Another bird said to the hoopoe: “O guide of the Way! What shall I ask of the Simurgh if I reach the place where He dwells? Since through Him the world shall be illumined, I know not what I might ask of Him. If I knew what was the best thing in the world, I would ask it of the Simurgh when I reached the place where He dwells.”
The hoopoe said: “O fool! What! Knowest thou not what to ask? Then ask for what thou desirest most. A man must know what he ought to ask. Now the Simurgh Himself is better than all that thou canst wish for. Wilt thou learn about Him in the world, with all possible diligence, what thou wishest to know? Could he who has sensed the fragrance of the dust covering the threshold of His door ever depart from it, even if one sought to persuade him with gifts?”
The hoopoe said: “O fool! What! Knowest thou not what to ask? Then ask for what thou desirest most. A man must know what he ought to ask. Now the Simurgh Himself is better than all that thou canst wish for. Wilt thou learn about Him in the world, with all possible diligence, what thou wishest to know? Could he who has sensed the fragrance of the dust covering the threshold of His door ever depart from it, even if one sought to persuade him with gifts?”
ANECDOTE CONCERNING SHAIKH RUBDAR.
At the moment of his death, Bû Ali Rubdâr spoke these words: “My soul has reached my lips in its longing for eternal blessings. All the gates of Heaven are open, and a throne has been set for me in Paradise. The saints who dwell in the fair palace of immortality cry out in voices like nightingales: ‘Enter, O true lover! Be grateful; then walk on joyfully, for no one has ever seen this place.’
“If I obtain Thy favour and grace, my soul will not release the hand of certainty. Have I need of all that people tell me of, and that Thou hast kept me waiting for throughout my long life? My intention is not to
At the moment of his death, Bû Ali Rubdâr spoke these words: “My soul has reached my lips in its longing for eternal blessings. All the gates of Heaven are open, and a throne has been set for me in Paradise. The saints who dwell in the fair palace of immortality cry out in voices like nightingales: ‘Enter, O true lover! Be grateful; then walk on joyfully, for no one has ever seen this place.’
“If I obtain Thy favour and grace, my soul will not release the hand of certainty. Have I need of all that people tell me of, and that Thou hast kept me waiting for throughout my long life? My intention is not to
To bow the head for the slightest gift, like those whose thoughts are set on worldly desires. My soul was created in Thy love; therefore I know neither Heaven nor Hell. If Thou burnest me and reducest me to ashes, no being other than Thee shall be found within me. I know Thee, but I know neither religion nor infidelity; I leave all this aside if Thou dost. I am Thine, I desire Thee, I know Thee; and Thou art mine, and my soul is Thine. Thou alone art necessary to me in the world: Thou art for me this world and the other world. Satisfy, if only a little, the need of my wounded heart; manifest Thy love for me for one instant. If my soul withdraws from Thee even a little, I consent that Thou deprive me of life, for I breathe only through Thee.