Story 23

  A man had by his sins forfeited the divine favour but the lamp of

grace nevertheless so shone upon his path that it guided him into

the circle of religious men and, by the blessing of his association

with dervishes, as well as by the example of their righteousness,

the depravities of his character were transmuted into virtues and he

refrained from lust and passion. But the tongues of the malevolent

were lengthened with reference to his character, alleging that it

was the same as it had ever been and that his abstinence and piety

were spurious.

  By apology and penitence one may be saved from the wrath of God

  But cannot be saved from the tongues of men.

  He could no longer bear the reviling tongues and complained to the

pir of the Tariqat. The sheikh wept and said: 'How wilt thou be able

to be sufficiently grateful for this divine favour that thou art

better than the people imagine?'

      How long wilt thou say: 'The malevolent and envious

      Are searching out the defects of my humble self.

      Sometimes they arise to shed my blood.

      Sometimes they sit down to curse me.'

      To be good and to be in spoken of by the people

      Is better than to be bad and considered good by them.

  Look at me whom the good opinion of our contemporaries deems to be

perfect whereas I am imperfection itself.

        If I were doing what I speak

        I would be of good conduct and a devotee.

      Verily I am veiled from the eyes of my neighbours

      But Allah knows my secret and my overt concerns.

        The door is locked to the access of people

        That they may not spread out my faults.

        What profiteth a closed door? The Omniscient

        Knows what I conceal or reveal.