Created by:

Sheikh Mosleh al-Din Saadi Shirazi World famous Persian -Iranian13th century poet

Content
3

Prologue
Chapter 01: Concerning Justice, Counsel, and the d!inistration o" #o$ern!ent Chapter 0%: Concerning &ene$olence Chapter 0': Concerning (o$e Chapter 0): Concerning *u!ility Chapter 0+: Concerning ,esignation Chapter 0-: Concerning Content!ent Chapter 0.: Concerning /ducation Chapter 00: Concerning #ratitude Chapter 01: Concerning ,epentance Chapter 10: Concerning

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Prayer

Prologue
!erci"ul

2n the na!e o" #od, the co!passionate, the

In the name of !im Who created and sustains the "orld# the $a%e Who endo"ed ton%ue "ith speech& !e attains no honor "ho turns the face from the doer of !is mercy& 'he (in%s of the earth prostate themsel)es *efore !im in supplication& !e sei+es not in haste the diso*edient# nor dri)es a"ay the penitent "ith )iolence& 'he t"o "orlds are as a drop of "ater in the ocean of !is (no"led%e& !e "ithholds not !is *ounty thou%h !is ser)ants sin, upon the surface of the earth has !e spread a feast# in "hich *oth friend and for may share& Peerless !e is# and !is (in%dom is eternal& -pon the head of one !e placeth a cro"n another he hurleth from the throne to the %round& 'he fire of !is friend !e turneth into a flo"er %arden, throu%h the "ater of the .ile !e sendeth !is foes to perdition& /ehind the )eil !e seeth all# and concealeth our faults "ith !is o"n %oodness& !e is near to them that are do"ncast# and accepteth the prayers of them that lament& !e (no"eth of the thin%s that e0ist not# of secrets that are untold& !e causeth the moon and the sun to re)ol)e# and spreadeth "ater upon the earth& In the heart of a stone hath !e placed a 1e"el, from nothin% hath !e created all that is& Who can re)eal the secret of !is 2ualities, "hat eye can see the limits of !is *eauty3 'he *ird of thou%ht cannot soar to the hei%ht of !is presence# nor the hand of understandin% reach to the s(irt of !is praise& 'hin( not# 4 $aadi# that one can "al( in the road of purity e0cept in the footsteps of 5ohammed& !e is the patriarch of the prophets# the %uide of the path of sal)ation, the mediator of man(ind# and the chief of the 6ourt of 7ud%ment& What of thy praises can $aadi utter3 'he mercy of 8od *e upon thee# 4 Prophet# and peace9

3n the reason "or the 4riting o" this book

I tra)eled in many re%ions of the %lo*e and passed the days in the company of many men& I reaped ad)anta%es in e)ery corner# and %leaned an ear of corn from e)ery har)est& /ut I sa" none li(e the pious and de)out men of $hira+ -upon "hich land *e the %race of 8od- my attachment "ith "hom dre" a"ay my heart from $yria and 'ur(ey& I re%retted that I should %o from the %arden of the "orld empty-handed to my friends# and reflected: ;'ra)elers *rin% su%ar-candy from <%ypt as a present to their friends& =lthou%h I ha)e no candy# yet ha)e I "ords that are s"eeter& 'he su%ar that I *rin% is not that "hich is eaten# *ut "hat (no"ers of truth ta(e a"ay "ith respect&> When I *uilt this Palace of Wealth# ?1@ I furnished it "ith ten doors of instruction& ?2@ It "as in the year 655 that this famous treasury *ecame full of the pearls of elo2uence& = 2uilted ro*e of sil(# or of 6hinese em*roidery# must of necessity *e padded "ith cotton, if thou o*tain au%ht of the sil(# fret not - *e %enerous and conceal the cotton& I ha)e !ear that in the day of !ope and Aear the 5erciful 4ne "ill pardon the e)il for the sa(e of the %ood& If thou see e)il in my "ords# do thou li(e"ise& If one couplet amon% a thousand please thee# %enerously "ithhold thy fault findin%& =ssuredly# my compositions are esteemed in Persia as the priceless mus( of Bhutan& $aadi *rin%s roses to the %arden "ith mirth& !is )erses are li(e dates encrusted "ith su%ar - "hen opened# a stone# ?3@ is re)ealed inside&

Concerning tabak bu &akr, son o" Saad ?4@

=lthou%h not desirin% to "rite in praise of (in%s# I ha)e inscri*ed this *oo( to the name of a certain one so that perhaps the pious may say: ;$aadi# "ho surpassed all in elo2uence# li)ed in the time of =*u /a(r# the son of $ad&> 'hus in this *oo( "ill his memory remain so lon% as the moon and sun are in the s(ies& /eyond count are his )irtues - may the "orld fulfill his desires# the hea)ens *e his friend# and the 6reator *e his %uardian& 5otes:
1- 'he /ostan 2- Its ten chapters 3- Citerally# ;*one> used metaphorically in the sense of ;a truth> 4- 4ne of the (in%s of Persia in "hose rei%n $aadi flourished& !is full name "as =ta*a( 5u+affar-ud-Din =*u /a(r-*in-$aad-*in-Ean%i&

Chapter 1 Concerning Justice, Counsel, and the

d!inistration o" #o$ern!ent

'he %oodness of 8od surpasseth ima%ination, "hat ser)ice can the ton%ue of praise perform3 Beep# 4# 8od this (in%# ?5@ =*u /a(r# *eneath "hose shado" is the protection of the people# lon% esta*lished upon his throne# and ma(e his heart to li)e in o*edience# to 'hee& Fender fruitful his tree of hope, prolon% his youth# and adorn his face "ith mercy& 4# Bin%9 Dec( not thyself in royal %arments "hen thou comest to "orship, ma(e thy supplications li(e a der)ish# sayin%: ;4# 8od9 Po"erful and stron% 'hou art& I am no monarch# *ut a *e%%ar in 'hy court& -nless 'hy helps sustain me# "hat can issue from my hand3 $uccor me# and %i)e me the means of )irtue# or else ho" can I *enefit my people3> If thou rule *y day# pray fer)ently *y ni%ht& 'he %reat amon% thy ser)ants "ait upon thee at thy door, thus shouldst thou ser)e# "ith thy head in "orship upon 8odGs threshold&

5oushira$an6s ?6@ counsel to his son

'hus# "hen at the point of death# did .oushira)an counsel his son !ormu+: ;6herish the poor# and see( not thine o"n comfort& 'he shepherd should not sleep "hile the "olf is amon% the sheep& Protect the needy# for a (in% "ears his cro"n for the sa(e of his su*1ects& 'he people are as the root and the (in% is as the tree, and the tree# 4 son# %ains stren%th from the root& !e should not oppress the people "ho ha)e fear of in1ury to his (in%dom& $ee( not plenteousness in that land "here the people are afflicted *y the (in%& Aear them that are proud and them that fear not 8od&>

discourse concerning tra$elers

'he (in% "ho deals harshly "ith merchants "ho come from afar closes the door of "ell-*ein% upon the "hole of his su*1ects& When do the "ise return to the land of "hich they hear rumors of *ad custom3 If thou desire a %ood name# hold merchants and tra)elers in hi%h esteem# for they carry thy reputation throu%h the "orld& /e cautious also lest# *ein% enemies in the %uise of friends# they see( thy in1ury& =d)ance the di%nities of old friends# for treachery comes not from them that are cherished& When thy ser)ant *ecomes stric(en in years# *e not unmindful of the o*li%ations to"ards him& If old a%e *inds his hand from ser)ice# the land of %enerosity yet

remains to thee&

story illustrating the need "or deliberation

'here once landed at a seaport of =ra*ia a man "ho had "idely tra)eled and "as )ersed in many sciences& !e presented himself at the palace of the (in%# "ho "as so capti)ated *y his "isdom and (no"led%e that he appointed the tra)eler to the )i+iership& With such s(ill did he perform the duties of that office that he offended none# and *rou%ht the (in%dom completely *eneath his s"ay& !e closed the mouths of slanderers# *ecause nothin% e)il issued from his hand, and the en)ious# "ho could detect no fault in him# *emoaned their lac( of opportunity to do him in1ury& =t the court# ho"e)er# there "ere t"o *eautiful youn% sla)es to"ards "hom the )i+ier displayed no small measure of affection& HIf thou "ouldst that thy ran(s endure# incline not thy heart to"ards the fair, and thou%h thy lo)e *e innocent# ha)e care# for there is fear of loss&I 'he former )i+ier# "ho had *een dismissed to ma(e room for the ne"comer# maliciously carried the story to the (in%& ;I (no" not#> he said# ;"ho this ne" minister may *e# *ut he li)es not chastely in this land& I ha)e heard that he intri%ues "ith t"o of thy sla)es - he is a perfidious man# and lustful& It is not ri%ht that one such as he should *rin% ill-fame upon the court& I am not so unmindful of the fa)ors that I ha)e recei)ed at thy hands that I should see these thin%s and remain silent&> =n%ered *y "hat he heard# the (in% stealthily "atched the ne" )i+ier# and "hen later he o*ser)ed the latter %lance to"ards one of the sla)es# "ho returned a co)ert smile# his suspicion of e)il *ecame at once confirmed& $ummonin% the minister to his side# he said: ;I did not (no" thee to *e shameless and un"orthy& $uch a lofty station is not thy proper place# *ut the fault is mine& If I cherish one "ho is of e)il nature# assuredly do I sanction disloyalty in my house& ;$ince my s(irt is free from %uilt#> the )i+ier replied# ;I fear not the mali%nity of the e)il-"isher& I (no" not "ho has accused me of "hat I ha)e not done&> ;'his "as told to me *y the old )i+ier#> e0plained the (in%& 'he )i+ier smiled and said# ;Whate)er he said is no cause for "onder& What "ould the en)ious man say "hen he sa" me in his former place3 !im I (ne" to *e my enemy that day "hen Bhosro" ? @ appointed him to a lo"er ran( than me& .e)er till Doomsday "ill he accept me as a friend "hen in my promotion he sees his o"n decline& If thou "ilts %i)e ear to thy sla)e I "ill narrate a story that is apropos& ;In a dream some one sa" the Prince of <)il# "hose fi%ure "as as erect as a fir-

tree and "hose face "as as fair as the sun& Fe%ardin% him# the sleeper said# ;4 splendid *ein%9 5an(ind (no"s not of thy *eauty& Aearful of countenance do they ima%ine thee# and hideous ha)e they depicted thee on the "alls of the pu*lic *aths& 'he Prince of <)il smiled# ;$uch is not my fi%ure#> he replied# ;*ut the pencil "as in the hand of an enemy9 'he root of their stoc( did I thro" out of Paradise, no" in malice do they paint me u%ly&> ;In the same "ay#> continued the )i+ier# ;althou%h my fame is %ood# the en)ious spea( ill of me& 'hose "ho are %uiltless are *ra)e in speech, only he "ho %i)es false "ei%ht has fear of the inspector&> ;Aorsooth#> the (in% e0claimed# his an%er risin%# ;I heard this not only from thine enemy& !a)e I not seen "ith my o"n eyes that amon% the assem*la%e of this court thou re%ardest none# *ut those t"o sla)es3> ;'hat is true#> the )i+ier said# ;/ut I "ill e0plain this matter if thou "ilt listen& Dost thou not (no" that the *e%%ar eyes the rich "ith en)y3 4nce# li(e those sla)es# did I possess *oth %race and *eauty& '"o ro"s of teeth "ere set *ehind my lips# erect li(e a "all of i)ory ?8@ *ric(s& 4ne *y one# li(e ancient *rid%es# ha)e they fallen - re%ard me no" as here I stand9 Why may I not %lance "ith en)y at those sla)es "hen they recall to me the past3> When the "ise man had pierced this pearl of lustrous truth# the (in% e0claimed: ;/etter than this it "ould *e impossi*le to spea(& Permissi*le it is to loo( to"ard the fair is one "ho can thus e0cuse himself& !ad I not in "isdom acted "ith deli*eration# I should ha)e "ron%ed him throu%h the speech of an enemy&> 'o carry the hand 2uic(ly to the s"ord in an%er is to carry the *ac( of the hand to the teeth in re%ret& !eed not the "ords of the en)ious, if thou actest upon them# remorseful "ilt thou *e& =dmonishin% the slandered for his e)il "ords# the (in% further increased the di%nity of the )i+ier# "ho directed the affairs of the $tate for many years "ith 1ustice and *ene)olence# and "as lon% remem*ered for his )irtues&

7he story o" the king 4hose coat 4as course

= certain 1ust (in% ha*itually "ore a coat of coarse material& $ome one said to him: ;4# happy (in%9 5a(e for thyself a coat of 6hinese *rocade&> ;'hat "hich I "ear#> the (in% replied# ;affords *oth co)erin% and comfort, anythin% *eyond that is lu0ury& I collect not tri*ute that I may adorn my person and my throne& If# li(e a "oman# I ornament my *ody# ho"# li(e a man# can I repulse the enemy3 'he royal treasuries are not for me alone - they are filled for the sa(e of the army# not for the purchase of ornaments and 1e"elry&>

7he story o" Darius ?9@ and the herds!an

Darius# (in% of Persia# *ecame separated from his retinue "hile huntin%& = herdsman came runnin% to"ards him# and the (in% assumin% the man to *e an enemy# ad1usted his *o"& 'hereupon the herdsman cried# ;I am no enemy& $ee( not to (ill me& I am he "ho tends the (in%Gs horses# and in this meado" am thus en%a%ed&> /ecomin% a%ain composed# the (in% smiled and said# ;!ea)en has *efriended thee# other"ise "ould I ha)e dra"n the *o"strin% to my ear&> ;It sho"eth neither "ise administration nor %ood 1ud%ment#> replied the herdsman# ;"hen the (in% (no"s not an enemy from a friend& 'hose "ho are %reatest should (no" those "ho are least& 5any times hast thou seen me in thy presence# and as(ed of me concernin% the horses and the %ra+in% fields& .o" that I come a%ain *efore thee thou ta(est me for an enemy& 5ore s(illed am I# 4 (in%# for I can distin%uish one horse out of a hundred thousand& 'end thou thy people as I# "ith sense and 1ud%ment tend my horses&> Fuin *rin%s sorro" to that (in%dom "here the "isdom of the shepherd e0ceeds that of the (in%&

7he story o" bdul ziz and the pearl 'he story is told of =*dul =+i+
that he had a pearl of %reat *eauty and )alue set in a rin%& $hortly after# a se)ere drou%ht occurred# causin% distress amon% the people& 5o)ed *y compassion# the (in% ordered the pearl to *e sold and the money that it fetched to *e %i)en to the poor& $omeone chided him for doin% this# sayin%# ;.e)er a%ain "ill such a stone come into thy hands&> Weepin%# the (in% replied# ;-%ly is an ornament upon the person of a (in% "hen the hearts of his people are distressed *y "ant& /etter for me is a stoneless rin% than a sorro"in% people&> !appy is he "ho sets the ease of others a*o)e his o"n& 'he )irtuous desire not their o"n pleasure at the e0pense of others& When the (in% sleeps ne%lectfully upon his couch# I tro" not that the *e%%ar finds en)ia*le repose&

7he story o" ho4 7ukla 4as rebuked by a de$otee

'u(la# (in% of Persia# once )isited a de)otee and said# ; Aruitless ha)e *een my years& .one# *ut the *e%%ar carries riches from the "orld "hen earthly di%nitaries are passed& !ence# "ould I no" sit in the corner of de)otion that I mi%ht usefully employ the fe" short days that yet remain to me&> 'he de)otee "as an%ered at these "ords&

;<nou%h9> !e cried& ;Feli%ion consists alone in the ser)ice of the people, it finds no place in the prayer-*eads# or prayer-ru%# or tattered %arment& /e a (in% in so)erei%nty and a de)otee in purity of morals& =ction# not "ords# is demanded *y reli%ion# for "ords "ithout action are )oid of su*stance&>

discourse concerning riches and po$erty

$ay not that no di%nity e0cels that of so)erei%nty# for no (in%dom is more free from care than that of the der)ish& 'hey are the most li%htly *urdened reach the destination first& 'he poor man is afflicted *y lac( of *read, the (in% *y the cares of his (in%dom& 'hou%h one may rule and other may ser)e# thou%h the one *e e0alted to the hei%ht of $aturn and the other lan%uish in prison# "hen death has claimed them it "ill not *e possi*le to distin%uish *et"een the t"o&

