Explaining that the door of repentance is open.

(2506) By the mercy Paradise has eight doors: one of those eight is the door of repentance, O son.

(2507) All the others are sometimes open, sometimes shut; and never is the door of repentance but open.

(2508) Come, seize the opportunity: the door is open: carry your baggage thither at once in despite of the envious.

How Moses, said to Pharaoh, “Accept one counsel from me and take four excellent qualities as recompense.”

(2509) Come (Paraoh), accept from me one thing and bring, and then take from me four as recompense for that.”

(2510) He replied, “O Moses, what is that one thing ? Explain to me a little about that one thing.”

(2511) "That one thing,” said he, “is that you should say publicly that there is no god but the Maker,

(2512) The Creator of the heavenly spheres and of the stars on high and of man and devil and genie and bird,

(2513) The Creator of sea and plain and mountain and desert: His sovereignty is without limit and He is without like.”

(2514) He said, “O Moses, what are those four things that you will give me in recompense ? Declare and bring,

(2515) That perchance, by the favour of that goodly promise, the crucifixion of my unbelief may be assuaged.

(2516) Perchance the lock of my hundred kilos weight of unbelief may be opened by those fair and desirable promises.

(2517) Perchance, by the effect of the river of honey, this poison of hatred may be turned into honey in my body;

(2518) Or by the reflection of the river of that pure milk, captive intelligence may be nourished for a moment;

(2519) Or perchance, by the reflection of those rivers of wine, I may be intoxicated and obtain a scent of the delight of the command;

(2520) Or perchance, by the favour of those rivers of water, my barren devastated body may gain refreshment.

(2521) Some verdure may appear on my barren soil, my thorn-brake may become the Garden of abode;

(2522) Perchance, by the reflection of Paradise and the four rivers, my spirit, through God’s befriending, may become a seeker of the Friend,

(2523) In the same fashion as from the reflectiong of Hell I have become fire and am steeped in the wrath of God.

How Moses, explained those four excellent qualities as a reward for Pharaoh’s coming into the Faith.

(2528) Moses said, “The first of those four will be constant health for your body:

(2529) These maladies that are described in Medicine will be far from your body, O estimable one.

(2530) Secondly, you will have a long life, for death will be cautious of your life;

(2531) And after a life uniform this will not be that you will go forth from the world against your will;

(2532) Nay, but desiring death as the sucking babe, not on account of the pain that holds you captive.

(2533) You will be seeking death, but not from painful infirmity; nay, you will see the treasure in the ruin of the house.

(2534) Therefore with your own hand you will take a pick-axe and smite upon the house without any care;

(2535) For you will deem the house to be the barrier to the treasure, and this single grain to be the obstacle to a hundred wheat-stacks.

(2536) This grain, then, you will cast into the fire and adopt the profession that is worthy of a man.”

(3537) O you who because of a single leaf have been left without an orchard, you are like the worm which a leaf has driven away from the vineyard.

(2539) The worm became a vineyard full of fruit and trees: even so is the blessed man transformed.

Exposition of “I was a hidden treasure, and I desired to be known”

(2540) Demolish the house, for a hundred thousand houses may be made from the cornelian of this Yemen.

(2541) The treasure lies beneath the house, and there is no help: do not be afraid of destroying the house and do not stand still,

(2542) For from one treasure in hand it is possible to build a thousand houses without suffering toil and pain.

(2543) In the end this house will fall of itself into ruin and the treasure beneath it will certainly be uncovered;

(2544) But it will not be your, since the spirit receives that gift as wages for destroying.

(2545) When it has not done that work, its wages are naught: there is nothing for Man but that which he wrought.

(2546) After that, you will gnaw your hand, saying, “Alas, a moon like this was under the cloud.

(2547) I did not do the good which they told: the treasure and the house are gone, and my hand is empty.”

(2548) You have rented and hired a house: it is not your property by any act of sale or purchase.

(2549) The period of this hiring is till death, in order that you may work in it during this period.

(2550) You are sewing patches in the shop, under this shop of your two mines are buried.

