Many years ago there lived in a village on the banks of the Indus River
an old Fakir, by the name of Shah Bilâwal. Like most of his class he was
living a life of mortification, frequently torturing himself; and the
few garments that he wore were rotten and dirty. This old Fakir was one
day crossing the River Chenâb in a boat with a number of other persons
who were also bound for the other side.
After the boatmen had pushed off and had got well into the stream, they
all fixed their eyes on the Fakir, who they thought was a mad man; for
his appearance made him look like one.
Some of the company in the boat belonged to a class called “Bhânds,” and
the boatman said to them “Cannot some one of you perform some act that
will please the Spirit of the River “Kwaja Khizr,” so that we may reach
the opposite shore in safety?”
Upon this, some of the Bhânds began to snigger and laugh at the Fakir,
and tried to ridicule him in every possible way; but Shah Bilâwal, who
was a devout man after his class, passed all their sneers away and took
no notice of them.
Mockery, however, in Oriental philosophy, and in the traditions of all
people, we know is looked upon with contempt.
A voice came to the Fakir, “Are these mockers to be destroyed?” and he
replied audibly, “No! make them sensible people to respect their Allah,”
the Almighty.
Before they had arrived at the opposite shore they desisted from their
fun and frolic, and paid all due respect to the Fakir, and became his
followers ever afterwards.
In the course of time they all died, and their graves are to be seen in
the village of “Lalliân,” in the district of Jang.
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