7he story o" 8azal rsalan ?10@ and the "ort

Ja+al =rsalan possessed a fort# "hich raised its head to the hei%ht of =l"and& ?11@ $ecure from all "as those "ithin its "alls# for its roads "ere a la*yrinth# li(e the curls of a *ride& Arom a learned tra)eler Ja+al once in2uired# ;Didst thou e)er# in thy "anderin%s# see a fort as stron% as this3> ;$plendid it is#> "as the reply# ;*ut methin(s not it confers much stren%th& /efore thee# did not other (in%s possess I for a "hile# then pass a"ay3 =fter thee# "ill not other (in%s assume control# and eat the fruits of the tree of thy hope3> In the estimation of the "ise# the "orld is a false %em that passes each moment from one hand to another&

story o" Da!ascus

$uch famine "as there once in Damascus that lo)ers for%ot their lo)e& $o miserly "as the s(y to"ards the earth that the so"n fields and the date-trees moistened not their lips& Aountains dried up# and no "ater remained *ut the tears of the orphans& If smo(e issued from a chimney# nau%ht "as it *ut the si%hs of the "ido"s& Ci(e *e%%ars# the trees stood leafless# and the mountains lost their )erdure& 'he locusts de)oured the %ardens# and men de)oured the locusts& =t that time came to me a friend on "hose *ones s(in alone remained& I "as astonished# since he "as of lofty ran( and rich& ;4# friend9> $aid I# ;What misfortune has *efallen thee3> ;Where is thy sense3> !e ans"ered& ;$eest thou not that the se)erities of famine ha)e reached their limit3 Fain comes not from the s(y# neither do the lamentations

of the sufferin% reach to hea)en&> ;'hou at least#> I ur%ed# ;hast nau%ht to fear, poison (ills only "here there is no antidote&> Fe%ardin% me "ith indi%nation# as a learned man re%ards a fool# my friend replied# ;=lthou%h a man *e safely on the shore# he stands not supine "hile his friends are dro"nin%& 5y face is not pale throu%h "ant, the sorro"s of the poor ha)e "ounded my heart& =lthou%h# praise *e to =llah# I am free from "ounds# I trem*le "hen I see the "ounds of others&> /itter are the pleasures of him "ho is in health "hen a sic( man is at his side& When the *e%%ar has not eaten# poisonous and *aneful is oneGs food&

7he story o" a bully

= *ully fell do"n a "ell and passed the ni%ht in "ailin% and lamentin%& $ome one thre" a stone do"n on to his head# and said# ;didst thou e)er %o to any oneGs assistance that thou shouldst today cry out for help3 Didst thou e)er so" the seeds of )irtue3 Who "ould place a sal)e upon thy "ounds "hen the hearts of all cry out *y reason of thy tyrannies3 =cross our path thou didst di% a pit# into "hich# perforce# hast thou no" fallen&> If thou do e)il e0pect not %oodness ne)er does the "ithered %rape)ine *rin% forth fruit& 4# thou "ho so"eth the seed in autumn9 I thin( not that thou "ilst reap the corn at har)est time& If thou nourish the thorn-tree of the desert# thin( not that thou "ilts e)er eat its fruit& 8reen dates come not from the poisonous colocynth, "hen thou so"est seed# hope only for the fruit of that )ery seed& 5otes:
5- i&e& =*u /a(r& 6- .oushira)an the 7ust "as the t"entieth (in% of the fourth dynasty of Persian# and contemporary "ith the Foman <mperor 7ustinian& 'he Prophet 5ohammed "as *orn in his rei%n& - = title of the (in% of Persia& It "as ori%inally applied to .oushira)an& 8- Citerally ;sil)er>& 9- Darius 6odamanus "as the last (in% of Persia& !e "a%ed many "ars "ith =le0ander the 8reat# "ho finally defeated him at =r*ela& 'he unfortunate (in% "as after"ards (illed *y /essus# the %o)ernor of /actriana# 331 /6<& 10- 4ne of the (in%s of Persia& !e "as called Ja+al *ecause of the redness of his hair& =rsalan means ;lion>& 11- .ame of a lofty mountain situated in !amadan# north"est of Isfahan&

Chapter % Concerning &ene$olence

If 'hou art "ise# incline to"ards the essential truth# for that remains# "hile the thin%s that are e0ternal pass a"ay& !e "ho has neither (no"led%e# %enerosity# nor piety resem*les a man in form alone& !e sleeps at peace *eneath the %round "ho made tran2uil the hearts of men& 8i)e no" of thy %old and *ounty# for e)entually "ill it pass from thy %rasp& 4pen the door of thy treasure today# for tomorro" the (ey "ill not *e in thy hands& If thou "ould not *e distressed on the Day of 7ud%ment# for%et not them that are distressed& Dri)e not the poor man empty from thy door# lest thou should "ander *efore the doors of stran%ers& !e protects the needy "ho fears that he himself may *ecome needful of the help of others& =rt not thou# too# a supplicant3 /< %rateful# and turn not a"ay them that supplicate thee&

story illustrati$e o" doing good to the e$il

= "oman said to her hus*and# ;Do not a%ain *uy *read from the *a(er in this street& 5a(e thy purchases in the mar(et# for this man sho"s "heat and sells *arley# ?12@ and he has no customers *ut a s"arm of flies&> ;4# li%ht of my life#> the hus*and ans"ered# ;pay no heed to his tric(ery& In the hope of our custom has he settled in this place# and not humane "ould it *e to depri)e him of his profits&> Aollo" the path of the ri%hteous# and# if thou stand upon thy feet# stretch out thy hand to them that are fallen&

story concerning "asting

'he "ife of an officer of a (in% said to her hus*and# ;=rise# and %o to the royal palace# that they may %i)e thee food# for thy children are in "ant&> ;'he (itchen is closed today#> he ans"ered# ;last ni%ht the $ultan resol)ed to fast a"hile&> In the despair of hun%er# the "oman *o"ed her head and murmured# ;What does the $ultan see( from his fastin% "hen his *rea(in% the fast means a festi)al of 1oy for our children3> 4ne "ho eats that %ood may follo" is *etter than a 5ammon "orshipper "ho continually fasts& Proper it is to fast "ith him "ho feeds the needy in the mornin%&

story illustrati$e o" practical charity

= certain man had %enerosity "ithout the means of displayin% it, his pittance "as une2ual to his *ene)olence& H5ay riches ne)er fall to the mean# nor po)erty *e the lot of the %enerous9I& !is charity e0ceedin% the depth of his poc(et# therefore "as he al"ays short of money& 4ne day a poor man "rote to him sayin%# ;4# thou of happy nature9 =ssist me "ith funds# since for some time ha)e I lan%uished in prison&> 'he %enerous man "ould ha)e "illin%ly acceded to the re2uest# *ut he possesses not so much as the smallest piece of money& !e sent someone to the creditors of the prisoner "ith the messa%e# ;Aree this man for a fe" days# and I "ill *e his security&> 'hen did he )isit the prisoner in his cell and say# ;=rise# and fly "ith haste from the city>& When a sparro" sees open the door of its ca%e# it tarries not a moment& Ci(e the mornin% *ree+e# the prisoner fle" from the land& 'hereupon# they sei+ed his *enefactor# sayin%# ;Produce either the man or the money&> Po"erless to do either# he "ent to prison# for a *ird escaped is neGer recau%ht& Con% there did he remain# in)o(in% help from none# nor complainin%# thou%h he slept not at ni%hts throu%h restlessness& = pious man came to him and said# ;I did not thin( that thou "ere dishonest, "hy are thou here imprisoned3> ;.o )illainy ha)e I committed#> he replied& ;I sa" a helpless man in *ounds and his freedom only in my o"n confinement& I did not deem it ri%ht that I should li)e in comfort "hile another "as fettered *y the le%s&> <)entually he died# lea)in% a %ood name *ehind& !appy is he "hose name dies not9 !e "ho sleeps *eneath the earth "ith a heart that li)es is *etter that he "ho li)es "ith a soul that is dead# for the former remains for e)er&

7he story o" the !an and a thirsty dog

In a desert# a man found a do% that "as dyin% from thirst& -sin% his hat as a *uc(et# he fetched "ater from a "ell and %a)e it to the helpless animal& 'he prophet of the time stated that 8od had for%i)en the man his sins *ecause of his (indly act& Feflect# if thou *e a tyrant# and ma(e a profession of *ene)olence& !e "ho sho"s (indness to a do% "ill not do less to"ards the %ood amon% his

fello"s& /e %enerous to the e0tent of thy po"er& If thou hast not du% a "ell in the desert# at least place a lamp in a shrine& ?13@ 6harity distri*uted from an o0Gs s(in that is filled "ith treasure counts for less than a dinar %i)en from the "a%es of toil& <)ery manGs *urden is suited to his stren%th - hea)y to the ant is the foot of the locust& Do %ood to others so that on the morro" 8od may not deal harshly "ith thee& /e lenient "ith thy sla)e# for he may one day *ecome a (in%# li(e a pa"n that *ecomes a 2ueen&

story propos o" 5e!esis

= poor man complained of his distressed condition to one "ho "as rich as "ell as ill-dispositioned& 'he latter refused to help him# and turned rou%hly upon him in an%er& 'he *e%%arGs heart *led *y reason of this )iolence# ;$tran%e9> !e reflected# ;that this rich man should *e of such for*iddin% countenance9 Perhaps he fears not the *itterness of *e%%in%&> 'he rich man ordered his sla)e to dri)e the *e%%ar a"ay& =s a result of his in%ratitude for the *lessin%s that he en1oyed# Aortune forsoo( him# and he lost all that he possessed& !is sla)e passed into the hands of a %enerous man of enli%htened mind# "ho "as as %laddened at the si%ht of a *e%%ar as the latter is at the si%ht of riches& ?14@ 4ne ni%ht a *e%%ar as(ed alms of the latter# and he commanded his sla)e to %i)e the man to eat& When the sla)e in)oluntarily uttered a cry# and "ent *ac( "eepin%& ;Why these tears3> !is master as(ed& ;5y heart is %rie)ed at the pli%ht of this unfortunate old man#> the sla)e replied& ;4nce "as he the o"ner of much "ealth# and I his sla)e&> 'he master smiled and said# ;'his is not cause for %rief# 4# son& 'ime# in its re)olutions# is not un1ust& Was not that indi%ent man formerly a merchant "ho carried his head hi%h in the air throu%h pride3 I am he "hom that day he dro)e from his door& Aate has no" put him in the place that I then occupied& !ea)en *efriended me and "ashed the dust of sorro" from my face& 'hou%h 8od# in !is "isdom# closed one door# another# in !is mercy# did !e open&> 5any a needy one has *ecome filled# and many a Plutos has %one empty&

story o" a "ool and a "o9

$omeone sa" a fo0 that "as *ereft of the use of its le%s& !e "as "onderin% ho" the animal mana%ed to li)e in this condition "hen a ti%er dre" near "ith a 1ac(al in its cla"s& 'he ti%er ate the 1ac(al# and the fo0 finished the remains& 'he ne0t day also did the 4mnipotent Pro)ider send the fo0 its daily meal& 'he eyes of the man "ere thus opened to the li%ht of true (no"led%e& ;=fter this#> he reflected# ;I "ill sit in a corner li(e an ant# for the elephantGs portion is not %ained *y reason of its stren%th&> $o did he sit in silence# "aitin% for his daily food to come from the In)isi*le& .o one heeded him# and soon "as he reduced to s(in and *ones& When# at last# his senses had almost %one throu%h "ea(ness# a )oice came out from the "all of a mos2ue# sayin%: ;8o# 4# false one9 /e the rendin% ti%er and pose not as a paralytic fo0& <0ert thyself li(e the ti%er# so that somethin% may remain from thy spoil& Why# li(e the fo0# appease thy hun%er "ith lea)in%3 <at of the fruits of thine o"n endea)ors, stri)e li(e a man# and relie)e the "ants of the needy&> $ei+e# 4# youth# the hand of the a%ed, fall not thyself# sayin%# ;!old my hand&> In the t"o "ords does he o*tain re"ard "ho does %ood to the people of 8od&

7he story o" a de$out !iser

In the remote re%ions of 'ur(ey# there li)ed a %ood and pious man# "hom I and some fello"-tra)ellers once )isited& !e recei)ed us cordially# and seated us "ith respect& !e had )ineyards# and "heat-fields# sla)es and %old# *ut "as miserly as a leafless tree& !is feelin%s "ere "arm# *ut his fireplace "as cold& !e passed the ni%ht a"a(e in prayer# and "e in hun%er& In the mornin% he %irt his loins and recommenced the same politeness of the pre)ious ni%ht& 4ne of our party "as of merry "it and temper& ;6ome# %i)e us food in chan%e for a (iss#> ?15@ he said# ;for that is *etter to a hun%ry man& In ser)in% me# place not thy hand upon my shoe# *ut %i)e me *read and stri(e thy shoe upon my head&> <0cellence is attained *y %enerosity# not *y )i%ils in the ni%ht& Idle "ords are a hollo" drum, in)ocations "ithout merit are a "ea( support&

7he story o" *ata! 7aei ?16@

!atam 'aei possessed a horse "ho fleetness "as as that of the mornin% *ree+e& 4f this "as the $ultan of 'ur(ey informed& ;Ci(e !atam 'aei#> he "as told# ;none is e2ual in %enerosity, li(e his horse# nothin% is e2ual in speed and %ait& =s a ship in the sea it tra)erses the desert# "hile the ea%le# e0hausted# la%s *ehind&>

;Arom !atam "ill I re2uest that horse# ; the (in% replied& ;If he *e %enerous and %i)e it to me# then shall I (no" that his fame is true, if not# that it is *ut the sound of a hollo" drum&> $o he dispatched a messen%er "ith ten follo"ers to !atam& 'hey ali%hted at the house of the =ra* chief# "ho prepared a feast and (illed a horse> in their honor& 4n the follo"in% day# "hen the messen%er e0plained the o*1ect of his mission# !atam *ecame as one mad "ith %rief& ;Why#> he cried# ;didst thou not %i)e me *efore thy messa%e3 'hat s"ift-paced horse did I roast last ni%ht for thee to eat& .o other means had I to entertain thee, that horse alone stood *y my tent# and I "ould not that my %uests should sleep fastin%&> 'o the men he %a)e money and splendid ro*es# and "hen the ne"s of his %enerosity reached to 'ur(ey# the (in% sho"ered a thousand praises upon his nature&

7he story o" *ata! and the !essenger sent to kill hi!
4ne of the (in%s of Kemen "as reno"ned for his li*erality# yet the name of !atam "as ne)er mentioned in his presence "ithout his fallin% into a ra%e& ;!o" lon%#> he "ould as(# ;"ilt thou spea( of that )ain man# "ho possesses neither a (in%dom# nor po"er# nor "ealth3> 4n one occasion he prepared a royal feast# "hich the people "ere in)ited to attend& $omeone *e%an to spea( of !atam# and another to praise him& <n)ious# the (in% dispatched a man to slay the =ra*ian chief# reflectin%# ;$o lon% as !atam li)es# my name "ill ne)er *ecome famous& 'he messen%er departed# and tra)eled far see(in% for !atam that he mi%ht (ill him& =s he "ent alon% the road a youth came out to meet him& !e "as handsome and "ise# and sho"ed friendliness to"ard the messen%er# "hom he too( to his house to pass the ni%ht& $uch li*erality did he sho"er upon his %uest that the heart of the e)il-minded one "as turned to %oodness& In the mornin% the %enerous youth (issed his hand and said# ;Femain "ith me for a fe" days&> I am una*le to tarry here#> replied the messen%er# ;for ur%ent *usiness is *efore me&> ;If thou "ilt entrust me "ith thy secret#> said the youth# ;to aid the "ill I spare no effort&> ;4# %enerous man9> "as the reply# ;%i)e ear to me# for I (no" that the %enerous are concealers of secrets& Perhaps in this country thou (no"est !atam# "ho is of lofty mind and no*le 2ualities& 'he (in% of Kemen desires his head# thou%h I (no" not "hat enmity has arisen *et"een them& 8rateful shall I *e if thou "ilts direct me to "here he is& 'his hope from thy (indness do I entertain# 4 friend9>

