بخش 86 - بازگشتن به قصهٔ دقوقی

He (the Prophet) once compared ‘Alí to a lion, (but) the lion is not like him, though he (the Prophet) used (this expression).

From comparison (mithál) and likeness (mithl) and the difference between those (terms) push on, O youth, towards the story of Daqúqí:

That one who in giving legal judgements was the Imám of the people and in piety bore away the ball from the angels;

That one who checkmated (eclipsed) the moon in wayfaring, while the Religion (itself) was jealous of his religiousness.

Notwithstanding such piety and devotions and (nights passed in) performance of the ritual prayer, he was always seeking the elect (the saints) of God.

In travel his chief object was that he might come in touch for a moment with an elect servant (of God).

Whilst he was going along the road, he would be saying, “O God, make me a companion of the elect.

O Lord, to those (saints) whom my heart knows I am a slave and one who has girt his loins and is ready to do (them) good service;

And (as for) those whom I know not, do Thou, O God of the soul, make them kindly disposed to me who am debarred (from knowing them).”

The Lord would say to him, “O most noble prince, what passion is this and what unquenchable thirst is this?

Thou hast My love: why art thou seeking other (than Mine)? When God is with thee, how dost thou seek man?”

He would answer, “O Lord, O Knower of the secret, Thou hast opened in my heart the way of supplication.

If I am seated in the midst of the Sea, yet have I set my desire on the water in the jug.

I am like David: I have ninety ewes, and yet desire for my rival's ewe hath arisen in me.

Greed for Thy love is glorious and grand; greed for (the love of) any besides Thee is shameful and corrupt.”

The lust and greed of the manly is advancement (in the spiritual Way), while that of the effeminate is disgrace and irreligion.

The greed of (true) men is by the forward way, (but) greed in the effeminate goes backward.

The one greed belongs to the perfection of manliness, while the other greed is (a cause of) opprobrium and disgust.

Ah, there is a very occult mystery here (in the fact) that Moses sets out to run towards a Khizr.

By God, do not tarry in anything (any spiritual position) that thou hast gained, (but crave more) like one suffering from dropsy who is never sated with water.

This (Divine) court is the Infinite Plane. Leave the seat of honour behind: the Way is thy seat of honour.