طوطی آنچ دید از طوطیان هندوستان

The merchant finished his trading and returned home glad at heart.

He brought a present for every male slave, he gave a token to every slave-girl.

“Where is my present?” asked the parrot. “Relate what thou hast said and seen.”

“Nay,” said he, “indeed I am repenting of that (which I said), gnawing my hand and biting my fingers (in remorse).

Why, from ignorance and folly, did I idly bear (such) an inconsiderate message?”

“O master,” said the parrot, “what is thy repentance for? What is it that causes this anger and grief?”

“I told thy complaints,” said he, “to a company of parrots resembling thee.

One parrot got scent of (understood) thy pain: her heart broke, and she trembled and died.

I became sorry, (thinking) ‘why did I say this?’ but what was the use of repenting after I had said it?”

Know that a word which suddenly shot from the tongue is like an arrow shot from the bow.

O son, that arrow does not turn back on its way: you must dam a torrent at the source.

When it left the source behind, it swept over a world (of country): if it lays waste the world, ’tis no wonder.

There is an unseen bringing forth of effects to (our) action, and the results born of it are not in the control of (human) creatures:

Those results are all created by God without any partner, though they are imputed to us.

Zayd let fly an arrow in the direction of ‘Amr: his arrow gripped ‘Amr like a leopard.

During a long time, a (whole) year, it was producing pain: pains are created by God, not by man.

If Zayd who shot (the arrow) died of fright at the moment (when ‘Amr was wounded), (nevertheless) pains are continually being produced there (in ‘Amr's body) until (‘Amr's) death.

Inasmuch as he (‘Amr) died from the results of the hurt (inflicted on him), for this cause call Zayd, who shot (the arrow), the murderer.

Impute those pains to him, though all of them are the work of the Creator.

So with sowing and breathing (speaking) and (laying) snares and sexual intercourse: the results of those (actions) are amenable to (determined by the will of) God.

The saints possess power (derived) from God: they turn back from its course the arrow that has sped.

When the saint repents, he closes the doors of the results (shuts off the results) from the cause by that hand (power) of the Lord.

Through the opening of the door (of Divine grace), he makes unsaid what has been said, so that neither spit nor roast-meat is burnt thereby.

He wipes out the saying from all the minds that heard it, and makes it imperceptible.

O sire, if thou must needs have demonstration and proof (of this), recite “(Whatever) verse (We cancel) or cause to be forgotten. ”

Read the verse “They made you forget My warning”: acknowledge their (the saints') power to put forgetfulness (in men's hearts).

Since they are able to make (you) remember and forget, they are mighty over all the hearts of (God's) creatures.

When he (the saint) has blocked the road of (your) mental perception by means of forgetfulness, it is impossible (for you) to act, even if there be virtue (in you).

Think ye those exalted ones are a laughing-stock? Recite from the Qur’án as far as (the words) “They made you forget.”

He that owns a village is king over bodies; he that owns a heart is king over your hearts.

Without any doubt, action (practice) is a branch of (subordinate to) seeing (theory): therefore Man is nothing but “the little man” (the pupil of the eye).

I dare not expound the whole of this (subject): hindrance thereto is coming from those who are at the centre.

Inasmuch as the forgetfulness and recollection of (God's) creatures are with him (depend on the perfect saint), and he comes at their call for help,

Every night that glorious one is emptying from their hearts hundreds of thousands of good and evil (thoughts),

(While) in the daytime he is filling their hearts therewith— he is filling those oystershells with pearls.

By (Divine) guidance (after sleep is past) all those thoughts of former things recognize the spirits (to which they were attached).

Your handicraft and skill come (back) to you, that they may open to you the door of (ways and) means.

The goldsmith's craft did not go to the ironsmith; the disposition of the good-natured man did not go to the disagreeable one.

On the day of Resurrection the handicrafts and dispositions will come, like articles of property, to the claimant (owner).

After sleep also, the handicrafts and dispositions come back in haste to him that claims them as his.

At the hour of dawn the handicrafts and thoughts went to the same place where that good and evil (formerly) were.

Like carrier pigeons, they bring things useful (to know) from (other) cities to their own city.