'he youth lau%hed and said# ;I am !atam# see here my head9 $tri(e it from my *ody "ith thy s"ord& I "ould not that harm should *efall thee# or that thou shouldst fall in thy endea)or&> 'hro"in% aside his s"ord# the man fell on the %round and (issed the dust of !atamGs feet& ;If I in1ured a hair on thy *ody#> he cried# ;I should no lon%er *e a man&> $o sayin%# he clasped !atam to his *reast and too( his "ay *ac( to Kemen& ;6ome#> said the (in% as the man approached# ;"hat ne"s hast thou3> Why didst thou not tie his head to thy saddle-straps3 Perhaps that famous one attac(ed thee and thou "ert too "ea( to en%a%e in com*at&> 'he messen%er (issed the %round and said# ;4# "ise and 1ust (in%9 I found !atam# and sa" him to *e %enerous and full of "isdom# and in coura%e superior to myself& 5y *ac( "as *ent *y the *urden of his fa)ors, "ith the s"ord of (indness and *ounty he (illed me&> When he had related all that he had seen of !atamGs %enerosity# the (in% uttered praises upon the family of the =ra* chief and re"arded the messen%er "ith %old&

story illustrati$e o" !isdirected kindness

= certain man# in the ceilin% of "hose house some *ees had *uilt their hi)es# as(ed his "ife for a *utcherGs (nife so that he mi%ht destroy them& ;Do not do so#> the "oman said# ;for "hen the poor creatures "ill *e %reatly distressed "hen turned out of their homes&> =ccordin%ly# the foolish man left the *ees in peace& 4ne day the "oman "as stun% *y one of the insects and stood "ailin% on the doorstep& !earin% her cries the hus*and left his shop and hurried to"ards the house& =n%ered# he said# ;4# "ife9 $ho" not such a *itter face to the "orld, remem*er thou didst say to me# GBill not the poor *ees&G; !o" can one do %ood to the e)il3 Aor*earance "ith the "ic(ed *ut increases their ini2uity& What is a do% that a dish of )iands should *e set *efore him3 6ommand that they should %i)e him *ones& = (ic(in% animal is *est "ell *urdened& If the ni%ht "atchman display humanity# no one sleeps at ni%ht for fear of thie)es& In the *attlefield# the spear shaft is "orth more than a hundred thousand su%arcanes& When thou rearest a cat# she destroys thy pi%eons "hen thou ma(est fat a "olf# he rends one "ho is dear to thee& Faise not a *uildin% that has not a stron% foundation, if thou dost# *e"are&

discourse concerning kindness to orphans

Protect him "hose father is dead, remo)e the dust from his raiment# and in1ure him not& 'hou (no"est not ho" hard is his condition, no folia%e is there on a rootless tree& 8i)e not a (iss to a child of thin o"n in the si%ht of a helpless orphan& If the latter "eep# "ho "ill assua%e his %rief3 If he *e an%ered# "ho "ill *ear his *urden3 $ee that he "eeps not# for the throne of 8od trem*les at the orphanGs lament& With pity# "ipe the tears from his eyes and the dust from his face& If the protectin% shado" of his fatherGs care *e %one# cherish him *eneath the shado" of thy care& -pon my head "as a (in%ly cro"n "hen it reposed upon the *osom of my father& 'hen# if a fly settled upon my *ody# many "ere distressed on my *ehalf& .o"# should I *e ta(en in capti)ity# not one amon% my friends "ould come to aid me& Well# do I (no" the orphanGs sorro"# for my father departed in my childhood& 5otes:
12- i&e&# $ho" one thin% and sells another of inferior 2uantity& 'he e0pression is commonly used to denote a hypocrite& 13- 'o do either is considered an act of )irtue amon% Islamics& 14- /y reason of the opportunity it presented to *esto" his charity& 15- It is impossi*le to con)ey the *eauty of this line in <n%lish& 'he Persian "ords here used to e0press ;food> and ;(iss> are "ritten ali(e# e0cept for one diacritical mar(# and the "ord ;chan%e> literally means ;ma(in% an error in "ritin% and chan%in% the diacritical points&> 16- !atam 'aei "as an =ra*ian chief "ho "as reno"ned for his %enerosity& !e "as *orn in Kemen# in =ra*ia Aeli0# and li)ed some time *efore 5ohammed in the si0th century& 5any le%ends ha)e *een "o)en around his life and character&

Chapter ' Concerning (o$e

!appy are the days of them that are infatuated *y lo)e for !im# "hether they *e sorro"ed *y separation from !im or made 1oyous *y !is presence& 'hey are mendicants "ho fly from "orldly so)erei%nty, in the hope of meetin% !im they are patient in their mendicity& 4ften ha)e they drun( of the "ine of an%uish, *e it *itter# they remain silent& In the remem*rance of !im patience is not *itter# for "orm"ood is s"eet fromthe hand of a friend& 'hey that are capti)e in the coils of !is lo)e# see( not to escape, they suffer reproach# *ut are monarchs in the seclusion of their mendication# and their "ay is not (no"n& 'hey are li(e the temple of 7erusalem# splendid of "hich is the interior# *ut "hose outer "all is left in ruin& Ci(e moths# they *urn themsel)es in the fire of lo)e& 'heir *elo)ed is in their *reasts# yet do they see( !im, thou%h near a fountain# their lips are parched&

7rue (o$e6s De$otion

discourse concerning constancy
'hy lo)e renders thee impatient and distur*ed& With such sincerity has thou placed thy head at her feet that thou art o*li)ious to the "orld& When in the eyes of thy *elo)ed riches count not# %old and dust are as one to thee& 'hou sayest that she d"elleth in thine eyes - if they *e closed# she is in thy mind& If she demands thy life# thou dost place it in her hand, if she places a s"ord upon thy head# thou holdest it for"ard& When earthly lo)e produces such confusion and such o*edience demands# dost thou "onder if tra)elers of the road of 8od remain en%ulfed in the 4cean of Feality3 In the remem*rance of their Ariend they ha)e turned their *ac(s upon the "orld, they are so fascinated *y the 6up-*earer that they ha)e spilled the "ine& .o medicine can cure them# for no one has (no"led%e of their pains& With their cries of lon%in% do they root up a mountain, "ith their si%hs they dismem*er a (in%dom& $uch is their "eepin% at da"n that the tears "ash the sand of sleep from their eyes& .i%ht and day are they immersed in the sea of lo)e, so distracted are they that they (no" not ni%ht from day& $o enamored are they of the *eauty of the Painter that they care not for the *eauty of !is desi%ns& !e drin(s of the pure "ine of -nity "ho is for%etful of *oth this "orld and the ne0t&

7he story o" a dancer

I ha)e heard that# at the sin%in% of a musician# one of the fairy-fach *e%an to dance& $urrounded *y distracted hearts# the flame of a candle cau%ht her s(irt& $he "as distressed and an%ered& 4ne of her lo)ers said# ;Why a%itate thyself3 'he fire has *urned thy s(irts - it ?1 @ has entirely consumed the har)est of my life&>

#od:s ;riendship
story illustrating the reality o" lo$e

4ne "ho lo)ed 8od set his face to"ards the desert& !is father# *ein% %rie)ed at his a*sence# neither ate nor slept& $omeone admonished the son# "ho said# ;$ince my Ariend has claimed me as !is o"n# no other friendship do I o"n& When !e re)ealed to me !is *eauty# all else that I sa" appeared unreal&> 'hey that lo)e !im care for no one else, their senses are confused and their ears are deaf to the "ords of them that reproach& 'hey "ander throu%h the desert of Di)ine Bno"led%e "ithout a cara)an& 'hey ha)e no hope of appro*ation from their fello"-men# for they are the chosen of the elect of 8od&

story illustrati$e o" patience

=n old man *e%%ed at the door of a mos2ue& $omeone said to him# ;'his is not the place to *e%, stand not here "ith impudence&> ;What house is this#> the man in2uired# ;from "hich no pity comes upon the condition of the poor3> ;$ilence9> Was the reply& ;What foolish "ords are these9 'his is the house of our 5aster9> 'he *e%%ar raised a cry# ;=las#> he said# ;that I should *e disappointed at this door& I ha)e not %one hopeless from any street, "hy should I %o thus from the door of 8od3 !ere "ill I stretch forth my hand of "ant# for I (no" that I shall not depart empty-handed&> Aor a year he remained de)outly employed in the mos2ue& 4ne ni%ht# throu%h "ea(ness# his heart *e%an to palpitate# and at day*rea( his last *reath flic(ered li(e a mornin% lamp& 'hus did he e0claim "ith 1oy, ;=nd "hoe)er (noc(ed at the door of the /ounteous 4ne# it opened&> !e "ho see(s 8od should *e patient and endurin%, I ha)e not heard of an alchemist *ein% sad& 5uch %old he reduces to ashes so that he may one day turn copper into %old& 8old is %ood "ith "hich to *uy - and "hat couldst thou "ish to *uy *etter than the face of thy Ariend3 ?18@

7he supplicant6s re"uge

7he story o" one 4ho 4as assiduous in prayer
=n old man spent the ni%ht in "orship and the mornin% in prayer& = %uardian an%el "hispered to him# ;8o# ta(e thy "ay# for thy prayers are not accepta*le at this door&>

'he ne0t ni%ht a%ain he passed the ni%ht in de)otion# and a disciple# *ein% informed of his circumstances said# ;When thou seest that the door is shut# "hy dost thou thus e0ert thyself3> Weepin%# he replied# ;4# my son9 Dost thou suppose that althou%h !e has torn my reins I shall (eep my hands from off his saddle-straps3 When a supplicant is repelled at one door# "hat is his fear if he (no" of another3> While thus he spo(e# "ith his head upon the %round# the an%el uttered this messa%e in his ears# ;=lthou%h there is no merit in him# his prayers are accepted# for e0cept 5e# he has no refu%e&>

7he story o" Sultan Mah!ud and his lo$e "or yaz
$ome one found fault "ith the (in% of 8ha+ani# sayin%# ;=ya+# his fa)orite sla)e# possesses no *eauty& It is stran%e that a ni%htin-%ale should lo)e a rose that has neither color nor perfume&> 'his "as told to 5ahmud# "ho said# ;5y lo)e# 4 sir# is for )irtue# not for form or stature&> I ha)e heard that in a narro" pass a camel fell and a chest of pearls "as *ro(en& 'he (in% %a)e the si%nal for plunder# and ur%ed on his horse "ith speed& 'he horsemen did li(e"ise# and# lea)in% the (in% *ehind# %athered up the pearls& .ot one of them remained near the (in% e0cept =ya+& ;4# thou of curly loc(s9> said 5ahmud# ;What hast thou %ained of the plunder3> ;.othin%#> he replied& ;I "al(ed in haste *ehind thee# I do not occupy myself "ith riches a"ay from thy ser)ice&> If an honora*le place in the court *e thine# *e not ne%lectful of the (in% *ecause of %ain else"here&

*onor6s sacri"ice
7he story o" a $illage chie"
= )illa%e chief passed "ith his son throu%h the center of the imperial army& In the presence of such pomp and splendor the man displayed humility and fled# throu%h fear# into a corner& ;=fter all#> o*ser)ed the son# ;thou art a )illa%e chief# and of hi%her position than the no*les& Why dost thou trem*le li(e a "illo" tree3> ;'rue#> replied the father& I am a chief and a ruler# *ut my honor lies as far as my )illa%e&> 'hus# are the saints o)er"helmed "ith fear "hen they stand in the court of their

Bin%&

7he story o" a "ire"ly

Perhaps thou mayest ha)e seen the firefly shine li(e a lamp in the %arden at ni%ht& ;4# ni%ht-illuminatin% moth9> $omeone said# ;Why comest thou not in the daytime3> 'he firefly %a)e an ans"er full of "isdom# ;/ecause I am not )isi*le *efore the sun&>

(o$e6s sacri"ice
7he story o" a !oth and a candle
$omeone said to a moth# ;8o# thou contempti*le creature# and ma(e friendship "ith one "orthy of thyself& 8o "here thou seest the path of hope& !o" different is thy lo)e from that of the candle9 'hou art not a salamander - ho)er not around the fire# for *ra)ery is necessary *efore com*at& It is not compati*le "ith reason that thou shouldst ac(no"led%e as a friend one "hom thou (no"est to *e thine enemy&> ;What does it matter if I *urn3> 'he moth replied& ;I ha)e lo)e in my heart# and this flame is as a flo"er to me& .ot of my o"n accord do I thro" myself into the fire, the chain of her lo)e is upon my nec(& Who is it that finds fault "ith my friendship of my friend3 I am content to *e slain at her feet& I *urn *ecause she is dear to me# and *ecause my destruction may affect her& $ay not to the helpless man from "hose hands the rein ha)e fallen# GDri)e slo"ly&>

nother story on the sa!e sub<ect

4ne ni%ht# as I lay a"a(e# I heard a moth say to a candle# ;I am thy lo)er, if I *urn# it is proper& Why dost thou "eep3> 'he candle replied# ;4# my friend9 Co)e is not thy *usiness& 'hou fliest from *efore a flame, I stand erect until I am entirely consumed& If the fire of lo)e has *urned thy "in%s# re%ard me# "ho from head to foot must *e destroyed&> /efore the ni%ht had passed# someone put the candle out# e0claimin%# ;$uch is the end of lo)e9> 8rie)e not o)er the %ra)e of one "ho lost his life for his friend, *e %lad of heart# for he "as the chosen of !im& I thou art a lo)er# "ash not thy head of the sic(ness of lo)e, li(e $aadi# "ash thy hands of selfishness& = de)oted lo)er holds not *ac( his hand from the o*1ect of his affections thou%h

arro"s and stones may rain upon his head& /e cautious, if thou %oest do"n to the sea# %i)e thyself up the storm& 5otes:
1 - i&e& 'he fire of lo)e 18- ;8old> refers to ;life#> and ;Ariend> to ;8od&> 'he meanin% is that one should de)ote oneGs life to reli%ion# and thus %ain an entrance to the presence of the Deity&

Chapter ) Concerning *u!ility

'hou# 4 creature of 8od# "ast created of the dust, therefore# *e hum*le as the dust& /e not co)etous# nor oppressi)e# nor headstron%& 'hou art from the dust, *e not li(e fire& When the terri*le fire raised his head in pride# the dust prostrated itself in humility& =nd since the fire "as arro%ant and the dust "as mee(# from the former "ere the demons formed# and from the latter man(ind&

7he story o" a raindrop

= raindrop fell from a sprin% cloud# and# seein% the "ide e0panse of the sea# "as shamed& ;Where the sea is#> it reflected# ;"here am I3 6ompared "ith that# forsooth# I am e0tinct&> While thus re%ardin% itself "ith an eye of contempt# an oyster too( it to its *osom# and Aate so shaped its course that e)entually the raindrop *ecame a famous royal pearl& It "as e0alted# for it "as hum*le& Bnoc(in% at the door of e0tinction# it *ecame e0istent&

*u!ility the path to greatness

story illustrati$e o" pious !en regarding the!sel$es 4ith conte!pt
= sa%acious youth of no*le family landed at a seaport of 'ur(ey# and# as he displayed piety add "isdom# his *a%%a%e "as deposited in a mos2ue& 4ne day the priest said to him# ;$"eep a"ay the dust and ru**ish from the mos2ue&> Immediately# the youn% man "ent a"ay and no one sa" him there a%ain& 'hus# did

the elder and his follo"ers suppose he did not care to ser)e& 'he ne0t day# a ser)ant of the mos2ue met him on the road and said# ;'hou didst act "ron%ly in thy per)erse 1ud%ment& Bno"est thou not# 4 conceited youth# that men are di%nified *y ser)ice3> $orro"fully# the youth *e%an to "eep& ;4 soul-cherishin% and heart-illuminatin% friend9> !e ans"ered# ;I sa" no dirt or ru**ish in that holy place *ut mine o"n corrupt self& 'herefore# I retraced my steps# for a mos2ue is *etter cleansed from such&> !umility is the only ritual for a de)otee& If thou desire %reatness# *e hum*le, no other ladder is there *y "hich to clim*&

