How a dervish saw in dream a
company of Shaykhs and begged for a daily portion of lawful food (which he should receive) without being occupied with earning (it) and being (thereby) incapacitated from devotional service; and how they directed him, and how the sour and bitter mountain-fruit became sweet to him through the bounty of those Shaykhs.
A certain dervish said in the night-talk, “I saw in dream
those (saints who
are) connected with
Khizr.
I said to them,
‘Whence shall I (get
to) eat a
daily portion of
lawful food that is not pernicious?’
680. They took me
along towards the
mountainous
country: they
were shaking down the fruit from (the trees in) the forest,
Saying, ‘God has
made the fruit (to taste) sweet
in your mouth because of our
benedictions.
Come, eat (food
that is) clean and
lawful, and free of reckoning, without
trouble and change of
place and (going) up and
down.’
Then from that daily provision there
appeared in me a (gift of)
speech: (the spiritual)
savour of
my words was transporting (the people's) minds.
I said, ‘This is a temptation: O Lord of the world,
bestow (on me) a gift hidden from all (Thy)
creatures!’
685. Speech departed
from (forsook) me; I gained a joyous heart: I was
bursting with rapture,
like the pomegranate;
I said, ‘If there be
naught in Paradise (for
me) but this delight
which I have within my
nature,
No other blessing
will be desired
(by me): I will not be
diverted from this
(delight) by the
houris and sugar-cane (of Paradise).’
Of my (former) earnings
one or two small pieces (of money) had
remained with me,
sewn in
the
sleeve of my jubba.
How he formed an intention, saying, ‘I will give this money to that carrier of firewood, since I
have obtained daily provision through the miraculous gifts of the Shaykhs’; and how the carrier of firewood was offended by his secret thought and intention.
A poor man was
carrying firewood:
he approached
(me), weary and exhausted, from
the forest.
690. So I said (to myself), ‘I am
independent of (earning)
daily bread: henceforth I have no anxiety for the daily portion.
The loathed fruit
has become sweet to me: a special
provision for my body has come to
hand. Since I have
been freed from
the (cravings of
the) gullet, here
are some small pieces of money: I will
give him
these.
I will give this
money
to
this toil-worn
man, that for two
or
three brief days he may
be
made happy by food.’
He himself was
knowing my mind, because
his (inward) hearing had illumination
from the candle
of Hú (God).
695. To him the secret
of every
thought was as a lamp within a glass.
No mental conception was hidden from him: he
was
ruler over the
contents of (men's) hearts. Therefore
that wondrous man
was
muttering to himself under his breath
in answer to my (unspoken) thought,
‘You thinkest so concerning the (spiritual) kings:
how shouldst you meet (receive) the daily provision
unless they provide you (with
it)?’
I was not
understanding his words, but his rebuke
smote my heart
mightily.
700. He approached
me with awful
mien, like a lion, and laid down his bundle
of firewood. (Through) the influence of the ecstatic state in
which he laid
down the firewood, a trembling
fell upon all my seven limbs.
He said, ‘O Lord, if You have elect ones whose prayers are blessed
and whose feet (comings
and goings) are auspicious,
I entreat
that Thy grace
may become an alchemist (may
work a transmutation)
and that
this bundle of firewood may be
turned into gold at this
moment.’
Immediately I saw that
his firewood was turned into gold, gleaming brightly
on the ground, like fire.
705. Thereat I
became beside myself for a long while. When I came to myself (again) out
of
(that) bewilderment,
He said afterwards, ‘O God, if those great ones
(the saints) are very jealous and are fleeing
from celebrity,
At once, without
delay, make
this (gold) a bundle of firewood again, just as it was (before).’ Immediately those
branches of gold turned
into firewood: the
intellect and the sight were
intoxicated (amazed) at his (miraculous) work.
After that, he took up the firewood and
went from me in
hot
haste towards the town.
710. I wished to follow
that (spiritual)
king and ask him about (some)
difficulties and hear
(his answer);
(But) the awe (which he
inspired) made me (as
though I were) bound:
the
vulgar have no way
(admission) to the presence
of the elect.”
And if the way
become (open) to any one, let
him offer his head (in
utter devotion), for that (admission to their
presence) comes from their mercy and
their drawing (him
towards them). Therefore, when you gain companionship with the siddíq (true saint), deem that Divine
favour (conferred on you) to be a precious opportunity.
(Do) not (be) like the
fool who wins the
favour of the King,
and then lightly
and
easily falls
away from the path (of favour).
715. When more
of (the King's)
favour is bestowed on him, then he says, “Surely
this is the
thigh of an ox.”
This does not consist of the
thigh of an ox, O deviser of falsehood: to you it appears
to be the
thigh of an
ox
because you are an
ass.
This is a royal gift
devoid of any
corruption: this is pure munificence (springing)
from a (great)
mercy,
[How Solomon, on whom be peace, urged the envoys to hasten the emigration of
Bilqis (from her kingdom) for the Faith’s sake.]
Even as in (the
spiritual) warfare
King Solomon
drew the cavalry and
foot-soldiers of Bilqis
(towards him),
Saying, “O honoured
men, come quickly,
quickly, for the
waves have risen from
the sea of bounty.
720. At every moment the
surge of its waves is scattering shorewards a hundred
pearls without danger (to
those who seek them).
We cry (you) welcome,
O people of righteousness, for now Rizwan
has opened the
gate of
Paradise.”
Then Solomon said,
“O
couriers, go to Bilqis and
believe in
this Religion.
Then bid her
come hither with
all speed, for verily God inviteth to the (abode of) peace.” Hark, come speedily,
O seeker of felicity, for now is (the time for) manifestations
(of spiritual
grace) and the
opening of the
door.
725. O you who art not a seeker, come you also, that you mayst gain (the gift of)
seeking
(felicity) from this faithful Friend.
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