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Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
One day a great man asked Sultan Veled whether God ever speaks to His servant—man.
This inquirer had frequently had the idea to send an offering to Sultan Veled; but had hesitated between a gift of money and one of Indian muslins.
Sultan Veled answered his inquiry thus: “God does certainly speak to His servants. And as to the method by which He addresses them, I will relate to thee an anecdote.”
“There was in Balkh a preacher, who was also one of God’s most precious saints. He had many disciples, who loved him dearly. I heard him once say, during one of his discourses: ‘Long hath God spoken to you in words; but you will not hearken to Him. This conduct is strangely improper on the part of obsequious servants. In God’s name, therefore, I warn you that you ought to hearken to God’s words, and yield obedience to His commands.’
“Just then, a dervish in the congregation stood up, and begged that some one would bestow on him a handkerchief.
“A merchant, who was seated in a corner of the mosque, thrice conceived the resolve to give the dervish a handkerchief; but thrice he failed to carry that design into effect.
“That merchant now rose, and, addressing the preacher, said: ‘Sir, how does God speak to His servants? Pray explain this, that the method may be known unto us.’
“The preacher answered: ‘For one handkerchief, God does not speak more than three times!’
“The merchant was petrified. He cried aloud, and cast himself at the feet of the preacher. What he had thrice resolved to do, and had not performed, he now carried out, giving a handkerchief to the dervish, and professing himself a disciple to the preacher.”
“Now,” added Sultan Veled, “I say unto thee, O grandee, do thou also hearken unto the words of God. Give the Indian handkerchiefs, and distribute also the money. When thou shalt have hearkened to the words of God, He will listen also to that which thou mayest say unto Him. All thou mayest ask of Him, God will give thee; and whatsoever thou seekest of Him, thou shalt find.”
Forthwith that grandee became a sincere convert and disciple. Similar miraculous works of Sultan Veled are beyond all count.