Concerning hu!ility
story o" Sultan &ayazid &asta!i ?19@
When /aya+id "as comin% from his *ath one mornin% durin% the <id festi)al# someone un"ittin%ly emptied a tray of ashes from a "indo" upon his head& With his face and tur*an al *espattered# he ru**ed his hands in %ratitude and said# ;I am in truth "orthy of the fires of hell& Why should I *e an%ered *y a fe" ashes3> 'he %reat do not re%ard themsel)es, loo( not for the %odliness in a self-conceited man& <minence does not consist in out"ard sho" and )auntin% "ords# nor di%nity in hauteur and pretension& 4n the Day of 7ud%ment thou "ilt see in Paradise him "ho sou%ht truth and re1ected )ain pretension& !e "ho is headstron% and o*durate falleth headlon%, if thou desire %reatness# a*andon pride&

7he laudable character

Discourse on conceit
<0pect not he "ho is possessed of "orldly )anities to follo" the path of reli%ion# nor loo( for %odliness in him "ho "allo"s in conceit& If thou desire di%nity# do not# li(e the mean# re%ard the fello"s "ith contemptuous eyes& $ee( no position more honora*le than that of *ein% (no"n to the "orld as a man of lauda*le character& 'hou deemest him not %reat "ho# *ein% of e2ual ran(# is hau%hty to"ards thee, "hen thou ma(est a similar display *efore others# dost thou not appear *efore them as the arro%ant appear *efore thee3

If thou are eminent# lau%h not# if thou art "ise# at them that are lo"ly& 5any ha)e fallen from hi%h "hose places ha)e *een ta(en *y the fallen& 'hou%h thou *e free from defect# re)ile not me "ho am full of *lemishes& 4ne holds the chain of the BaG*a temple in his hands, another lies drun(en in the ta)ern& If 8od calls the latter# "ho can dri)e him a"ay& If !e e0pel the former# "ho can *rin% him *ac(3 'he one cannot implore the di)ine help *e reason of his %ood deeds# nor is the door of repentance closed upon the other&

7he story o" the Der$ish and the proud #hazi

= poorly clad doctor of la" and di)inity sat one day in the front ro" of seats in a 8ha+iGs court& 'he 8ha+i %a)e him a sharp loo(# "hereupon the usher too( the man *y the arm and said# ;8et up, dost thou not (no" that the *est place is not for such as thee3 <ither ta(e a lo"er seat# or remain standin%# or lea)e the court alto%ether& /e not so *old as to occupy the seat of the %reat& If thou are hum*le# pose not as a lion& .ot e)ery one is "orthy of the chief seat, honor is proportionate to ran(# and ran( to merit&> !e "ho sits "ith honor in a place lo"er than that of "hich he is "orthy falls not "ith i%nominy from eminence& Aumin% "ith an%er# the doctor mo)ed to a lo"er seat& '"o ad)ocates in the court then entered into a spirited discussion# and fle" at each other "ith their ton%ues li(e fi%htin%-coc(s "ith *ea( and cla"& 'hey "ere in)ol)ed in a complicated (not that neither could unra)el& Arom the last ro" of seats the tattered doctor roared out "ith the )oice of a lion in the forest: ;It is not the )eins of the nec( that should stand out in ar%ument#> he said# ;*ut the proofs# "hich should *e full of meanin%& I# too# ha)e the faculty of ar%ument&> ;$pea( on#> they ans"ered&

7he essentials o" 4orth

With the 2uill of elo2uence that he possessed# the doctor en%ra)ed his "ords upon the minds of his listeners li(e inscriptions on a si%net -rin%, and# dra"in% his pen throu%h the letters of pretension# he in)o(ed applause from e)ery corner& $o hard did he dri)e the steed of speech that the 8ha+i la%%ed *ehind li(e an ass in the mire& Femo)in% his cloa( and tur*an# the latter sent them to the doctor as a to(en of his respect& ;=las9> he said# ;I did not discern thy merit# nor "elcome thee on thy arri)al& I re%ret to see thee in the condition "ith such a stoc( of (no"led%e&> 'he usher then approached the stran%er courteously in order that he mi%ht place the 8ha+iGs tur*an upon his head& /ut the doctor repelled him "ith his hands and ton%ue# sayin%:

;Place not upon my head the fetters of pride# for tomorro" this fifty-yarded tur*an "ould turn my head from those in 1aded %ar*& 'hose "ho called me GlordG and GchiefG "ould then appear insi%nificant in mine eyes& Is pure "ater different "hether it *e contained in a %o*let of %old or an earthen e"er3 = manGs head re2uires *rain and intellect# not an imposin% tur*an li(e thine& = *i% head does not ma(e one "orthy, it is li(e the %ourd# )oid of (ernel& /e not proud *ecause of thy tur*an and *eard# for the one is cotton and the other %rass& 4ne should aim at the de%ree of eminence that is comforta*le "ith oneGs merit& With all this intellect# I "ill not call thee man# thou%h a hundred sla)es "al( *ehind thee& !o" "ell spo(e the shell "hen a %reedy fool pic(ed it out of the mire: G.one "ill *uy me for the smallest price, *e not so insane as to "rap me up in sil(&G = man is not *etter than his fello"s *y reason of his "ealth# for an ass# thou%h co)ered "ith a satin cloth# is still an ass&> In this "ay the cle)er doctor "ashed the rancor from his heart "ith the "ater of "ords& 'hus do those "ho are a%%rie)ed spea( harshly& /e not idle "hen thine enemy has fallen& Dash out his *rains "hen thou art a*le# for delay "ill efface the %rud%e from thy mind& $o o)ercome "as the 8ha+i *y his )ehemence that he e0claimed# ;Lerily# this day is a hard one&> !e *it his fin%ers in ama+ement# and his eyes stared at the doctor li(e the t"o stars near the pole of the lesser *ear& =s for the latter# he "ent a*ruptly out and "as ne)er seen there a%ain& 'hey in the court clamored to (no" "hence such an impertinent fello" had come& =n official "ent in search of him# and ran in all directions# as(in% "hether a man of that description had *een seen& $omeone said# ;We (no" no one in this city so elo2uent as $aadi&> = hundred thousand praises to him "ho said so, see ho" s"eetly he uttered the *itter truth9

Saadi:s elo=uence
7he story o" the honey seller
= man of smilin% countenance sold honey# capti)atin% the hearts of all *y his pleasant manner& !is customers "ere as numerous as flies around the su%ar cane if he had sold poison people "ould ha)e *ou%ht it for honey& = for*iddin% loo(in% man re%arded him "ith en)y# *ein% 1ealous of the "ay his *usiness prospered& 4ne day he paraded the to"n "ith a tray of honey on his head and a sco"l on his face& !e "andered a*out cryin% his "ares# *ut no one e)inced a desire to *uy& =t ni%htfall# ha)in% earned no money# he "ent and sat de1ectedly in a corner# "ith a face as *itter as that of a dinner fearful of retri*ution& 'he "ife of one of his nei%h*ors 1o(in%ly remar(ed# ;!oney is *itter to on of sour temper&> It is "ron% to eat *read at the ta*le of one "hose face is as "rin(led "ith fro"ns as the cloth on "hich it is ser)ed&

4# sir9 =dd not to thine o"n *urdens# for an e)il temper *rin%s disaster in its train& If thou hast not a s"eet ton%ue li(e $aadi# thou hast neither %old nor sil)er&

story illustrating the "orbearance o" good !en

I ha)e heard that a de*ased drun(ard cau%ht a pious man *y the collar& 'he latter recei)ed his *lo"s in silence# and in for*earance lifted not his head& = passer*y remar(ed# ;=rt thou not a man3 It is a pity to *e patient "ith this i%norant fello"&> 'he pious man replied# ;$pea( not thus to me& = foolish drun(ard collars one *y the nec( in the thou%ht that he is fi%htin% "ith a lion, there is not fear that a learned man "ill contend "ith an ine*riated fool&> 'he )irtuous follo" this rule in life - "hen they suffer oppression they display (indness&

Patience under oppression

story illustrating the noble-!indedness !en
= do% *it the le% of a hermit "ith such )iolence that )enom dropped from its teeth# and the poor man could not sleep all ni%ht throu%h pain& !is little dau%hter chided him# sayin%# ;!ast thou not teeth as "ell3> 'he unfortunate parent "ept and then smilin%ly replied# ;Dear child9 =lthou%h I "as stron%er than the do%# I restrained my an%er& $hould I recei)e a s"ord-*lo" on the head# I could not apply my teeth to the le%s of a do%&> 4ne can re)en%e oneself upon the mean# *ut a man cannot act li(e a do%&

7he story o" a kind !aster and his disobedient sla$e

=n eminent man# famous for his many )irtues# possessed a sla)e of e)il disposition# "ho in u%liness of feature surpassed e)ery one in the city& !e closely attended his master at meal times# *ut he "ould not ha)e %i)en a drop of "ater to a dyin% man& .either reproof nor the rod influenced him, the house "as in a constant state of disorder throu%h him& $ometimes# in his *ad temper# "ould he litter the paths "ith thorns and ru**ish, at other times# thro" the chic(ens do"n the "ell& !is unhappy temperament "as "ritten on his face# and ne)er did he perform a tas( successfully& $omeone as(ed his master# ;What is there that thou li(est in this sla)e - his a%reea*le manners# or his s(ill# or *eauty3 $urely# it is not "orth "hile to (eep such an unruly (na)e and *urden thyself "ith such an affliction& I "ill procure for

thee a sla)e of handsome appearance and %ood character& 'a(e this one to the sla)e-mar(et and sell him& If a piece is offered for him# do not refuse it# for he "ould *e dear at that&> 'he %ood-natured man smiled and said# ;4# friend9 =lthou%h the character of my sla)e is certainly *ad# my character is impro)ed *y him# for "hen I ha)e learned to tolerate his manner I shall *e a*le to put up "ith anythin% at the hands of others& It "as not humane to sell him and thus ma(e (no"n his faults& =nd it is *etter to endure his affliction myself than to pass him on to others&> =ccept for thyself "hat thou "ouldst accept for others& If distressed thyself# in)ol)e not thy fello"s& Aor*earance is at first li(e poison# *ut "hen in%rained in the nature it *ecomes li(e honey&

#ood that co!es "ro! e$il

7he story o" Maru" >arkhi ?20@ and the sick tra$eler
.o one follo"s the path of 5aruf Bar(hi "ho does not first *anish the idea of fame from his head& = tra)eler once came to 5arufGs house at the point of death - his life "as 1oined to his *ody *y a sin%le hair& !e passed the ni%ht in "ailin% and lamentation# sleepin% not himself nor permittin% any one else to sleep *y reason of his %roans& !is mind "as distressed and his temper "as )ile, thou%h he died not himself# he (illed many *y his frettin%& $uch "as his restlessness that e)ery one fle" from him& 5aruf Bar(hi alone remained& !e# li(e a *ra)e man# %irt his loins and sat up many ni%hts in attendance at the sic( manGs *edside& /ut one ni%ht 5aruf "as attac(ed *y sleep - ho" lon% can a sleepless man (eep up3 When the in)alid sa" him asleep he *e%an to ra)e# ;6ursed *e thy a*omina*le race&> !e cried# ;What (no"s this %lutton# into0icated "ith sleep# of the helpless man "ho has not closed his eyes3> 5aruf too( no notice of these "ords# *ut one of the "omen of the harem# o)erhearin% them# remar(ed# ;Didst thou not hear "hat that "ailin% *e%%ar said3 'urn him out# and tell him to ta(e his a*use "ith him and die else"here& Bindness and compassion ha)e their occasions# *ut to do %ood to the e)il is e)il, only a fool plants trees in *arren soil& = %rateful do% is *etter than an un%rateful man&> 5aruf lau%hed# ;Dear "oman#> he replied# ;/e not offended at his un%racious "ords& If he ra)es at me throu%h sic(ness# I am not an%ered& When thou art stron% and "ell thyself# *ear %ratefully the *urdens of the "ea(& If thou cherish the tree of (indness# thou "ilt assuredly eat of the fruits of a %ood name&> 'hey attain to di%nity "ho rid themsel)es of arro%ance& !e "ho "orships %randeur is the sla)e of pride, he (no"s not that %reatness

consists in mee(ness&

7he story illustrating the "olly o" the ignoble

=n impudent fello" *e%%ed of a pious man# *ut the latter had no money in his house& 4ther"ise# "ould he ha)e sho"ered %old upon him li(e dust& 'he infamous rascal# therefore# "ent out and *e%an to a*use him in the street& 'he eye of the fault-finder sees no merits& What re%ard has he "ho has acted dishonora*ly for the honor of another3 /ein% informed of his "ords# the pious man smiled and said# ;It is "ell, this man has enumerated only a fe" of my *ad 2ualities - only one out of a hundred that are (no"n to me& 'he e)il that he has supposed in me I (no" for certain that I possess& 4nly one year has he *een ac2uainted "ith me, ho" can he (no" the faults of se)enty years3 .one *ut the 4mniscient (no"s my faults *etter than myself& .e)er ha)e I (no"n one "ho has attri*uted to me so fe" defects& If he *ear "itness a%ainst me in the Day of 7ud%ment# I shall ha)e no fear& If he "ho thin(s ill of me see( to re)eal my faults# tell him to come and ta(e the record from me&> /e hum*le "hen the )eil is torn from off thy character& If a pitcher "ere made of the dust of men# calumnious "ould shatter it "ith stones&

7he story o" one 4ho had a little kno4ledge

= certain man (ne" somethin% of astronomy and his head# in conse2uence# "as filled "ith pride& 7ourneyin% far# he )isited Bushyar# ?21@ their sa%e# "ho turned his eyes from him and "ould teach him nothin%& When the disappointed tra)eler "as on the point of lea)in%# Bushyar addressed him "ith these "ords: ;'hou ima%inest that thou art full of (no"led%e& !o" can a )essel that is full recei)e of more3 Fid thyself of thy pretensions# so that thou mayest *e filled& /ein% full of )anity# thou %oest empty&>

story illustrating the hu!ility o" the pious

$omeone heard the *ar(in% of a do% in the ruined hut of a pious man& Feflectin% upon the stran%eness of the fact# he "ent and searched# *ut found no traces of a do%& In truth# the de)otee alone "as in the house& .ot "ishin% his curiosity to *e re)ealed# the man "as departin%# "hen the o"ner of the house cried out# ;6ome in# "hy standest thou upon the door3 Bno"est thou not# 4 friend# that it "as I "ho *ar(ed3 When I discerned that humility "as accepta*le to 8od# I *anished pride and )anity from my heart# and clamored "ith

*ar(s at the door of 8od# for I sa" none more lo"ly than a do%3> If thou desire to attain to di%nity# let humility *e thy path& /ehold# "hen the de" lies lo" upon the earth# the sun doth raise it to the s(ies&

