بخش 72 - جواب گفتن مرید و زجر کردن مرید آن طعانه را از کفر و بیهوده گفتن

The youth cried out at her and said, “Enough! In bright daylight where did the night-patrol come from?

The splendour of the (holy) men has overspread the East and the West: the heavens have bowed low in amazement.

The Sun of God has risen from (the sign of) the Ram: the (material) sun has gone, shamefaced, under the veil.

How should the bletherings of a devil like you turn me back from the dust of this abode?

I have not (been impelled to) come by a wind (of vain desire) like a cloud, that I should be turned back from this (holy) presence by a dust (of foolish words).

By virtue of that Light the calf becomes a qibla of (Divine) grace; without that Light the qibla becomes (a symbol of) infidelity and an idol.

The licence that comes from self-will is error; the licence that comes from God is perfection.

In that quarter where the illimitable Light has shone, infidelity has become faith and the Devil has attained unto Islam.

He (the saint) is a theatre for the manifestation of the (Divine) Glory, and he is the real beloved (of God): he has carried off the prize from (taken precedence over) all the Cherubim.

The worship of Adam (by the angels) is clear evidence of his superiority: the husk always bows down (pays homage) to the kernel.

O old woman, (if) you puff (try to put out) God's candle, you will be burnt, you and your head at the same time, O foul-mouthed one.

How should the sea be defiled by a dog's muzzle? How should the sun be extinguished by a puff?

Even if you judge (only) by appearances, tell (me), what is more apparent than this Light?

In comparison with this appearance all apparent things are in the utmost degree of imperfection and default.

If any one puff at God's candle, how should the candle be extinguished? His jaws and nose will be burnt.

Bats like you often dream that this world will be left orphaned (deprived) of the Sun.

The fierce waves of the seas of the Spirit are a hundred times as many as was (the multitude of waves in) the Flood of Noah;

But hair grew (and formed an obstruction) in the eye of Canaan: he forsook Noah and the Ark and sought the mountain.

Then half a wave swept the mountain and Canaan down into the abyss of dishonour.

The moon scatters her light and the dog bays: how should the dog feed on the light of the moon?

Those who travel by night and move swiftly with the moon on her way, how should they relinquish their journey because of the dog's yelping?

The part is speeding like an arrow towards the Whole: how should it stop on account of any old hag?

The gnostic is the soul of religion and the soul of piety: gnosis is the result of past asceticism.

Asceticism is the labour of sowing; gnosis is the growth of the seed.

Therefore the (ascetic's) hard struggle and his firm religious conviction are like the body, (while) the soul of this sowing is the growth (of the seed) and its harvesting.

He (the gnostic) is both the command to do right and the right (itself); he is both the revealer of mysteries and that which is revealed.

He is our king to-day and to-morrow: the husk is for ever a slave to his goodly kernel,

When the Shaykh (Halláj) said ‘I am God’ and carried it through (to the end), he throttled (vanquished) all the blind (sceptics).

When a man's ‘I’ is negated (and eliminated) from existence, then what remains? Consider, O denier.

If you have an eye, open it and look! After ‘not,’ why, what else remains?

Oh, (may) the lips and throat and mouth (be) cut off that spit at the moon or the sky!

Without any doubt his spittle will recoil upon his face: spittle can find no path to heaven.

Spittle from the Lord rains upon him till the Resurrection, just as (the perdition denoted by) tabbat (rains) upon the spirit of Bú Lahab.

Drum (tabl) and banner are the (rightful) possession of the (spiritual) king: any one who calls him a parasite (tabl-khwár) is a cur.

The heavens are a slave to his moon: the whole East and West is begging him for bread;

For lawláka (but for thee) is (inscribed) on his (imperial) sign-manual: all are (included) in his bounty and distribution.

If he did not exist, Heaven would not have gained circling motion and light and (the dignity of) being the abode of the angels;

If he did not exist, the seas would not have gained the awe (which they inspire) and fish and regal pearls;

If he did not exist, the earth would not have gained treasure within and jasmine (flowers and verdure) without.

(Our) means of sustenance are eating the means of sustenance bestowed by him: the fruits are dry-lipped (thirsty) for his rain.

Take heed, for in the (Divine) command (to give alms) this knot is (tied) upside down. Give alms to him who gives alms to yourself.

All (your) gold and silk comes to you from the (apparently) poor man: hark, give an alms to the (really) rich man, O you who are (really) poor.

A disgrace (an infamous creature) like thee, married to that man whose spirit is accepted (by God), resembles the unbelieving wedded wife of Noah.

Were it not for thy relationship to this (blessed) house, I would tear thee to pieces at this moment.

I would deliver that Noah from thee, in order that I might be ennobled (by being slain) in retaliation.

But such a disrespect to the house of the emperor of the world cannot be shown by me.

Go and thank God that thou art the dog of this dwelling-place, (for) otherwise I would do now what ought to be done.”