CONCERNING PRAYER
Come, let us raise our hands in prayer, for to-morrow they will be
powerless in the dust.
Think not that he who supplicates before the Door of Mercy, which is
never shut, will turn away in hopelessness.
O Lord, regard us with compassion, for sin has entered among thy servants.
O gracious God! by Thy bounty have we been sustained; to Thy gifts and
lovingkindness have we become habituated.
Since in this life Thou hast ennobled us above all things created, hope
of similar glory have we in the world to come.
O God, humiliate me not by reason of Thy greatness; make me not ashamed
by reason of my sins.
Let no one prevail over me, for it is better that I should suffer
punishment from Thy hand.
Let it suffice that I am ashamed in Thy presence; make me not ashamed
before my fellow-men.
If the shadow of Thy mercy fall upon me, mean is the dignity of the sky
before mine eyes.
If Thou give to me a crown, I will raise my head: exalt me, so that no
one may cast me down.
A WORSHIPPER’S LAMENT
I tremble when I recall the prayer of one distracted in the temple of
Mecca. Thus did he lament:
“Throw me not down, for no one will hold my hand to succour me. Whether
Thou call me or drive me away, my head has no resting-place but Thy
threshold. Thou knowest that I am poor and helpless; I am oppressed by
my evil passions. Keep me from pollution, and forgive my sins. Close not
mine eyes from the face of happiness; bind not my tongue when I recite
the creed. Place the lamp of Faith before my way; make my hand short from
doing evil. From the sun of Thy goodness one ray suffices, for except in
Thy rays I am not seen. Why should I weep because of my condition? If I
am weak, my refuge is strong.”
STORY OF AN IDOLATER
A fire-worshipper turned his back upon the world and girt up his loins in
the service of an idol. After some years he was overtaken by misfortune
and wept at the feet of the idol, saying: “I am afflicted—help me, O
idol! I am weary—have pity upon me.”
Long did he continue in his lamentation, but no benefit did he derive.
How can an idol accomplish the desires of a man when of itself it cannot
drive away a fly?
The idolater frowned and said: “O thou, whose feet are bound to error!
with folly have I worshipped thee for years. Help me to fulfil my wishes,
or I will ask them of God.”
While his face was yet besmeared with the dust of the idol’s feet, the
Almighty fulfilled his object.
A pious man was astonished when he heard this. Then did a voice from
heaven speak into his ear, saying: “This old man prayed before the idol,
but his prayer was not heard. If at the shrine of God he were likewise
spurned, what difference would there be between an idol and Him Who is
eternal?”
NOTES
[1] _I.e._ the _Bustān_.
[2] _I.e._ its ten chapters.
[3] Lit. “bone”; used metaphorically in the sense of “a truth.”
[4] One of the kings of Persia in whose reign Sadi flourished. His full
name was Atābak Muzaffar-ud-Din Ābū Bakr-hin-Sa’d-hin-zangī.
[5] _I.e._ Abu Bakr.
[6] Naushīravān the Just was the twentieth king of the fourth dynasty of
Persia, and contemporary with the Roman Emperor Justinian. The Prophet
Muhammad was born in his reign.
[7] A title of the kings of Persia. It was originally applied to
Naushīravān.
[8] Lit. “silver.”
[9] Darius Codomanus was the last king of Persia. He waged many wars with
Alexander the Great, who finally defeated him at Arbela. The unfortunate
king was afterwards killed by one Bessus, governor of Bactriana, 331 B.C.
[10] One of the kings of Persia. He was called Qazal because of the
redness of his hair. Arsalān means “a lion.”
[11] Name of a lofty mountain situated in Hamdān, north-west of Isfahan.
[12] _I.e._ shows one thing and sells another of inferior quality. The
expression is commonly used to denote a hypocrite.
[13] To do either is considered an act of virtue among Muhammadans.
[14] By reason of the opportunity it presented to bestow his charity.
[15] It is impossible to convey the beauty of this line in English. The
Persian words here used to express “food” and “kiss” are written alike,
except for one diacritical mark, and the word “change” literally means
“making an error in writing and changing the diacritical points.”
[16] Hātim Tai was an Arabian chief who was renowned for his generosity.
He was born in Yaman, in Arabia Felix, and lived some time before
Muhammad in the sixth century. Many legends have been woven round his
life and character.
[17] Horse-flesh was formerly eaten in parts of the East.
[18] _I.e._ their love for God is insatiable.
[19] _I.e._ the fire of love.