So"t speech =uenches 4rath

story illustrating the $alue o" so"t 4ords
'he sla)e of a (in% escaped# and thou%h a search "as made# "as not disco)ered& Cater# "hen the fu%iti)e returned# the (in% in an%er# ordered that he should *e put to death& When the e0ecutioner *rou%ht out his scimitar# li(e the ton%ue of a thirsty man# the despondent sla)e cried out: ;4# 8od9> I for%i)e the (in% the sheddin% of my *lood# for I ha)e e)er en1oyed his *ounty and shared in his prosperity& Cet him not suffer for this deed n the Day of 7ud%ment# to the deli%ht of his enemies&> When the (in% heard these "ords his an%er "as appeased# and he appointed the sla)e to *e an officer of the standard& 'he moral of this story is that soft speech acts li(e "ater on the fires of "rath& Do not the soldiers on the *attlefield "ear armor consistin% of a hundred folds of sil(3 4 friend9 /e hum*le "hen thou dealest "ith a fierce foe# for %entleness "ill *lunt the sharpest s"ord&

story illustrating the 4isdo! o" "eigning dea"ness

5any "riters affirm the falsity of the idea that !atam "as deaf& 4ne mornin% this attention "as attracted *y the *u++in% of a fly# "hich had *ecome ensnared in a spiderGs "e*& ;4 thou#> he o*ser)ed# ;Who art fettered *y thine o"n a)arice# *e patient& Where)er there *e a temptin% *ait# huntsmen and snare are close at hand&> 4ne of his disciples remar(ed# ;$tran%e it is that thou couldst hear the *u++in% of a fly that hardly reached our ears& .o lon%er can they call thee deaf&> 'he $hei( replied# ;Deafness is *etter than the hearin% of idle "ords& 'hose that sit "ith me in pri)ate are prone to conceal my faults and parade my )irtues, thus# do they ma(e me )ain& I fei%n deafness that I may *e spared their flattery& When my assumed affliction has *ecome (no"n to them they "ill spea( freely of that "hich is %ood and *ad in me, then# *ein% %rie)ed at the recital of my faults# I shall a*stain from e)il&> 8o# not do"n a "ell *y a rope of praise& /e deaf# li(e !atam# and listen to the "ords of them that slander thee&

5o !alice in a lo$ing heart

story illustrating "orbearance "or the sake o" "riends
= certain man# "hose heart "as as pure as $aadiGs# fell in lo)e& =lthou%h taunted *y his enemies in conse2uence# he sho"ed no an%er& $omeone as(ed him# ;!ast thou no sense of shame3 =rt thou not sensi*le to these indi%nities3 It is a*1ect to e0pose oneself to ridicule# and "ea( to endure patiently the scoffs of enemies& 'o o)erloo( the errors of the i%norant is "ron%# lest it *e said that thou hast neither stren%th nor coura%e&> !o" ele%antly did the distracted lo)er ma(e reply9 !is "ords are "orthy to *e "rit in letters of %old: ;=lone is my heart there d"elleth affection for my lo)ed# thus# it contains no room for malice&>

story o" (o=!an ?22@ 7he Sage

I ha)e heard that Co2man "as of dar( comple0ion and careless of his appearance& $omeone mistoo( him for a sla)e# and employed him in di%%in% trenches at /a%hdad& 'hus# he continued for a year# no one suspectin% "ho he "as& When the truth "as (no"n the master "as afraid# and fell at Co2manGs feet# offerin% e0cuses& 'he sa%e smiled and said# ;4f "hat use are these apolo%ies3 Aor a year my heart has *led throu%h thine oppression& !o" can I for%et that in one hour3 /ut I for%i)e thee# %ood man# for thy %ain has caused to me no loss& 'hou hast *uilt thy house, my "isdom and (no"led%e ha)e increased& I# too# possess a sla)e# and fre2uently set him to arduous la*or& .e)ermore# "hen I remem*er the hardships of my toil# "ill I afflict him&> !e "ho has not suffered at the hands of the stron% %rie)es not at the frailties of the "ea(& If thou *e sorro"ed *y those a*o)e thee# *e not harsh "ith thine inferiors& 5otes:
19- /aya+id /astami "as a cele*rated saint of /ostan# in Persia& !e died in =&D& 1261& 20=*dul 5ahfu+# surnamed 5aruf# "as a cele*rated saint of Bareh# a )illa%e in /a%hdad& !e "as the son of a ifre-"orshipper# and "as *orn =&D& 813 durin% the rei%n of 6aliph 5amnun# a son of the cele*rated !arun-ar-Fashid& 21- =*u-al !asan Bushyar "as a cele*rated astronomer and the tutor of =)icenna& 22- Co2man "as a famous 8ree( philosopher# and is supposed *y some to ha)e *een the author of =esopGs Aa*les&

Chapter +

Concerning ,esignation
!appiness comes from the fa)or of 8od# not from the mi%ht of the po"erful& If the hea)ens *esto" not fortune# *y no )alor can it *e o*tained& 'he ant suffers not *y reason of its "ea(ness, the ti%er eats not *y )irtue of its stren%th& $ince the hand reaches not to the s(ies# accept as ine)ita*le the fortune that it *rin%s& If thy life is destined to *e lon%# no sna(e or s"ord "ill harm thee, "hen the fated day of death arri)es# the antidote "ill (ill thee no less than the poison&

7he story o" a soldier o" 2s"ahan

In Isfahan I had a friend "ho "as "arli(e# spirited# and shre"d& !is hands and da%%er "ere fore)er stained "ith *lood& 'he hearts of his enemies "ere consumed *y fear of him, e)en the ti%ers stood in a"e of him& In *attle he "as li(e a sparro" amon% locusts, in com*at# sparro"s and men "ere ali(e to him& !ad he made an attac( upon Aeridun# he "ould not ha)e %i)en the latter time to dra" his s"ord& .either in *ra)ery nor ma%nanimity had he an e2ual& 'his "arrior formed a li(in% for my company# *ut as I "as not destined to remain in Isfahan# Aate transferred me from Ira2 to $yria# in "hich holy land my stayin% "as a%reea*le& =fter some time the desire for my home attracted me# so I returned to Ira2& 4ne ni%ht# the memory of the sepoy passed throu%h my mind, the salt of his friendship opened the "ounds of my %ratitude# for I had eaten salt from his hand& 'o meet him# I "ent to Isfahan and in2uired as to "here he li)ed& I chanced upon him& !e "ho had *een a youth had *ecome old, his form# once erect as an arro"# had *ecome as a *o"& Ci(e a hoary mountain# his head "as co)ered "ith sno"y hair& 'ime had con2uered him and t"isted the "rist of his *ra)ery& 'he pride of his stren%th had %one, the head of "ea(ness "as upon his (nees& ;4# ti%er-sei+er9> I e0claimed& ;What has made thee decrepit li(e an old fo03>

,esignation to "ate
!e lau%hed and said# ;$ince the day of the *attle of 'artary# I ha)e e0pelled the thou%hts of fi%htin% from my head& 'hen did I see the earth arrayed "ith spears li(e a forest of reeds& I raised li(e smo(e the dust of conflict# *ut "hen Aortune does not fa)or# of "hat a)ail is fury3 I am one "ho# in com*at# could ta(e "ith a spear a rin% from the palm of the hand# *ut as my star did not *efriend me# they encircled me as "ith a rin%& I sei+ed the opportunity of fli%ht# for only a fool

stri)es "ith Aate& !o" could my helmet and cuirass aid me "hen my *ri%ht star fa)ored me not3 When the (ey of )ictory is not in the hand# no one can *rea( open the door of con2uest "ith his arms& ;'he enemy "ere a pac( of leopards# and as stron% as elephants& 'he heads of the heroes "ere encased in iron# as "ere also the hoofs of the horses& We ur%ed on our =ra* steeds li(e a cloud# and "hen the t"o armies encountered each other# thou "ouldst ha)e said they had struc( do"n the s(y to the earth& Arom the rainin% arro"s# that descended li(e hail# the storm of death arose in e)ery corner& .ot one of our troops came out of the *attle# *ut his cuirass "as soa(ed "ith *lood& .ot that our s"ords "ere *lunt - it "as the )en%eance of stars of ill fortune& 4)erpo"ered# "e surrendered# li(e a fish "hich# thou%h protected *y scales# is cau%ht *y the hoo( in the *ait& $ince Aortune a)erted her face# useless "as our shield a%ainst the arro"s of Aate&>

7he story o" the doctor and the $illager

4ne ni%ht a )illa%er could not sleep o"in% to a pain in his side& = doctor said# ;'his pain is caused *y his ha)in% eaten the lea)es of the )ine& I shall *e astonished if he lasts throu%h the ni%ht# for the arro"s of a 'artar in his *reast "ere *etter for him than the eatin% of such indi%esti*le food&> 'hat ni%ht the doctor died& Aorty years ha)e since passed and the )illa%er yet li)es&

7he story o" the $illager and his ass

'he ass of a )illa%er died# so he set the head upon a )ine in his %arden in order that it mi%ht "ard off the <)il <ye& = sa%e old man passed *y and lau%hin%ly remar(ed# ;Dost thin(# 4 friend# this "ill effect the purpose3 In life# the ass could not protect itself from *lo"s, so# in "ea(ness# did it die&> What (no"s the physician of the condition of the sic(# "hen# helpless# he himself "ill die throu%h illness3

Predestination o" "ortune

story illustrating luck
= poor man dropped a dinar in the road& !e searched much# *ut at last# despairin%# a*andoned the attempt& $omeone came alon% and found the coin *y chance& 8ood and ill fortunes are predestined& 4ur daily portion depends not upon our

stren%th and efforts# for those "ho are stron%est and stri)e the most stand often in the direst need&

story o" one 4ho bla!ed his destiny

'here "as once a rich and prosperous man named /a(htyar& 'he "ife of one of his nei%h*ors# "ho "as in the other e0treme of po)erty# up*raided her hus*and one ni%ht "hen he "ent to her empty-handed# sayin%# ;.o one is so poor and unfortunate as thee& 'a(e a lesson from thy nei%h*ors# "ho are "ell to-do& Why art thou not fortunate li(e them3> 'he man replied# ;I am incapa*le of au%ht, 2uarrel not "ith Aate& I ha)e not *een endo"ed "ith the po"er to ma(e myself a /a(htyar&> ?23@

7he story o" a Der$ish and his 4i"e

= der)ish remar(ed to his "ife# "ho "as of ill-fa)ored countenance# ;$ince Aate has made thee u%ly# do not encrust thy face "ith cosmetics&> Who can attain %ood fortune *y force9 Who# "ith collyrium# can ma(e the *lind to see3 .ot one amon% the philosophers of 8reece or Fome could produce honey from the thorn& Wild *easts cannot *ecome men, education is "asted upon them& = mirror can *e freed from stain# *ut it cannot *e made from a stone& Foses do not *lossom on the *ranches of the "illo", hot *aths ne)er yet made an <thiopian "hite& $ince one cannot escape the arro"s of Aate# resi%nation is the only shield&

;ate blinds the eyes

7he story o" a $ulture and a kite
= )ulture said to a (ite# ;.o one can see so far as I&> ;Possi*ly#> replied the (ite# ;*ut "hat canst thou see across the desert3> 8a+in% do"n# the )ulture e0claimed# ;Konder do I see a %rain or "heat&> 'hereupon# they fle" to the %round& When the )ulture settled upon the "heat he *ecame cau%ht in a trap& !e had not (no"n that# throu%h his eatin% the %rain# Aate "ould ensnare him *y the nec(& .ot e)ery oyster contains a pearl# not e)ery archer hits the tar%et& ;4f "hat use#> the (ite in2uired# ;"as it to see the %rain "hen thou couldst not discern the trap of thine enemy3> ;6aution#> said the capti)e )ulture# ;a)aileth not "ith Destiny&>

When the decrees of past eternity are *rou%ht to action# the (eenest eyes are rendered *lind *y Aate& In the ocean# "here no shoreline appears# the s"immer stri)es in )ain&

story o" a ca!el

= youn% camel said to its mother# ;=fter thou hast made a 1ourney# rest a"hile&> ;If the *ridle "ere in my hands#> "as the reply# ;no one "ould e)er see me in the strin% of camels "ith a load upon my *ac(&> Aate is the helmsman of the ship of life# no matter thou%h the o"ner rend his clothes& 4# $aadi9 Coo( not for aid from any man& 8od is the %i)er# and !e alone& If thou "orship !im# the door of !is mercy sufficeth thee if !e dri)e thee a"ay# no one "ill ease thee& If !e ma(e thee to "ear a cro"n# raise thy head, if not# *o" thy head in despair&

Specious piety
discourse concerning hypocrisy
Who (no"s that thou art not pled%ed to 8od e)en thou%h thou standest in prayer "ithout a*lution3 'hat prayer is the (ey to hell "hich thou performest only *efore the eyes of men& If the hi%h-road of thy life lead to au%ht *ut 8od# thy prayer mat "ill *e thro"n into the fire& !e "hose heart is %ood and ma(es no out"ard sho" of piety is *etter than one of out"ard sanctity "hose heart is false& = ni%ht-pro"lin% ro**er is *etter than a sinner in the tunic of a saint& <0pect not "a%es from 4mar# 4 son# "hen thou "or(est in the house of Eaid& If in pri)ate I am *ad and mean# of "hat a)ail is it to pose *efore the "orld "ith honor3 !o" much "ill the *a% of hypocrisy "ei%h in the $cales of 7ustice3 'he outside of the hypocriteGs coat is neater than the linin%# for the one is seen and the other is hidden& 5otes:
23- /a(htyar literally means fortunate the play on the "ord is# therefore# o*)ious&

Chapter -

Concerning Content!ent
!e (no"s not 8od nor performs !is "orship "ho is not contented "ith his lot& 6ontentment ma(eth a man rich - tell this to the a)aricious& 4 irresolute one9 /e tran2uil# for %rass %ro"s not upon re)ol)in% stones& Pamper not thy *ody if thou *e a man of sense# for in so doin% dost thou see( thine o"n destruction& 'he "ise ac2uire )irtue# and they that pamper their *odies are de)oid of merit& <atin% and sleepin% is the creed of animals, to adopt it is the manner of fools& !appy is that fortunate "ho# in meditation# prepares for the last 1ourney *y means of the (no"led%e of 8od& 'o him "ho (no"s not the dar(ness from the li%ht# the face of a demon is as that of a !ouri& ?24@ !o" can the falcon fly to the s(y "hen the stone of a)arice is tied to its "in%3 If thou pay less attention to thy food than to "orship thou mayest *ecome an an%el& Airst# culti)ate the 2ualities of a man# then reflect upon the character of an%els& <at in proportion to thy hun%er, ho" can he %i)e praises "hom scarce can *reathe *y reason of his %luttony3 !e "hose stomach is full is )oid of "isdom& 'he prey is entrapped in the snare *ecause of its %reed&

7he snares o" a$arice

7he story o" the >ing >ha4raz! ?25@
= co)etous man paid an early mornin% )isit to the (in% of Bh"ara+m# and t"ice prostrated himself to the %round *efore him& ;'ell me# 4 father#> his son in2uired# ;didst thou not say that 5ecca "as thy place of "orship3 Why didst thou today repeat thy prayers *efore the (in%3> 6ontentment e0alteth the head, that "hich is full of a)arice comes no hi%her than the shoulder& !e "ho has "rapped up the )olume of his a)arice needs not to "rite to anyone# ;I am thy sla)e and ser)ant&> /y *e%%in% "ilt thou *e dri)en from e)ery assem*ly, dri)e it from thyself# so that no one may dri)e thee a"ay&

Concerning the e$il o" o$er-eating

$ome said to a pious man "ho "as stric(en "ith fe)er# ;=s( for some conser)e of roses from such a one&> ;4# friend9> !e replied# ;It "ere *etter to die in *itterness than to endure the affliction of his sour face&> = "ise man does not eat conser)e of roses from the hand of one "hose face has *een soured *y pride& Pursue not that "hich thy heart desires# for the pamperin% of the *ody destroys the fires of life& 'he %luttonous man *ears the "ei%ht of his corpulence, if he o*tains not food# he *ears the "ei%ht of %rief& It is *etter that the stomach should *e empty than the mind&

