بخش 119 - سبب تاخیر اجابت دعای مؤمن

Oh, how many a sincere (worshipper) moans in prayer, so that the smoke of his sincerity ascends to Heaven,

And from the lamentation of the sinful the perfume of the censer floats up beyond this lofty roof!

Then the angels beseech God piteously, saying, “O Thou who answerest every prayer and O Thou whose protection is invoked,

A faithful slave (of Thine) is making humble entreaty: he knows none but Thee on whom to rely.

Thou bestowest Thy bounty (even) on strangers: every ardent wisher gains his desire from Thee.”

God saith, “’Tis not that he is despicable (in My sight); (nay), the very deferment of the bounty is (for the sake of) helping him.

Need caused him to turn towards Me from his (former state of) forgetfulness: it dragged him by the hair into My presence.

If I satisfy his need, he will go back and (again) become absorbed in that idle play.

Although he is (now) crying with (all) his soul, ‘O Thou whose protection is invoked,’ let him (continue to) moan with broken heart and wounded breast!

It pleases Me (to hear) his (piteous) voice and his cries of ‘O Lord’ and his secret (prayer),

And how in supplication and pleading (with Me) he would fain beguile Me with every sort (of persuasion).”

Parrots and nightingales are put into cages because they give pleasure by their sweet song;

(But) how should crows and owls be caged? This has never been recorded in story.

When two persons, one of them a decrepit old man and the other a fairchinned (youth), come to (a baker who is) an admirer of handsome boys,

And both ask for bread, he will at once fetch the unleavened bread and bid the old man take it;

But how should he (immediately) give bread to the other, by whose figure and cheeks (countenance) he is pleased? Nay, he will delay him

And say to him, “Sit down a (little) while, ’twill do (thee) no harm; for the new bread is baking in the house”;

And when, after the work (of baking is finished), the hot bread is brought to him (the youth), he (the baker) will say to him, “Sit down, for halwá (sweetmeat) is coming.”

In this same fashion he is always detaining him and seeking covertly to make him his prey,

Saying, “I have some (important) business to do with thee: wait a moment, O beauty of the world!”

Know for sure that this is the reason why the true believers suffer disappointment (whether) in (seeking) good or (in avoiding) evil.