[20] “Gold” refers to “life,” and “Friend” to “God.” The meaning is that
one should devote one’s life to religion, and thus gain an entrance to
the presence of the Deity.
[21] Bāyazīd Bastāmī was a celebrated saint of Bustān, in Persia. He died
A.D. 261.
[22] Abūl Mahfūz, surnamed Marūf, was a celebrated saint of Kareh, a
village in Baghdad. He was the son of a fire-worshipper, and was born
A.D. 813, during the reign of Caliph Māmūn, son of the celebrated
Hārūn-ar-Rashīd.
[23] Abū-al-Hasan Kūshyār was a celebrated astronomer and the tutor of
Anicenna.
[24] Luqman was a famous Greek philosopher, and is supposed by some to
have been the author of _Æsop’s Fables_.
[25] Bakhtyār literally means “fortunate”; the play on the word is,
therefore, obvious.
[26] “Darkness” and “light” are used metaphorically in the sense of
“falseness” and “truth.”
[27] Khwarazm is situated to the east of the Caspian Sea, near the mouth
of the Oxus.
[28] _I.e._ in this transient and fleeting world.
[29] Korah, the cousin of Moses and the proverbial miser of the Easterns.
[30] _I.e._ if you possess merit.
[31] A famous hero; the Hercules of the Persians.
[32] The grandfather of Rustam, and, like him, a celebrated hero.
[33] Faridun was the seventh king of Persia, his reign commencing about
750 B.C. He was the boast of the Persians and a model of every virtue.
[34] A celebrated temple in Guzerat demolished by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni
in A.D. 1024.
[35] _I.e._ engage in good works while you still have time.
[36] Muhammad commanded that sand should be used for ablution before
prayer when water was unobtainable, as is more often than not the case in
the desert.
[37] Name of a village on the road to Mecca.
[38] The angel who examines the dead in their graves.
[39] _I.e._ your native land.
_Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury._
THE WISDOM OF THE EAST SERIES
Edited by L. CRANMER-BYNG and Dr. S. A. KAPADIA
[Illustration]
THE SERIES AND ITS PURPOSE
The object of the Editors of this Series is a very definite one. They
desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be
the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West—the
old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in
their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the
land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and
lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true
spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another
creed and colour. Finally, in thanking press and public for the very
cordial reception given to the “Wisdom of the East” Series, they wish to
state that no pains have been spared to secure the best specialists for
the treatment of the various subjects at hand.
_NEW VOLUMES_
_In the Press_
THE RUBÁ’IYÁT OF HAFIZ. Translated with Introduction by SYED ABDUL MAJID,
LL.D. Rendered into English Verse by L. CRANMER-BYNG. 1/- net.
A CHINESE QUIETIST. From the Mystical Philosophy of Liehtsze. Translated
by LIONEL GILES, M.A. 2/- net.
_Just Out_
THE BUSTĀN OF SADI. From the Persian. Translated with Introduction by A.
HART EDWARDS. 2/- net.
THE ALCHEMY OF HAPPINESS. By AL GHAZZALI. Rendered into English by CLAUD
FIELD. 2/- net.
THE SINGING CARAVAN. Some Echoes of Arabian Poetry. By HENRY BAERLEIN.
2/- net.
THE WISDOM OF THE APOCRYPHA. With an Introduction by C. E. LAWRENCE,
Author of “Pilgrimage,” etc. 2/- net.
THE BURDEN OF ISIS. Being the Laments of Isis and Nephthys. Translated
from the Egyptian with an Introduction by JAMES TEACKLE DENNIS. 1/- net.
THE MASTER-SINGERS OF JAPAN. Being Verse Translations from the Japanese
Poets. By CLARA A. WALSH. 2/- net.
THE PATH OF LIGHT. Rendered for the first time into English from the
Bodhi-charvāvatāra of Sānti-Deva. A Manual of Mahā-Yāna Buddhism. By L.
D. BARNETT, M.A. LITT.D. 2/- net.
THE SPLENDOUR OF GOD. Being Extracts from the Sacred Writings of the
Bahais. With Introduction by ERIC HAMMOND. 2/- net.
A LUTE OF JADE. Being Selections from the Classical Poets of China.
Rendered with an Introduction by L. CRANMER-BYNG, 2/- net.
THE CONFESSIONS OF AL GHAZZALI. Translated for the first time into
English by CLAUD FIELD, M.A. 1/- net.
THE HEART OF INDIA. Sketches in the History of Hindu Religion and Morals.
By L. D BARNETT, M.A., LITT.D., Professor of Sanskrit at University
College, London. 2/- net.