7he end o" gluttony

story o" a glutton
In company "ith some reli%ious mendicants I entered a date-%ro)e in /asra& 4ne of the party "as a %lutton& !e# ha)in% %irt his loins# clim*ed up a tree# and fallin% headlon%# died& 'he headsman of the )illa%e as(ed# ;Who (illed this man3> ;8o softly# friend#> I ans"ered# ;he fell from a *ranch - Gt"as the "ei%ht of his stomach&>

story o" a recluse

'he =mir of 'artary presented a sil(en ro*e to an elderly recluse# "ho# puttin% it on# (issed the hand of the messen%er# and said# ;= thousand praises to the (in%9 <0cellent is this splendid ro*e# *ut I prefer my o"n patched ha*it&> If thou hast relin2uished the "orld# sleep upon the *are %round - (iss it not *efore any one for the sa(e of a costly carpet&

story illustrating the e$il o" a$arice

'o a poor man "ho had nau%ht to eat *ut *read and onions# a foolish man remar(ed# ;8o# "retched man# and *rin% some coo(ed meat from the pu*lic feast& =s( *oldly and *e not afraid of anyone# for he "ho is modest must %o "ithout his share&> =ctin% on this ad)ice# the *e%%ar put on his cloa( and started off& 'he ser)ants of the feast tore off his clothes and *ro(e his arm&

Weepin%# he cried# ;4# my soul9 What remedy is there for oneGs o"n actions3 4ne sei+ed *y a)arice *ecomes the see(er of his o"n misfortunes& =fter this# the *read and onions are %ood enou%h for me&> = *arley loaf procured *y the e0ertions of oneGs o"n arm is *etter than a loaf of flour from the ta*le of the li*eral&>

7he story o" an a!bitious cat

= cat "ho li)ed in the house of an old "oman of hum*le circumstances "andered to the palace of a no*le# "hose sla)es repulsed the animal "ith arro"s& /leedin% from many "ounds# the cat ran off in terror# thus reflectin%# ;$ince I ha)e escaped from the hands of those sla)es# the mice in the ruined hut of the old "oman are %ood enou%h for me&> !oney is not "orth the price of a stin%, *etter it is to *e content "ith the syrup of dates than e0pose oneself to that& 8od is not pleased "ith him "ho is not contented "ith his lot&

Contentedness 4ith one6s lot

7he story o" a short-sighted !an and his high-!inded 4i"e
= certain child ha)in% cut its teeth# the father *ent his head in an0ious thou%ht and said# ;!o" can I o*tain the *read and food of "hich the child "ill no" ha)e need3> ;/e not alarmed#> his "ife replied# ;for until our child shall die# !e "ho %a)eth him teeth "ill send him *read& = rich man pro)ides for his sla)e, "hy should not !e "ho created the sla)e do li(e"ise3 'hou has not the trust in 8od that the purchased sla)e reposes in his master&> I ha)e heard that in olden times stones *ecame sil)er in the hands of saints& 'hin( not that this is contrary to reason - "hen thou hast *ecome contented# sil)er and stones "ill *e as one to thee& $ay to the de)otee "ho "orships (in%s that a (in% is poorer than a der)ish& = dinar satisfies a *e%%ar, Aeridoun "as *ut half content "ith the "hole of the (in%dom of Persia& = *e%%ar free from care is *etter off than a trou*led (in%& 'he )illa%er and his "ife sleep more happily than the (in% e)er did in his palace& 'hou%h one *e a (in% and the other a cotton-carder# "hen they sleep in death the ni%ht of *oth *ecomes day& When thou seest a rich man filled "ith pride# %o and %i)e than(s# 4 thou "ho art poor# that thou# praise *e to 8od9 hast not the po"er to inflict in1ury upon anyone&>

story o" a holy !an 4ho built a house

= holy man *uilt a house as hi%h as is o"n stature& $omeone said to him# ;I (no" thee a*le to erect a *etter house than this&> ;<nou%h#> he cried# ;"hat need ha)e I of a lofty roof3 'his that I ha)e *uilt is hi%h enou%h for a d"ellin% "hich I must lea)e at death&> $et not thy house in the path of a flood# ?26@ 4 sla)e# for ne)er "ill it *e perfected&

Sa"ety in retire!ent
Story o" a sheikh 4ho beca!e king
= certain (in% died# and# ha)in% no heir# *e2ueathed the throne to a )ulnera*le shei(h& When the recluse heard the roar the drums of empire# he desired no lon%er the corner of seclusion& !e leads the army to left and ri%ht# and *ecame so stron% and )aliant that he filled the hearts of the *ra)e "ith fear& =fter he had slain a num*er of his enemies some others com*ined to%ether a%ainst him and reduced him to such straits in his fortified to"n that he sent a messa%e to a pious man# sayin%# ;=id me "ith thy prayers# for the s"ord and arro" do not a)ail&> 'he de)otee lau%hed and said# ;Why did he not content himself "ith half a loaf and his )i%ils3 Did not the "ealth-"orshippin% Borach ?2 @ (no" that the treasure of safety lies in the corner of retirement3>

Discourse concerning riches

'he %enerous man may attain to perfection althou%h he possesses not %old& Dost thin( that if a mean man *ecame a Borach his sordid nature "ould *e chan%ed3 If he "ho trades in li*erality o*tains not *read# his nature remains yet rich& 8enerosity is the soil# and riches the seed that is so"n, %i)e# that the root may not *e destitute of a *ranch& <0ert not thyself in the amassin% of "ealth# for e)il is the smell of sta%nant "ater, stri)e rather# to *e %enerous# for runnin% "ater *ecomes a flood& 'he miser "ho falls from position and "ealth# *ut seldom stands a second time upon his feet& If thou *e a precious 1e"el# ?28@ %rie)e not# for 'ime "ill not pass thee *y, it is the *ric(*at *y the "ayside that %oes unheeded& $ha)in%s of %old that fall from the scissors are searched for "ith a candle&

5otes:
24- ;Dar(ness> and ;li%ht> are used metaphorically in the sense of ;falseness> and ;truth&> 25Bha"ara+m is situated to the east of the 6aspian $ea# near the mouth of the 40us& 26- I&e& in this transient and fleetin% "orld& 2 - Borach# the cousin of 5oses and the pro)er*ial miser of the <asterns& 28- I&e& if you possess merit&

Chapter .

Concerning /ducation
'hose "ho turn the reins of their desires from unla"ful thin%s ha)e surpassed Fostam ?29@ and $am ?30@ in )alor& .one is so fearful of the enemy as thou# sla)e of thine o"n passions& 'he earthly *ody is a city# containin% *oth %ood and e)il, thou art the Bin% and Feason is thy "ise minister& In this city# the headstron% men pursue their trades of a)arice and %reed, Fesi%nation and 'emperance are the citi+ens of fame and )irtue, Cust and Wantonness the thie)es and pic(-poc(ets& When the (in% sho"s fa)or to the "ic(ed# ho" can the "ise remain in peace3 'he passions of e)il# en)y# and hatred are inherent in thee as is the *lood of thy )eins& If these thine enemies %ained in stren%th they "ould turn their heads from thy rule and counsel, no resistance do they offer "hen they see the mailed fist of Feason& .i%ht-thie)es and )a%a*onds "ander not in the places "here the patrols %uard& 'he chief "ho punishes not his enemy is *ereft of po"er *y the stren%th of the latter& 5ore on this point I "ill not spea( - a "ord suffices to him "ho puts into practice "hat he reads&

7he 4isdo! o" silence

Discourse concerning the e9cellence o" taciturnity
/e silent# 4 thou "ho (no"est many thin%s9 Aor he that spea(eth little "ill *e free from reproach on the Day of 7ud%ment& 'he man of many "ords is deaf, no counsel does he heed li(e silence& When thou desirest continually to spea( thou findest no s"eetness in the speech of others& 'hose "ho reflect upon ri%ht and "ron% are *etter than triflers "ith ready ans"ers&

!e that spea(s little thou dost ne)er see ashamed, a %rain of mus( is *etter than a heap of mud& /e"are of the fool "hose )olume of "ords is as that of ten men - a hundred arro"s shot and each one "ide of the tar%et& If thou art "ise# shoot one# and that one strai%ht& -tter not slander *efore a "all - oft may it happen that *ehind are listenin% ears& <nclose thy secrets "ithin the city "alls of thy mind# and *e"are that none may find the %ates of thy city open& = "ise man se"s up his mouth: the candle is *urned *y means of its "ic(&

story concerning the keeping o" secrets

'a(ash# (in% of Persia# imparted a secret to his sla)es# addin%# ;'ell it not to anyone&> Aor a year they (ept secret in their hearts, in one day it *ecame diffused throu%hout the "orld& 'he (in% ordered the sla)es to *e e0ecuted& 4ne amon% them *e%%ed for mercy# sayin%: ;Bill not thy sla)es# for the fault "as thine& 'hou didst not dam up that secret "hen it "as a sprin%: "hy see( to arrest its course no" that it has *ecome a flood3 <ntrust 1e"els to treasurers# *ut *e the (eeper of thine o"n secrets& 'hou hast the po"er until the "ord *e spo(en, then# does it %ain mastery o)er thee& $peech is a demon confined in the "ell of the mind, lea)e it not free on thy palate and ton%ue& When the %enii has escaped from the ca%e# no strata%em "ill *rin% him *ac(&

2dle talkers ? a co!parison

story illustrating the "act that silence is best "or "ools
'here "as once in <%ypt a reli%ious mendicant "ho ne)er opened his mouth in speech& Wise men assem*led around him from far and near# li(e moths around a candle& 4ne ni%ht# he reflected: ;5erit is concealed *eneath a silent ton%ue& If I remain thus silent# ho" "ill men (no" that I am learned3> 'herefore he indul%ed in speech# and his friends and enemies ali(e found him to *e the most i%norant man in <%ypt& !is follo"ers dispersed and his %lory )anished& $o he "ent on a 1ourney and "rote on the "all of a mos2ue: ;!ad I *ut seen myself in the mirror of understandin% I should not imprudently ha)e torn the )eil from off my mind& =lthou%h deformed# I e0posed my fi%ure in the thou%ht

that I "as handsome3> = little-tal(er has a hi%h reputation& $ilence is di%nity# and the concealer of *lemishes& <0press not in haste the thou%hts of thy mind# for thou canst re)eal them "hen thou "ilt& 'he *easts are silent# and men are endo"ed "ith speech - idle-tal(ers are "orse than the *ests&

story illustrating the "olly o" i!pertinence

In the course of a dispute someone uttered improper "ords and "as# in conse2uence# sei+ed and nearly throttled& ;4 thou conceited fello"9> $aid an e0perienced man# ;If thy mouth had *een closed li(e a *ud# thou "ouldst not ha)e seen thy s(irt torn li(e a flo"er&> Dost thou not see that fire is nothin% *ut a flame# "hich at any moment can *e 2uenched "ith "ater3 If a man possesses merit# the merit spea(s for itself# not the o"ner of the merit& If thou hast not the purest mus(# claim not to possess it, if thou hast# it ma(es itself (no"n *y its perfume&

Discourse on slander
$pea( no e)il concernin% the %ood or the "ic(ed# for thus thou "ron%est the former and ma(est an enemy of the latter& Bno" that he "ho defames another re)ealeth his o"n faults& If thou spea( e)il of anyone# thou art sinful# e)en thou%h "hat thou sayest *e true&

story concerning the sa!e sub<ect

'o one "ho stretched his ton%ue in slander# a "ise man said: ;$pea( not e)il of any one *efore me# so that I may not thin( ill of thee& =lthou%h his di%nity is lo"ered# thine o"n honor is not increased there*y&>

Slander leads to perdition

@hy thie$ing is better than slandering
$omeone said: ;'hie)in% is *etter than *ac(-*itin%&> I replied: ;'hat is stran%e to me& What %ood seest thou in thie)in% that thou %i)est it preference to slander3>

;'hie)es#> he e0plained# ;li)e *y )irtue of their stren%th and darin%& 'he slanderer sins and reaps nothin%&>

Saadi and his en$ious class-"riend

= fello"-student at .i+amiah displayed male)olence to"ards me# and I informed my tutor# sayin%: ;Whene)er I %i)e more proper ans"ers than he the en)ious fello" *ecomes offended&> 'he professor replied: ;'he en)y of they friend is not a%reea*le to thee# *ut I (no" not "ho told thee that *ac(-*itin% "as commenda*le& If he see(s perdition throu%h the path of en)y# thou "ilt 1oin him *y the path of slander&>

story o" Saadi6s childhood

When a child# una*le to distin%uish *et"een ri%ht and "ron%# I once resol)ed to fast# and a certain de)out man thus tau%ht me to perform my a*lutions and de)otions: ;Airst#> he said# ;repeat the name of 8od# accordin% to the la" of the Prophet& $econdly# ma(e a )o"& 'hirdly# "ash the palms of the hands& 'hen "ash thy nose and mouth three times and ru* thy front teeth "ith thy forefin%er# for a tooth*rush is for*idden "hen fastin%& =fter that# thro" three handfuls of "ater upon thy face, then "ash thy hands and arms up to the el*o"s and repeat thy prayers *y the tellin% of *eads and the recital of the attri*utes and praises of 8od& Castly# "ipe a%ain thy head and "ash thy feet - thus end in the name of 8od&> ;.o one#> added the old man# ;(no"in% the form of a*lution *etter than myself& Dost thou not see that the elder of the )illa%e has *ecome decrepit3> !earin% these "ords# the elder cried: ;4 impious "retch9 Didst thou not say that the use of a tooth-*rush "as unla"ful in fastin%3 I suppose# then# that slander is la"ful3 /efore thou settest a*out a fast# "ash first thy mouth of improper "ords&> ;Evil-Speaking

7he story o" a su"i6s rebuke

$ome $ufis "ere sittin% to%ether in pri)ate# "hen one of them opened his mouth in slander& ;Didst thou e)er ma(e a crusade in <urope3> he "as as(ed& ;.e)er ha)e I met so unfortunate a man#> o*ser)ed the 2uestioner& ;'he infidel remains safe from his enmity# yet a 5oslem escapes not the )iolence of his ton%ue&>

Concerning absent "riends

In relation to an a*sent friend# t"o thin%s are unla"ful& 'he first is to s2uander his possession, the second# to spea( e)il of his name& Coo( not for %ood "ords from him "ho mentions the names of men "ith scorn# for *ehind thy *ac( he says those thin%s "hich he said to thee of others& !e only is "ise "ho concerns himself "ith his o"n affairs and is I in indifferent to the "orld&

@here slander is la4"ul

Three persons only is it permissible to slander. The first is a tyrannical king who oppresses his subjects; it is lawful to speak of his misdeeds so that people may beware of him. The second is he who is shameless; deem it not a sin to speak ill of such a one for by his own actions are his faults revealed. The third is he that gives false weight and is a cheat; say what thou knowest of his evil ways.