(2551) This shop is held on hire: be quick, take the pick-axe and break up its foundation,

(2552) That of a sudden you may lay the axe on the mine and be delivered from the shop and from patch-sewing.

(2553) What is patch-sewing ? The drinking of water and the eating of bread: you are applying these patches to the heavy cloak.

(2554) This cloak, your body, is always being torn, and you are patching it by this eating and drinking of yours.

(2555) O you who are of the progeny of the fortunate King, come to yourself, be ashamed of this patch-sewing.

(2556) Tear a patch from off this shop-floor, in order that two mines may lift up their head before you,

(2557) Before this lease of the hired house come to an end without your having gained any profit from it.

(2558) Then the owner of the shop will turn you out and will demolish this shop for the sake of the mine,

(2559) You at one moment will beat your head in remorse and at another tear your foolish beard,

(2560) Saying, “Alas, this shop was mine; I was blind and got no profit from this place of abode.

(2561) Alas, the wind swept our existence away: O sorrow for the servants of God is come unto everlasting.

(2568) "Enough; O Moses ! Tell the third promise, for my heart has become lost from the agitation caused by it.”

(2569) Moses said, “This third is a twofold empire - appertaining to the two worlds, free from adversary and enemy;

(2570) Greater than the empire of which you are now in possession; for that was at war, and this at peace.

(2571) He who bestows on you, at war, such an empire as this - consider how He will lay the table for you (when you are) at peace.

(2572) That bounty which gave you those things in your unrighteousness - consider what will be care in your faithfulness.”

(2573) "O Moses,” said he, “what is the fourth promise ? Quickly declare: my patience is gone and my desire has waxed great.”

(2574) He said, “The fourth is that you will remain young, hair like pitch and cheeks like the arghawán (flower of the Judas-tree).

(2575) To us colour and perfume are very worthless, but you are low, we have made our words low.

(2576) Boasting of colour and perfume and dwelling-place is a joy and deception to children.

(2577) Since my business happens to be with a child, I must accordingly speak the language suited to children.

(2579) You know only the youth of the body: take this youthfulness: take the barley, O ass !

(2580) No wrinkle will fall upon your face: your fortunate youthfulness will remain fresh.

(2581) Neither will the withering of old age come over your countenance, nor will your cypress-like figure be double;

(2582) Nor will the strength of youth vanish from you, nor will your teeth decay or be in pain;

(2583) Nor will there be a deficiency in sexual desire, intercourse, and marital union so that there will be weariness for woman because of your weakness.

(2584) The glory of youth will be opened to you in such wise as the good tidings brought by ‘Ukkásha opened the door.

The saying of the Prophet, on whom be peace, “Whosoever shall bring me the glad news of the expiration of Safar, I will give him the glad news of Paradise.”

(2585) The decease of Ahmad, of the last time, will indisputably occur in the First Rabí‘.

(2586) When his heart shall gain knowledge of this moment of decease, he will become intellectually in love with that moment,

(2587) And when Safar comes, he will rejoice on account of Safar, saying, ‘After this month I will make the journey'.”

(2588) From this longing for guidance he was crying, every night till daybreak, “O most High Companion on the Way !”

(2589) He said, “Any person who gives me the good news, when Safar steps forth from this world,

(2590) That Safar is past and that the month of Rabí is come - for him I will be a bearer of good news and an intercessor.”

(2591) Ukkásha said, “Safar is past and gone.” He said, “O mighty lion, Paradise is yours.”

(2592) Someone else came, saying, “Safar is past.” He said, “‘Ukkásha has borne away the fruit for the good news.”

(2593) Men, therefore, rejoice in the world’s departing, while these children rejoice in its abiding.

(2594) Inasmuch as the blind bird did not see the sweet water, the briny water seems to it Kawthar.

(2595) Thus was Moses enumerating the grace, saying, “The pure of your fortune will not be turned into dregs.”

(2596) He said, “You have done well and spoken well, but that I may take counsel with good friend.”

How Pharaoh took counsel with (his wife) Asiya as to believing in Moses.

(2597) He related these words to Asiya. She said, “Offer up your soul to this, O black-hearted one,

(2598) At the back of this speech are many favours: enjoy quickly, O virtuous king !

