Story of the Prophet's, on whom be peace, coming to the aid of a caravan of Arabs

3130- In that wadi (was) a company of Arabs: their water-skins had become dry from lack of rain:

3131- A caravan amidst the desert in sore distress—they had rehearsed their own death.

3132- Suddenly he who succours both worlds, Mustafá (Mohammed), appeared on the way, for help's sake.

3133- He saw there an exceeding great caravan on the scalding sand and (engaged in) a hard and terrible journey;

3134- The tongues of their camels hanging out, the people strown everywhere on the sand.

3135- He took pity and said, “Hark, go at once, some of your comrades, and run to yonder sandhills,

3136- For a negro on camelback will (presently) bring a water-skin, (which) he is conveying with all speed to his master.

3137- Bring to me that negro camel-driver along with the camel by force, if need be.”

3138- Those seekers approached the sandhills: after a short while they saw ’twas even so:

3139- A negro slave was going with a camel, the water-skin filled with water, like one bearing a gift.

3140- Then they said to him, “The Pride of mankind, the Best of created beings, invites thee (to come) in this direction.”

3141- He said, “I do not know him: who is he?” He (the spokesman) said, “He is that moon-faced sweet-natured one.”

3142- They described to him the diverse qualities which exist (in the Prophet): he said, “Belike he is that poet (wizard)

3143- Who subdued a multitude by magic: I will not come half a span towards him.”

3144- Dragging him along, they brought him thither: he raised an outcry in revilement and heat (of anger).

3145- When they dragged him before that venerable one, he (the Prophet) said, “Drink ye the water and carry it away withal.”

3146- He satisfied the thirst of them all from that water-skin: the camels and every person drank of that water.

3147- From his (the negro's) water-skin he filled large and small water-skins: from jealousy of him the clouds in the sky were distraught.

3148- Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that the burning glow of so many Hells (of thirst) should be cooled by a single water-skin?

3149- Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that all these water-skins were filled from a single water-skin without trouble?

3150- The water-skin itself was a veil, and (in reality) at his (the Prophet's) command the waves of (Divine) bounty were coming (to them) from the Sea of origin.

3151- “Water by boiling is converted into air, and that air by cold is turned into water.”

3152- Nay, (it is not so); without cause and beyond these maxims of (natural) philosophy the (Divine) act of bringing into existence produced the water from non-existence.

3153- Inasmuch as you have observed (secondary) causes from your childhood, through ignorance you have stuck to the (secondary) cause.

3154- (Being occupied) with causes you are forgetful of the Causer: hence you are inclining towards these veils.

3155- When (all secondary) causes are gone, you will beat your head and cry many a time, “O our Lord! O our Lord!”

3156- The Lord will say, “Betake thyself to the (secondary) cause! How hast thou remembered My work? Oh, wonderful!”

3157- He (the believer in secondary causes) says, “Henceforth I will behold Thee entirely: I will not look towards the cause and that deception (by which I was led astray).”

3161- The (people of the) caravan were amazed at his (the Prophet's) deed. (They cried), “O Muhammad, O thou that hast the nature of the Sea, what is this?

3162- Thou hast made a small water-skin a veil (a means of disguise): thou hast drowned (abundantly satisfied the thirst of) both Arabs and Kurds.”

How he (the Prophet) miraculously filled the slave's water-skin with water from the Unseen World and made the face of that negro slave white by permission of God most High.

3163- “O slave, now behold thy water-skin full (of water), that thou mayst not say (anything) good or bad in complaint.”

3164- The negro was astounded at his (the Prophet's) evidentiary miracle: his faith was dawning from (the world of) non-spatiality.

3165- He saw that a fountain had begun to pour from the air (of yonder world) and that his water-skin had become a veil to the emanation of that (fountain).

3166- The veils also were rent by that (illumined) sight (of his), so that he distinctly beheld the fountain of the Unseen.

3167- Thereupon the slave's eyes were filled with tears: he forgot his master and his dwelling-place.

3168- Strength failed him to go on his way: God cast a mighty commotion into his soul.

3169- Then again he (the Prophet) drew him back for (his) good, saying, “Come to thyself; return, O thou who wilt gain advantage (by doing so).

3170- ’Tis not the time for bewilderment: bewilderment is in front of thee; just now advance on thy way briskly and speedily.”

3171- He (the slave) laid the hands of Mustafá (Mohammed) on his face and gave (them) many loving kisses.

3172- Then Mustafá rubbed his blessed hand on his (the slave's) face and made it fortunate.

3173- That Abyssinian negro became white as the full moon, and his night turned into bright day.

3174- He became a Joseph in beauty and in coquetry: he (the Prophet) said to him, “Now go home and relate what has befallen thee.”

3175- He was going along, without head or foot, intoxicated (with ecstasy): in going he knew not foot from hand.

3176- Then from the neighbourhood of the caravan he came hastening with two full water-skins to his master.

How the master saw his slave white and did not recognise him and said, “Thou hast killed my slave: the murder hath found thee out, and God hath thrown thee into my hands.”

3177- The master espied him from afar and remained bewildered.

3178- “This,” said he, “is my water-skin and my camel: where, then, is my swartbrowed slave gone?

3185- “Eh, what art thou saying? Where is my slave? Hark, thou wilt not escape from me except by (telling) the truth.”

3186- He (the slave) said, “I will relate all thy secret dealings with that slave, one by one;

3187- I will relate what has passed (between us) from the time when thou didst purchase me until now,

3188- That thou mayst know I am the same in (my spiritual) existence, though a (bright) dawn has opened forth from my night-hued (body).

3189- The colour is changed; but the pure spirit is free from colour and from the (four) elements and the dust.”

3190- They that know the body (alone) soon lose us; (but) they that quaff the (spiritual) water abandon the (bodily) water-skin and jar.

3191- They that know the spirit are free from numbers (plurality): they are sunk in the Sea that is without quality or quantity.

3192- Become spirit and know spirit by means of spirit: become the friend of vision (clairvoyant), not the child of ratiocination.

3193- Forasmuch as the Angel is one in origin with Intelligence, (and) they have (only) become two (different) forms for the sake of Wisdom.

3194- The Angel assumed wings and pinions like a bird, while this Intelligence left wings (behind) and assumed (immaterial) splendour.

3195. Necessarily both became co-adjutors: both the beauteous ones became a support to one another.

3196- The Angel as well as the Intelligence is a finder of God: each of the twain is a helper and worshipper of Adam.

3198- He that regarded Adam as a body fled (from him in disdain), while he that regarded (him as) the trusty Light bowed (in worship).

3199- Those two (the Angel and the Intelligence) were (made) clairvoyant by this (Adam), while the eye of these two (the Flesh and the Devil) saw nothing but clay.

3211- Wherever a difficult question is, the answer goes thither; wherever a ship is, the water goes thither.

3212- Do not seek the water, (but) get thirst, so that the water may gush forth from above and below.

3213- Until the tender-throated babe is born, how should the milk for it begin to flow from the (mother's) breast?

3214- Go, run on these hills and dales, to the end that thou mayst become thirsty and a prey to heat;

3215- After that, from the noise of the hornet of the air (the thundercloud) thou wilt hear the noise of the water of the stream, O king.

3218- For the spiritual crops, whose essences are concealed, the cloud of (Divine) mercy is full of the water of Kawthar.

3219- In order that (the words) their Lord gave them to drink may be addressed (to thee), be thirsty! God best knoweth the right course.

Ya Ali Madad