3284. God has not put eyes in the mole, because it does not need eyes for (getting) food.

3285. It is able to live without eyes and sight: in the dank earth it is independent of eyes.

3286. It never comes out from the earth but for theft, to the end that the Creator may purge it of that thievishness.

3287. After that (purification), it will get wings and become a bird, flying (aloft) and glorifying the Creator.

3288. Every moment, in the rose-garden of thanksgiving to God, it will produce a hundred (sweet) notes, like the nightingale, Singing,

3289. O Thou that deliverest me from evil qualities! O Thou that makest a hell Paradise!

3292. The word is like the nest, and the meaning is the bird: the body is the riverbed, and the spirit is the rolling water.

The statement of a certain individual that God most High would not punish him for sin, and Shu‘ayb’s answer to him.

3364. In the time of Shu‘ayb a certain man was saying, “God hath seen many a fault from me.

3365. How many sins and trespasses hath He seen me commit! And (still), God in His kindness does not punish me.”

3366. In answer to him God most High by the mysterious way spoke clearly into the ear of Shu‘ayb,

3367. Saying, “(Tell him), Thou hast said, ‘How many sins have I committed! And (still) God in His kindness hath not punished me for my trespasses.’

3368. Thou art saying the opposite and reverse (of the truth), O fool, O thou that hast abandoned the road and taken to the wilderness!

3369. How oft, how oft do I chastise thee, and thou unaware! Thou art lying (bound) in chains from head to foot.

3370. Thy rust, coat on coat, O black pot, hath marred the visage of thy heart.

3371. Layers of rust have collected upon thy heart, so that it hath become blind to (the spiritual) mysteries.”

3388. When Shu‘ayb had told him these deep sayings, at that breath of the spirit roses blossomed in his heart.

3389. His soul hearkened to the inspiration from Heaven; he said, (however), “If He hath punished me, where is the sign?”

3390. He (Shu‘ayb) cried, “O Lord, he rebuts me, he seeks the sign of that punishment.”

3391. He (God) said, “I am the Coverer (of sins): I will not tell his secrets, (I will give) but one indication for the sake of trying him.

3392. One sign of My punishing him is this, that he has (to his credit) pious acts of fasting and orison,

3393. And ritual prayer and almsgiving et cetera, but he has not one atom of spiritual savour.

3394. He performs high acts and deeds of devotion, but he has not one atom of (spiritual) relish.

3395. His devotions are good (in form), but the spirit is not good: the walnuts are many, but there is no kernel therein.”

3396. Spiritual savour is required, in order that devotions may yield fruit: a kernel is required, in order that the berry may produce a tree.

3397. How shall a berry without kernel become a sapling? The soulless form is naught but phantasy.

How the mouse pulled (the rope attached to) the camel's nose-ring and became self conceited.

3436. A little mouse caught in his forelegs a camel's leading-rope and from emulation went off (with it).

3437. By reason of the readiness with which the camel set out along with him, the mouse was duped into thinking himself a hero.

3438. The ray of his thought struck the camel. He (the camel) said (aside), “I will show thee (presently)! Enjoy thyself!”

3439. (All went well) till he (the mouse) came to the bank of a great river, at which any lion or wolf would have lost heart.

3440. There the mouse stopped and became paralysed. The camel said, “O my companion o’er hill and plain,

3441. What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!

3442. Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”

3443. He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”

3444. Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.

3445. “The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”

3446. He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.

3447. If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”

3448. He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.

3449. Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”

3450. He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”

3451. The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.

3452. This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”

3453. Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.