7ale-bearers 4orse than back-bitters

$omeone said to a pious man# ;Bno"est thou "hat such a one said concernin% thee3> ;$ilence9> !e replied# it is *est not to (no" "hat an enemy said& 'hose "ho carry the "ords of an enemy are assuredly "orse than the enemy himself& 4nly they con)ey the speech of an enemy to a friend "ho are in a%reement "ith the enemy& 'hou art "orse than an enemy# for thou re)ealest "hat he said in pri)ate&> = tale-*earer ma(es an old strife no", fly as far as thou art a*le from one "ho stirs up a dormant 2uarrel& 'o *e tied *y the feet in a %loomy pit is *etter than to carry mischief from place to place& = 2uarrel is li(e a fire that the tale-*earer feeds "ith fuel&

2ll-"ate o" tale-bearers

;eridoun ?31@ and his $izier
Aeridun had a )i+ier "ho "as discernin% and of enli%htened mind& $ome one "ent to the (in% one day and said# ;'he )i+ier is thy secret enemy& 'here is not a person in the (in%dom to "hom he has not lent out %old and sil)er on the condition that at thy death the loans shall *e repaid& Fe%ardin% the )i+ier "ith threatenin% mien# the (in% e0claimed# ;'hou appearest *efore me in the %uise of a friend, "hy art thou my enemy at heart3> 'he )i+ier (issed the %round as he replied# ;I desire# 4 reno"ned (in%# that all the people should *e thy "ell-"ishers& $ince at thy death they must repay me# they

"ill pray for thy lon% life from fear of me&> =ppro)in% of this e0planation# the (in% increased the di%nities of the )i+ier# "hile no one "as more ill-fated and chan%ed in fortune than the tale-*earer& It is not compati*le "ith reason to (indle *et"een t"o men the fire of strife and *urn oneself in the flames&

Discourse concerning 4i$es

'hat poor man is a (in% "hose "ife is o*edient and chaste& 8rie)e not o)er the trou*les of the day "hen at ni%ht the dispeller of thy sorro"s is *y thy side& !e has o*tained his heartGs desire "hose *elo)ed is of the same mind as himself& If a "oman *e pure and of (indly speech# re%ard neither her *eauty nor her homeliness& = "oman of %ood nature is more to *e desired than one of *eauty# for amia*ility conceals a multitude of fla"s& /e"are the ill-tempered fairy& 5ay hea)en %rant protection from a *ad "oman9 Prison is prefera*le to a house full of fro"ns, tra)elin% is a 1oy to him "hose house contains a "oman of u%ly mind& 6lose the door of happiness upon that house "hence the "omanGs )oice comes louder than her hus*andGs& 'o "al( *are-footed is *etter than to "ear ti%ht shoes, the hardships of a 1ourney are *etter than discord at home&

Do!estic happiness
Discourse on the training o" sons
If thou desire that thy name should remain# train thy son in (no"led%e and "isdom# for if he possesses not these thou diest o*scure# "ith no one to commemorate thy name& 'each him a handicraft# thou%h thou *e as rich as Borach& Place no hope in the po"er that thou hast - riches may %o from thee& = *a% of sil)er and %old is emptied, the purse of an artisan remains filled& Dost thou not (no" ho" $aadi attained to ran(3 !e 1ourneyed not o)er the plains# nor crossed the seas& In his youth he ser)ed under the yo(e of the learned: 8od %rant him distinction in after-life& It is not lon% *efore he "ho ser)ed o*tains command& = *oy "ho suffers not at the hands of his teacher suffers at the hands of 'ime& 5a(e thy son %ood and independent# so that he may not *e *eholden to any man&

Protect him from e)il associates and pity him not if he *rin%s ruin and destruction upon himself# for it is *etter that a )icious son should die *efore his father&

Saadi rebuked "or his "ault-"inding

'here "as a certain youn% preacher "ho "as learned and intelli%ent# a man of sanctity and a true "orshipper& !e "as forci*le in elo2uence and correct in %rammar# *ut his articulation "as so faulty that he could not properly repeat the letters of the alpha*et& I said to a holy man# ;'he youth has not %ot his front teeth9> ;$pea( not thus#> he replied& ;'hou hast discerned his fault# *ut thine eyes are closed to his many )irtues& 'horns and roses %ro" to%ether, "hy re%ardest thou only the thorns3 !e "ho is of *ad nature sees nothin% in the peacoc( *ut its u%ly feet&> <0pose not the faults of others# for there*y art thou for%etful of thine o"n failin%s& Whether I *e %ood or e)il# (eep thou silent# for I am the *earer of my o"n profit and loss# and 8od is *etter ac2uainted "ith my character than thou& I see( no re"ard from the for my )irtues so that I may not *e afflicted *y thee *y reason of my sins& Aor e)ery %ood act 8od "ill *esto"# not one# *ut ten re"ards& If thou see one )irtue in a man# do thou pass o)er the ten faults that he hath& =re not all thin%s created the product of the art of 8od3 -*lac( they are and "hite# handsome and deformed& .ot e)ery eye and eye*ro" that thou seest is %ood: eat the (ernel the nut and thro" the hus( a"ay& 5otes:
29- = famous hero, the !ercules of the Persians& 30- 'he %randfather of Fostam# and li(e him# a cele*rated hero& 31- Aeridoun "as the se)enth (in% of Persia# his rei%n commencin% a*out 50 /6< !e "as the *oast of the Persians and a model of e)ery )irtue&

Chapter 0 Concerning #ratitude

I cannot %i)e than(s to that Ariend# for I (no" of none that are "orthy& <)ery hair of my *ody is a %ift from !im, ho" could I than( !im for e)ery hair3 Praise *e to the )ery %enerous Cord# Who from non-e0istence *rou%ht !is creatures into *ein%& Who can descri*e !is %oodness3 =ll praises are encompassed *y !is %lory&

$ee ho" from childhood to old a%e he has endo"ed thee "ith a splendid ro*e9 !e made thee pure, therefore# *e pure - un"orthy it is to die impure *y sin& Cet not the dust remain upon the mirror# for once %ro"n dull it ne)er a%ain "ill polish& When thou dosts see( to %ain the means of life# rely not upon the stren%th of thine o"n arms& 4 self "orshipper9 Why loo(est thou not to 8od# Who %i)eth po"er to thy hand3 If *y thy stri)in% thou dost au%ht of %ood# ta(e not the credit to thyself, (no" it to *e *y the %race of 8od& 'hou standest not *y thine o"n stren%th - from the In)isi*le art thou sustained each moment&

;inal a""ection
!other6s 4arning to her son
$orro"ed at the conduct of her son# "ho %a)e no ear to her ad)ice# a "oman *rou%ht to him the cradle in "hich he once slept and said# ;4 "ea( in lo)e and for%etful of the past9 Wast thou not a "eepin% and helpless child# for "hom throu%h many ni%hts I sacrificed my sleep3 'hou hadst not then the stren%th thou hast today, thou couldst not "ard the flies from thy *ody& = tiny insect %a)e thee pain, today thou e0celelst amidst the stron%& In the %ra)e "ilt thou a%ain *e thus# una*le to repelthe onslau%hts of an ant& !o" # "hen the %ra)e "orms eat the marro" of thy *rain# "ilt thou reli%ht the Camp of Intellect3 'hou art as a *lind man "ho seeth not the "ay# and (no"eth not that a "ell lies in his path& If thou *e %rateful for thy si%ht# Gtis "ell, if not# then surely art thou *lind& 'hy tutor %a)e thee not the po"er of "isdom, *y 8od "as it implanted in thy nature& !ad !e "ithheld this %ift from thee# truth "ould ha)e appeared to thee as falsehood&>

Discourse concerning the art o" the !ost high #od

Aor thee is set the *ri%ht moon in the s(y *y ni%ht# the "orld-illuminatin% sun *y day& Ci(e a cham*erlain# the hea)ens spread for thee the carpet of the $prin%& 'he "ind and sno"# the clouds and rain# the roarin% thunder and the li%htnin% %litterin% as a s"ord - all are !is a%ents# o*edient to !is "ord# nourishin% the seed that thou hast planted in the soil& If thou *e athirst# fret not# the clouds *ear "ater upon their shoulders& Arom the *ee !e %i)eth thee honey# and manna from the "ind, fresh dates from

the date tree and the date tree from a seed& Aor thee are the sun and moon and the Pleides, they are as lanterns upon the roof of thy house& !e *rin%eth rose from the thorn and mus( from a pod, %old from the mine and %reen lea)es from a "ithered stic(& With !is o"n hands did !e paint thine eye and eye*ro"s - one cannot lea)e oneGs *osom friends to stran%ers& 4mnipotent is !e# nourishin% the delicate "ith !is many *ounties& Fender than(s each moment from they heart# for %ratitude is not the "or( of the ton%ue alone& 4 8od# my heart is *lood# mine eyes are sore "hen I *ehold thy indescri*a*le %ifts&

7he lessons o" a""liction

discourse concerning the condition o" the 4eak
!e (no"s not the )alue of a day of pleasure "ho has not seen ad)ersity& !ard is the "inter for the *e%%ar - the rich man heeds it not& If thou art s"ift of foot# *e than(ful "hen thou loo(est upon the lame& What (no" they of the )alue of "ater "ho d"ell upon the *an(s of the 7ayhun3 =s( it of them "ho are parched in the heat of the sun& =s( it of them "ho are parched in the heat of the sun& What cares the =ra* *y the 'i%ris for the thirsty ones of the desert3 !e (no"s the )alue of health "ho lost his stren%th in fe)er& !o" can the ni%ht *e lon% to thee reclinin% in ease upon thy *ed3 'hin( of him "ho is rac(ed "ith fe)er - the sic( man (no"s the tediousness of the ni%ht& =t the sound of the drum the master a"a(ens - "hat (no"s he ho" the "atchman passed the ni%ht3

3ne6s ease is another6s toil

7he story o" 7ughral, >ing o" Shiraz and the *indu 4atch!an
4ne ni%ht in "inter 'u%hral passed *y a !indu sentinel# "ho "as shi)erin% li(e the star 6anopus in the icy rain& 5o)ed to pity# he said# ;'hou shalt ha)e my fur coat& Wait *y the terrace and I "ill send it *y the hand of a sla)e&> 4n enterin% his palace he "as met *y a *eautiful sla)e# at the si%ht of "hom the poor sentinel passed from his mind& 'he fur coat slipped throu%h the latterGs ears,

throu%h his ill-luc( it ne)er reached his shoulders& 'he (in% slept throu%h the ni%ht de)oid of care# *ut "hat said the chief "atchman to him in the mornin%3 Perhaps thou didsts for%et that Gluc(y manG "hen thy hand "as upon the *osom of thy sla)e& /y thee the ni%ht "as spent in tran2uillity and 1oy, "hat (no"est thou ho" the ni%ht has %one "ith us3> 'hey "ith the cara)an *end their heads o)er the cauldron, "hat care they for them that toil on foot throu%h the desert sand3 'arry# 4 acti)e youths# for old and fee*le men are "ith the cara)an& Well hast thou slept in the litter "hile the dri)er held the nose-strin% of the camel& What of the desert and mountains3 What of the stones and the sand3 =s( ho" it fares "ith them that la% *ehind&

7he story o" a thie"

= thief "as arrested *y a ni%ht "atchman and *ound *y the hands& 'hus# crestfallen and afflicted# he remained& Durin% the ni%ht he heard someone cry out in "ant& ;!o" lon% "ilt thou *e"ail thy lot3> he as(ed& ;8o sleep# 4 "retched man9 8i)e than(s to 8od that the "atchman has not tied thee *y the hands&> /emoan not thine o"n misfortune "hen thou seest another more "retched than thyself&

story o" one 4ho 4as not 4hat he see!d

Someone passed by a pious man whom he took for a !ew and therefore struck him on the neck. The latter bestowed his robe upon the aggressor who becoming ashamed remarked "# acted wrongly and thou hast forgiven me. $ut what occasion is this for a gift% "# stood not up in anger was the reply "being thankful that # was not a !ew as thou didst suppose.

7he story o" a donkey

4ne left *ehind on the road "ept# sayin%# ;Who in this desert is more distressed than I3> = pac( don(ey ans"ered# ;4# senseless man9 !o" lon% "ilt thou *e"ail the tyranny of fate3 8o# and %i)e than(s that# thou%h thou ridest not upon a don(ey# thou art not a don(ey upon "hich men ride&>

Mis"ortune 7hrough Pride

story illustrating the e$ils o" pride
= theolo%ian passed *y a drun(ard "ho had fallen *y the "ayside& Ailled "ith pride at his o"n piety# he disdained e)en to re%ard him& 'he youn% man raises his head and said# ;8o# old man# and %i)e than(s that thou art in the Di)ine fa)our - misfortune comes from pride& Cau%h not "hen thou seest one in *onds lest thou li(e"ise *ecame in)ol)ed& =fter all# is it not "ithin the *ounds of possi*ility that tomorro" thou mayest fall# li(e me# *y the roadside3> If "ith a mos2ue the hea)ens ha)e *efriended thee# re)ile not them that "orship in the fire temple& 5oslem9 Aold thy hands and render than(s that !e has not *ound the idolaterGs thread a*out thy "aist& 'urn to !im "ho %uides the hand of Aate, *lindness it is to loo( for help else"here&

Saadi and the idol

7he story o" Saadi and the idolaters
=t $umanat ?32@ I sa" an i)ory idol& It "as set "ith 1e"els li(e the 5anat# and nothin% more *eautiful could ha)e *een de)ised& 6ara)ans from e)ery country *rou%ht tra)elers to its side, the elo2uent from e)ery clime made supplication *efore its lifeless fi%ure& ;Why#> I pondered# ;does a li)in% *ein% "orship an inanimate o*1ect3> 'o a fire-"orshipper# "ho "as a fello" lod%er and friend of mine# I said "ith %entleness# ;4 5a%i9 I am astonished at the doin%s of this place& =ll are infatuated "ith this fee*le form, they are imprisoned in the "ell of superstition& .o po"er has the idol to mo)e its hands or feet, if thou thro" it do"n# it cannot rise from its place& Dost thou not see that its eyes are of am*er3 It "ere folly to see( faithfulness from the stony-eyed&> 'he 5a%i "as an%ered at my "ords& !e *ecame my enemy# and informed the idolaters of "hat I had said& $ince to them the croo(ed road appeared strai%ht# they sa" the strai%ht one croo(ed& 'hou%h a man *e "ise and intelli%ent# he is a fool in the eyes of the i%norant& Ci(e a dro"nin% man# I "as destitute of help, sa)e in politeness# I sa" no remedy& When the fool *ears malice to"ards thee# safety lies in %entleness and resi%nation& 'herefore# I praised aloud the chief of the 5a%is# sayin%# ;4# old man9 <0pounder

of the Eend =)ista9 I# too# am pleased "ith the fi%ure of this idol& Its appearance "as stran%e in my si%ht - of its nature I ha)e no (no"led%e& 4nly recently ha)e I arri)ed in this place# and a stran%er can seldom distin%uish *et"een the e)il and the %ood& De)otion *y imitation is supersti-tion# "hat reality is there in the form of this idol# for I am foremost amon% the "orshippers3> 'he face of the 5a%i %lo"ed "ith 1oy as he said# ;'hy 2uestion is reasona*le and thy actions are %ood - "hoe)er see(s for proofs arri)es at his destination& Whom *ut this idol can raise his hands to 8od3 If thou "ilt# tarry here toni%ht# so that tomorro" the mystery of this may *ecome (no"n to thee&> 'he ni%ht "as as lon% as the Day of 7ud%ment, the fire-"orshippers around me prayed "ithout a*lution& In the mornin%# they came a%ain into the temple# and I "as sic( "ith an%er and confused from lac( of sleep& $uddenly# the idol raised its arm, and later# "hen the cro"d had left# the 5a%i loo(ed smilin%ly to"ards me sayin%: ;I (no" that no" thou "ilt ha)e no dou*ts, truth has *ecome manifest# falsehood remaineth not&> $eein% his i%norance thus increased# I shed hypocritical tears and cried# ;I am sorry for "hat I said&> =t the si%ht of my tears the hearts of the infidels "ere softened, they ran to"ards me in ser)ice and led me *y the arms to the i)ory idol# "hich "as seated upon a %olden chair set on a throne of tea(& I (issed the hand of the little %od - curses upon it and upon its "orshippers9 Aor a fe" days I posed as an infidel and discussed the Eend =)ista# li(e a 5a%i& When I *ecame a %uardian of the temple# my 1oy "as such that I could scarce control my feelin%s& 4ne ni%ht# I closed fast the door of the temple and searchin%# disco)ered a screen of the 1e"els and %old that "ent from the top of the throne to the *ottom& /ehind this screen the 5a%i hi%h priest "as de)outly en%a%ed "ith the end of a rope in his hand& 'hen did it *ecome (no"n to me that "hen the rope "as pulled the idol of necessity raised its arm& 8reatly confused at my presence# the 5a%i ran a"ay in haste& I follo"ed in hot pursuit and thre" him headlon% do"n a "ell# for I (ne" that# if he remained ali)e# he "ould see( to shed my *lood& When the purpose of an e)il man is re)ealed to thee# pull him up *y the roots# other"ise "ill he not desire that thou shouldst li)e& 'he alarm *ein% raised# I fled 2uic(ly from the land& When thou settest fire to a forest of canes# *e"are of the ti%ers# if thou art "ise& Whene)er I supplicate at the shrine of the Bno"er of $ecrets# the Indian puppet comes into my recollection - it thro"s dust on the pride of mine eyes& I (no" that I raise my hand# *ut not *y )irtue of mine o"n stren%th& 5en of sanctity stretch not out their hands themsel)es the Aates in)isi*ly pull the strin%s& 5otes:

32- = cele*rated temple in 8u+erat demolished *y $ultan 5ahmud of 8ha+ni in =D 1024&

Chapter 1 Concerning ,epentance

4 'hou of "hose life se)enty years ha)e passed# perhaps thou hast slept in ne%li%ence that thy days ha)e *een thro"n to the "inds& Worldly aims hast thou "ell pursued, no preparations hast thou made for the departure to that "orld to come& 4n the 7ud%ment Day# "hen the *a+aar of Paradise "ill *e arrayed# ran( "ill *e assi%ned in accordance "ith oneGs deeds& If thou shouldst ta(e a %oodly stoc( of )irtues# in proportion "ill *e thy profit, if thou *e *an(rupt# thou "ilt *e ashamed& If fifty years of thy life ha)e passed# esteem as a precious *oon the fe" that yet remain& While still thou hast the po"er of speech# close not thy lips li(e the dead from the praise of 8od&

3ld age and youth

n old !an6s la!ent
4ne ni%ht# in the season of youth# se)eral of us youn% men sat to%ether, "e san% li(e *ul*uls and raised a tumult in the street *y our mirth& =n old man sat silent# apart, li(e a fil*ert nut# his ton%ue "as closed from speech& = youth approached him and said# ;4 old man9 Why sittest thou so mournfully in this corner3 6ome raise thy head from the collar of %rief and 1oin us in our festi)ity&> 'hus did the old man reply# ;When the mornin% *ree+e *lo"s o)er the rose %arden# the youn% trees proudly "a)e their *ranches& It *ecomes not me to min%le in thy company# for the da"n of old a%e has spread o)er my chee(s& 'hy turn it is to sit at this ta*le of youth, I ha)e "ashed my hands of youthful pleasures& 'ime has sho"ered sno" upon my cro"-li(e "in%s, li(e the *ul*ul# I could not sport in the %arden& $oon "ill the har)est of my life *e reaped, for thee# the ne" %reen lea)es are *urstin%& 'he *loom has faded from my %arden, "ho ma(es a nose%ay from "ithered flo"ers3 I must "eep# li(e a child# in shame for my sins# *ut cannot emulate his pleasures& Well# has Co2man said# ;It is *etter not to li)e at all than to li)e many years in sinfulness&> /etter# too# may it *e to close the shop in the mornin% than to sell the

stoc( at a loss&

5o ti!e like the present

d$ice and 4arning
'oday# 4 youth# ta(e the path of "orship# for tomorro" comes old a%e& Ceisure thou hast# and stren%th - stri(e the *all "hen the field is "ide& ?33@ I (ne" not the )alue of lifeGs day till no" that I ha)e lost it& !o" can an old ass stri)e *eneath its *urden3 8o thy "ay# for thou ridest a s"iftpaced horse& = *ro(en cup that is mended - "hat "ill its )alue *e3 .o" that in carelessness the cup of life has fallen from thy hand# nau%ht remains *ut to 1oin the pieces& .e%li%ently hast thou let the pure "ater %o, ho" canst thou no" perform thy a*lutions# e0cept "ith sand3 ?34@

Saadi6s rebuke "ro! a ca!el-dri$er

4ne ni%ht in the desert of Aaid ?35@ my feet *ecame fettered "ith sleep& = cameldri)er a"o(e me# sayin%# ;=rise# since thou heedest not the sound of the *ell# perhaps thou desirest to *e left *ehind9 I# li(e thee# "ould sleep a"hile# *ut the desert stretches ahead& !o" "ilt thou reach the 1ourneyGs end if thou sleepest "hen the drum of departure *eats3> !appy are they "ho ha)e prepared their *a%%a%e *efore the *eat of the drum9 'he sleepers *y the "ayside raise not their heads and the cara)an has passed out of si%ht& !e "ho "as early a"a(e surpassed all on the road, "hat a)aileth it to a"a(en "hen the cara)an had %one3 'his is the time to so" the seeds of the har)est thou "ouldst reap& 8o not *an(rupt to the Fesurrection# for it a)aileth not to sit in re%ret& /y means of the stoc( that thou hast# 4 son# profit can *e ac2uired, "hat profit accrueth to him "ho consumeth his stoc( himself3 $tri)e no"# "hen the "ater reacheth not *eyond thy "aist, delay not until the flood has passed o)er thy head& !eed the counsel of the "ise today# for tomorro" "ill .a(ir ?36@ 2uestion thee "ith sternness& <steem as a pri)ile%e thy precious soul# for a ca%e "ithout a *ird has no )alue& Waste not thy time in sorro" and re%ret# for opportunity is precious and time is a s"ord&

Story concerning sorro4 "or the dead

= certain man died and another rent his clothes in %rief& !earin% his cries# a sa%e e0claimed# ;If the dead man possessed the po"er he "ould tear his shroud *y reason of thy "ailin% and "ould say# ;Do not torment thyself on account of my affliction# since a day or t"o *efore thee I made ready for the 1ourney& Perhaps thou hast for%otten thine o"n death# that my decease has made thee so distressed&> When he "hose eyes are open to the truth scatters flo"ers o)er the dead# his heart *urns not for the dead *ut for himself& Why dost thou "eep o)er the death of a child3 !e came pure# and he departed pure& 'ie no" the feet of the *ird of the soul, tarry not till it has *orne the rope from thy hand& Con% hast thou sat in the place of another, soon "ill another sit in thy place& 'hou%h thou *e a hero or a s"ordsman# thou "ill carry a"ay nothin% *ut the shroud& If the "ild ass *rea( its halter and "ander into the desert its feet *ecome ensnared in the sand& 'hou# too# hast stren%th till thy feet %o into the dust of the %ra)e& $ince yesterday has %one and tomorro" has not come# ta(e account of this one moment that no" is& In this %arden of the "orld there is not a cypress that has %ro"n "hich the "ind of death has not uprooted&

Aanity o" 4orldly desires

Story o" a pious !an and a gold brick
= %old *ric( fell into the hands of a pious man and so turned his head that his enli%htened mind *ecame %loomy& !e passed the "hole ni%ht in an0ious thou%ht# reflectin%# ;'his treasure "ill suffice me till the end of my life, no lon%er shall I ha)e to *end my *ac( *efore any one in *e%%in%& = house "ill I *uild# the foundation of "hich shall *e of mar*le, the rafters of the ceilin% shall *e of aloe"ood& = special room "ill I ha)e for my friends# and its door shall lead into a %arden house& $er)ants shall coo( my food# and in ease "ill I nourish my soul& 'his course "oolen *ed cloth has (illed me *y its rou%hness, no" "ill I %o and spread a carpet> !is ima%inin%s made him cra+y, the cra* had pierced its cla"s into his *rain& !e forsoo( his prayers and de)otions# and neither ate nor slept& -na*le to rest tran2uil in one place# he "andered to a plain# "ith his head confused "ith the charms of his )ain fancies& =n old man "as (neadin% mud upon a %ra)e for the purpose of ma(in% *ric(s& =*sor*ed in thou%ht for a"hile# the old

man said: ;4 foolish soul9 !ear(en to my counsel& Why hast thou attached thy mind to that %old *ric( "hen one day they "ill ma(e *ric(s from thy dust3 'he mouth of a co)etous man is too "idely open that it can *e closed a%ain *y one morsel& 'a(e# 4 *ase man# thy hand from off that *ric(# for the ri)er of thy a)arice cannot *e damned up "ith a *ric(& $o ne%li%ent hast thou *een in the thou%ht of %ain and riches that the stoc( of thy life has *ecome trodden underfoot& 'he dust of lust has *linded the eyes of thy reason - the simoom of desire has *urned the har)est of thy life&> Wipe the antimony of ne%lect from off thine eyes# for tomorro" "ilt thou *e reduced to antimony under the dust& 'hy life is a *ird# and its name is /reath& When the *ird has flo"n from its ca%e it cometh not *ac( to capti)ity& /e "atchful for the "orld lasts *ut a moment# and a moment spent "ith "isdom is *etter than an a%e "ith folly& Why fi0 "e thus our minds upon this cara)anserai3 4ur friends ha)e departed and "e are on the road& =fter us# the same flo"ers "ill *loom in the %arden# to%ether "ill friends still sit& When thou comest to $hira+# ?3 @ dost thou not cleanse thyself from the dust of the road3 $oon# 4 thou polluted "ith the dust of sin# "ilt thou 1ourney to a stran%e city& Weep# and "ash "ith thy tears thy impurities a"ay&

Moral "ro! an incident in Saadi6s childhood

I remem*er that# in the time of my childhood# my father Hmay 8odGs mercy *e upon him e)ery moment9I# *rou%ht me a %old rin%& $oon after# a ha"(er too( the rin% from my hand in e0chan%e for a date fruit& When a child (no"s not the )alue of a rin% he "ill part "ith it for a s"eetmeat& 'hou# too# didsts not reco%ni+e )alue of life# *ut indul%ed thyself in )ain pleasures& 4n the Day of 7ud%ment# "hen the %ood "ill attain to the hi%hest di%nity and mount from the *ottom-most depths of the earth to the Pleiades# thy head "ill han% for"ard in shame# for thy deeds "ill %ather around thee& 4 *rother9 /e ashamed of the "or(s of the e)il# for ashamed "ilt thou *e at the Fesurrection in the presence on the %ood&

7he story o" a !an 4ho reared a 4ol"

$omeone reared a "olf cu*# "hich# "hen %ro"n in stren%th# tore its master to

pieces& When the man "as on the point of death a sa%e passed *y and said# ;Didst thou not (no" that thou "ouldst suffer in1ury from an enemy thus carefully reared3> !o" can "e raise our heads from shame "hen "e ate at peace "ith $atan and at "ar "ith 8od3 'hy friend re%ards thee not "hen thou turnest thy face to"ards the enemy& !e "ho li)es in the house of an enemy deems ri%ht estran%ement from a friend&

lliance 4ith the e$il

7he story o" a cheat
$omeone ro**ed the people of their money *y cheatin%# and "hene)er he had accomplished one of his nefarious acts he cursed the <)il 4ne# "ho said: ;.e)er ha)e I seen such a fool9 'hou hast intri%ued "ith me secretly, "hy# therefore# dost thou raise the s"ord of enmity a%ainst me3> =las9 'hat the an%els should record a%ainst thee ini2uities committed *y the order of the <)il 4ne9 8o for"ard "hen thou seest that the door of peace is open# for suddenly the door of repentance "ill *e closed& 5arch not under a load of sin# 4 son# for a porter *ecomes e0hausted on the 1ourney& 'he Prophet is the 5ediator of him "ho follo"s the hi%h"ay of his la"s&

recollection o" childhood

In the time of my childhood I "ent out "ith my father durin% the <id Aesti)al# and in the tumult of the mo* %ot lost& I cried in fear# "hen my father suddenly pulled my ear# and said# ;$e)eral times did I tell thee not to ta(e thy hand from the s(irt of my ro*e&> = child (no"s not ho" to %o alone, it is difficult to tra)el on any road unseen& 'hou# poor man# art as a child in thine endea)or, %o# hold the s(irt of the )irtuous& $it not "ith the *ase# *ut fasten thy hand to the saddle straps of the pious& 8o# li(e $aadi# %lean the corn of "isdom so that thou mayest store a har)est of di)ine (no"led%e&

story o" one 4ho burned his har$est

In the month of 7uly# a certain man stored his %rain and set his mind at ease

concernin% it& 4ne ni%ht# he *ecame into0icated and li%hted a fire# "hich destroyed his har)est& 'he ne0t day he sat do"n to %lean the ears of corn# *ut not a sin%le %rain remained in his possession& $eein% him thus afflicted# someone remar(ed# ;If thou didst not "ish for this misfortune# thou shouldst not in folly ha)e *urned thy har)est&> 'hou# "hose years ha)e *een "asted in ini2uity# art he "ho *urns the har)est of his life& Do no so# 4 my life9 $o" the seeds of reli%ion and 1ustice# and thro" not to the "inds the har)est of a %ood name& Bnoc( at the door of for%i)eness *efore thy punishment arri)es# for lamentation *eneath the lash is of no a)ail&

discourse on repentance
!e "ho supplicates the Deity *y ni%ht "ill not *e shamed on the Day of 7ud%ment& If thou art "ise# pray for for%i)eness in the ni%ht for the sins that thou hast committed in the day& What is thy fear if thou hast made thy peace "ith 8od3 !e closes not the door of for%i)eness upon them that supplicate !im& If thou art a ser)ant of 8od# raise thy hands in prayer and if thou *e ashamed# "eep in sorro"& .o one has stood upon !is threshold "hose sins the tears of repentance ha)e not "ashed a"ay& 5otes:
33& I&e& <n%a%e in %ood "or(s "hile you still ha)e time& 34& 5ohammed commanded that sand should *e used for a*lution *efore prayer "hen "ater "as uno*taina*le# as is more often than not the case in the desert& 35& .ame of a )illa%e on the road to 5ecca& 36& 'he an%el "ho e0amines the dead in their %ra)es& 3 & I&e& your nati)e land&

Chapter 10

Concerning Prayer
6ome# let us raise our hands in prayer# for tomorro" they "ill *e po"erless in the dust& 'hin( not that he "ho supplicates *efore the Door of 5ercy# "hich is ne)er shut# "ill turn a"ay in hopelessness& 4# Cord# re%ard us "ith compassion# for sin has entered amon% 'hy ser)ants&

4# %racious 8od9 /y thy *ounty ha)e "e *een sustained, to 'hy %ifts and lo)in% (indness ha)e "e *ecome ha*ituated& $ince in this life 'hou has enno*led us a*o)e all thin%s created# hope of similar %lory ha)e "e in the "orld to come& 4# 8od# humiliate me not *y reason of 'hy %reatness, ma(e me not ashamed *y reasons of my sins& Cet no one pre)ail o)er me# for it is *etter that I should suffer punishment from 'hy hand& Cet it suffice that I am ashamed in 'hy presence, ma(e me not ashamed *efore my fello" men& If the shado" of 'hy mercy fall upon me# mean is the di%nity of the s(y *efore mine eyes& If 'hou %i)e to me a cro"n# I "ill raise my head, e0alt me# so that no one may caste do"n&

7he idolater6s la!ent

4orshipper6s la!ent
I trem*le "hen I recall the prayer of one distracted in the temple of 5ecca& 'hus did he lament: ;'hro" me not do"n# for no one "ill hold my hand to succor me& Whether 'hou call me or dri)e me a"ay# my head has no restin% place# *ut 'hy threshold& 'hou (no"est that I am poor and helpless, I am oppressed *y my e)il passions& Beep me from pollution# and for%i)e my sins& 6lose not mine eyes from the face of happiness, *ind not my ton%ue "hen I recite the creed& Place the lamp of Aaith *efore my "ay, ma(e my hand short from doin% e)il& Arom the sun of 'hy %oodness one ray suffices# for e0cept in 'hy rays I am not seen& Why should I "eep *ecause of my condition3 If I am "ea(# my refu%e is stron%&>

story o" an idolater

= Eoroastrian turned his *ac( upon the "orld and %irt up his loins in the ser)ice of an idol& =fter some years he "as o)erta(en *y misfortune and "ept at the feet of the idol# sayin%# ;I am afflicted - help me# 4 idol9 I am "eary - ha)e pity upon me&> Con% did he continue in his lamentation# *ut no *enefit did he deri)e& !o" can an idol accomplish the desires of a man "hen of itself it cannot dri)e a"ay a fly3 'he idolater fro"ned and said# ;4 thou# "hose feet are *ound to error9 With folly

ha)e I "orshipped thee for years& !elp me to fulfill my "ishes# or I "ill as( them of 8od&> While his face "as yet *esmeared "ith the dust of the idolGs feet# the =lmi%hty fulfilled his o*1ect& = pious man "as astonished "hen he heard this& 'hen did a )oice from hea)en spea( into his ear# sayin%# ;'his old man prayed *efore the idol# *ut his prayer "as not heard& If at the shrine of 8od he "ere li(e"ise spurned# "hat difference "ould there *e *et"een an idol and !im Who is eternal3>

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