Inspirations

And then he drove them to the desert wastes.

That group ran up and down and round about.

They all began to vomit in distress;

the water brought up all the fruit in them.

Loqman began to vomit from his stomach;

the purest water gushed from his insides.

Since Loqman’s wisdom demonstrates this point,

what is the wisdom of the Lord of Being?

‘The day on which all secrets are examined’,

something concealed appears from you, unwished for.

‘Drink scalding water which will rid their bowels’

of all the veils on things that are revolting.

The fire is used to punish unbelievers

because the fire is for assaying stones.

So often have we spoken gently to them;

those stony-hearted ones would heed no warning.

A vein that’s badly cut is healed with pain;

the donkey’s head ends up a meal for dogs.

‘For unclean women, unclean men’, says wisdom,

and ugly is a proper mate for ugly.

So go and mate with anything you like,

and be absorbed in it, its form and features.

If light is what you want, be worthy of it!

If you’d be far away, be vain and distant!

And if you would escape this ruined gaol,

don’t spurn the Friend, ‘bow down and come towards Him’.

The Rest of the Story of the Reply of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)

These words are endless. Be upstanding, Zayd;

tie up Boraq, the steed of rational speech.

As speech reveals the error of your ways,