How the high God revealed to Moses, on whom be peace, (the words), “Wherefore didst not thou visit Me in sickness?”

2156. To Moses there came from God this reproach: “O thou who hast seen the rising of the moon from thy bosom,

2157. Thou whom I have illumined with the Divine Light! I am God, I fell sick, thou camest not.”

2158. Moses said, “O Thou transcendent in Thy glory, Thou art clear of loss (defect). What mystery is this? Explain this, O Lord!”

2159. God said unto him again, “Wherefore in My sickness didst not thou kindly ask after Me?”

2160. He answered, “O Lord, Thou hast no imperfection. (My) understanding is lost: unfold (the meaning of) these words.”

2161. God said, “Yea; a favourite and chosen slave (of Mine) fell sick. I am he. Consider well!

2162. His excusability (infirmity) is My excusability, his sickness is My sickness.”

2163. Whoever wishes to sit with God, let him sit in the presence of the saints.

2164. If you are broken off (divided) from the presence of the saints, you are in perdition, because you are a part without the whole. 2165. Whomsoever the Devil cuts off from the noble (saints), he finds him without any one (to help him), and he devours his head.

2166. To go for one moment a single span apart from the community (of saints) is (a result of) the Devil's guile. Hearken, and know (it) well.

How the gardener isolated the Súfí, the jurist, and the descendant of ‘Alí from one another.

2167. A gardener, when he looked into the orchard, saw three men in his orchard, as (though they were) thieves:

2168. A jurist and a Sharíf and a Súfí: each one an impudent, knavish and perfidious rogue.

2169. He said, “I have a hundred arguments against these fellows, but they are united, and a united party is (a source of) strength.

2170. I cannot cope singly with three persons, so first I will sunder them from one another.

2171. I will isolate each one from the others, and when each is alone, I will tear out his moustache.”

2172. He employed a ruse and got the Súfí away, that he might poison (the minds of) his friends against him.

2173. He said to the Súfí, “Go to the house and fetch a rug for these companions (of yours).”

2174. (As soon as) the Súfí departed, he (the gardener) said in private to the two friends, “Thou art a jurist, and this (other) is a renowned Sharíf.

2175. ’Tis according to thy legal decision that we eat a loaf (of bread): ’tis by the wings of thy knowledge that we fly.

2176. And this other is our prince and sovereign: he is a Sayyid, he is of the House of Mustafá (Mohammed).

2177. Who is this gluttonous vile Súfí, that he should associate with kings like you?

2178. When he comes (back), drive him away and take possession of my orchard and field for a week.

2179. What is (it to offer you) my orchard? My life is yours, O ye who have (always) been (as dear to me) as my right eye.”

2180. He made evil suggestions and beguiled them. Ah, one must not patiently suffer the loss of friends.

2181. When they had turned the Súfí away and he was gone, the enemy went after him with a stout cudgel.

2184. He beat the Súfí when he found him alone; he half killed him and cracked his head.

2185. Said the Súfí, “Mine is over, but O comrades, take good care of yourselves!

2186. Ye regarded me as an alien. Look out! I am not more alien than this scoundrel.

2187. That (cup) which I have drunk must be drunk by you, and such a draught as this is the due of every cad.”

2188. This world is (like) the mountain, and (all) thy words come back to thee from the echo.

2189. After the gardener had finished with the Súfí, he invented a pretext of the same kind as the former,

2190. Saying, “O my Sharíf, go to the house, for I have baked (some) thin cakes of bread for breakfast.

2191. At the house-door tell Qaymáz to fetch those cakes and the goose.”

2192. Having sent him off, he said (to the other), “O keen-sighted one, thou art a jurist; this is manifest and sure.

2193. (But) he (thy friend) a Sharíf! ’Tis an absurd claim he is making. Who knows who committed adultery with his mother?

2194. Will ye set your hearts (rely) on woman and the deeds of woman? (Will ye acknowledge her to be of) weak mind, and then (put) trust (in her)? 2195. He has tacked himself on to ‘Alí and to the Prophet—and there is many a fool in the world (who will believe him).”

2197. Any one whose head is made giddy by (his own) gyrations sees the house turning round like himself.

2200. He used spells (guileful words), and the jurist hearkened to them. (Then) that insolent bully went after him (the Sharíf).

2201. He said, “O ass, who invited you into this orchard?

2202. The lion's cub resembles him (the lion): in what do you resemble the Prophet? Tell (me that)!”

2203. The man (the gardener) who had sought refuge (in craft) did to the Sharíf that which a Khárijite would do to the Family of Yá- sín (Mohammed).

2204. (I marvel) what hatred devils and ghouls like Yazíd and Shimr always have towards the Prophet's Family.

2205. The Sharíf was devastated by the blows of that ruffian. He said to the jurist, “I have jumped out of the water.

2206. Do thou stand fast, now that thou art left alone and deprived (of our support). Be as a drum, suffer blows on the belly!

2207. If I am not a Sharíf and worthy (of thee) and a (true) bosom-friend, (at any rate) I am no worse for thee than such a ruffian as this.”

2208. He (the gardener) finished with him (the Sharíf), and came up, saying, “O jurist, what (sort of) jurist are you, O you disgrace to every fool?

2209. Is it your legal opinion, O convicted thief, that you may come (into my orchard) without asking leave?

2211. “You are right,” he replied; “beat (me): you have got the upper hand. This is the fit penalty for him that parts from friends.”