(2599) The hour of sowing is come: bravo, a profitable sowing !” She said this and wept and became hot.

(2602) In that very chamber where you heard this, how did not you say ‘Yes’ and a hundred expressions of praise ?

(2619) Listen, O drop, give yourself up without repenting, that in recompense for the drop you may gain the Ocean.

(2621) Whom indeed should fortune like this befall ? A Sea has become the suitor for a drop.

(2622) In God’s name, in God’s name, sell and buy at once ! Give a drop, and take the Sea which is full of pearls.

(2623) In God’s name, in God’s name, do not make any postponement, for these words come from the Sea of Grace.

(2626) He said, “I will tell Hamaan, O veiled one: the counsel of the vizier is necessary to the king.”

(2652) Kingly pride seized the place of admonition in him, so that he wrenched his heart away from the bonds of admonition,

(2653) Saying, “I will take counsel with Haman, for he is the support of the kingdom and the pivot of power.”

(2655) The homogeneity rooted in his nature drew him so that those admonishments became irksome to him.

How Pharaoh took counsel with ha vizier, Hamaan, as to believing in Moses.

(2723) He told Hamaan when he saw him alone: Hamaan sprang up and rent the bosom of his shirt.

(2724) That accursed one uttered loud cries and sobs and beat his turban and cap on the ground,

(2730) Until now you have been worshipped and adored by the world: you will become the meanest of slaves.

(2731) To go into a thousand fires is better than this; that a lord should become the servant of a slave.

(2533) O emperor, behead me first, that my eye may not behold this ignominy.

(2734) Truly never has there been - and never may there be ! - such a thing as this, that the earth should become the sky, and the sky become the earth;

(2735) Our slaves should become our fellow-servants; our timorous ones should become those who wound our hearts;

(2766) Unless you have died and become living through Him, you are an enemy seeking to reign in co-partnership with Him.

(2767) When you have become living through Him that is in truth He: it is absolute Unity; how is it co partnership ?

(2768) Seek the explanation of this in the mirror of works, for you will not gain the understanding of it from speech and discourse.

(2769) If I tell that which I have within, many hearts will immediately be turned into blood,

(2770) I will refrain; indeed, for the intelligent this is enough : I have shouted twice, if anyone is in the village.

(2771) To sum up, Hamaan by means of those evil words waylaid Pharaoh in such a way as this.

(2772) The morsel, felicity, had reached his mouth, he suddenly cut his throat.

(2773) He gave Pharaoh’s stack to the wind: may no king have such a minister !

(2774) Moses said, “We have shown kindness and generosity, truly it was not the portion allotted to your dominion.

(2756) Khizr made a breach in the boat in order that the boat might be saved from the wicked.

(2757) Since the broken one will be saved, be you broken. Safety lies in poverty enter into poverty.

(2802) If you have intelligence, I have done kindnesses; and if you are an ass, I have brought the rod for the ass.

(2803) I will turn you out of this stable in such wise that I will make your ears and head bloody with the rod.

(2805) Lo, I have brought the rod, for correction’s sake, for every ass that is not approved.

(2903) Similarly, everyone sees the unseen and the future, good and evil, according to the measure of his insight.

(2904) When the barrier in front and the barrier behind are removed, the eye penetrates and reads the tablet of the Unseen.

(2906) The disputation of the terrestrial angels with the Majesty as to making our Father (Aadam) the Vicegerent.

(2907) When he casts his eye forward he sees plainly that which shall be till the Congregation.

(2908) Therefore he sees back to the root of the root, and he sees forward clairvoyantly to the Day of Decision.

(2909) Every one, according to the measure of his spiritual enlightenment, sees the things unseen in proportion to the polishing.

(2910) The more he polishes, the more he sees and the more visible does the form become to him.

(2911) If you say that that purity is the grace of God, this success in polishing is also from that bounty.

(2912) That work and prayer is in proportion to the aspiration : Man has nothing but what he has strived after.

(2913) God alone is the giver of aspiration : no base churl aspires to be a king.

(2916) When God brings some trouble on a good-fortuned man, he always abides nearer to God.

Ya Ali Madad