THE BOOK OF FILIAL DUTY. Translated from the Chinese of the Hsiao Ching
by IVAN CHÊN, first Secretary to the Chinese Legation. 1/- net.
THE DIWAN OF ABU’L-ALA. By HENRY BAERLEIN. 1/- net.
BRAHMA-KNOWLEDGE: An Outline of the Philosophy of the Vedānta. As set
forth, by the Upanishads and by Sankara. By L. D. BARNETT, M.A., LITT.D.,
Professor of Sanskrit at University College, London. 2/. net.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE; or, The Universal Order of Confucius. A translation
of one of the four Confucian Books, hitherto known as the Doctrine of the
Mean. By KU HUNG MING, M.A. (Edin.). 1/- net.
THE TEACHINGS OF ZOROASTER. Translated with Introduction by Dr. S. A.
KAPADIA, Lecturer, University College, London. 2/- net.
THE PERSIAN MYSTICS.
I. Jalálu’d-dín Rúmí. By F. HADLAND DAVIS. 2/- net.
II. Jámí. By F. HADLAND DAVIS. 2/- net.
THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA. Selections from the Buddhist texts, together with
the original Pali, with Introduction by HERBERT BAYNES, M.R.A.S. 2/- net.
THE SAYINGS OF CONFUCIUS. A new Translation of the greater part of the
Confucian Analects, with Introduction and Notes by LIONEL GILES, M.A.
(Oxon.), Assistant in the Department of Oriental Books and Manuscripts of
the British Museum. 2/- net.
MUSINGS OF A CHINESE MYSTIC. Selections from the Philosophy of Chuang
Tzŭ. With Introduction by LIONEL GILES, M.A. (Oxon.), Assistant at the
British Museum. 2/- net.
THE AWAKENING OF THE SOUL. From the Arabic of IBN TUFAIL. Translated with
Introduction by PAUL BRÖNNLE, Ph.D. 1/6 net.
THE RELIGION OF THE KORAN. With Introduction by Sir ARTHUR N. WOLLASTON,
K.C.I.E. 1/- net.
THE WISDOM OF ISRAEL: Being Extracts from the Babylonian Talmud and
Midrash Rabboth. Translated from the Aramaic with an Introduction by
EDWIN COLLINS. 1/- net.
SA’DI’S SCROLL OF WISDOM. By SHAIKH SA’DI. With Introduction by Sir
ARTHUR N. WOLLASTON, K.C.I.E. 1/- net. With Persian Script added. 2/- net.
THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP AND THE INSTRUCTION OF KE’GEMNI. The Oldest
Books in the World. Translated from the Egyptian with Introduction and
Appendix by BATTISCOMBE G. GUNN. 1/- net.
THE ROSE GARDEN OF SA’DI. Selected and Rendered from the Persian with
Introduction by L. CRANMER-BYNG. 1/- net.
THE CLASSICS OF CONFUCIUS.
I. The Book of History (Shu-King). By W. GORN OLD. 1/- net.
II. The Book of Odes (Shi-King). By L. CRANMER-BYNG. 1/- net.
THE SAYINGS OF LAO TZŬ. From the Chinese. Translated with Introduction by
LIONEL GILES, of the British Museum. 1/- net.
WOMEN AND WISDOM OF JAPAN. With Introduction by S. TAKAISHI. 1/- net.
ARABIAN WISDOM. Selections and Translations from the Arabic by JOHN
WORTABET, M.D. 1/- net.
THE DUTIES OF THE HEART. By RABBI BACHYE. Translated from the Hebrew with
Introduction by EDWIN COLLINS. Hollier Hebrew Scholar, U.C.L. 1/- net.
ROMANCE OF THE EAST SERIES
Edited by L. CRANMER-BYNG
_Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. net each_
In this series the great store-houses of Oriental romance will be opened
for the first time to the public. Tales from the Sanskrit, from the
Chinese, from every language of the East possessing a great literature
will appear in due course. From these vivid narratives of old-world
romance it will be possible for the reader to glean much information
concerning the lives and manners and customs of vanished races, and the
greatness of Empires that have passed away.
TALES OF THE CALIPHS. From the Arabic
Translated by CLAUD FIELD
TALES WITHIN TALES. From the Fables of Pilpai
Translated by Sir ARTHUR WOLLASTON, K.C.I.E.
THE GOLDEN TOWN. From the Sanskrit of Soma Deva
Translated by Dr. L. D. BARNETT
_Works added to the Series will be announced in due course_
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.