93.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Jelāl had a female disciple, a saint, named Nizāma Khātūn, an intimate friend of his wife’s.
Nizāma formed the design to give a spiritual party to Jelāl, with an entertainment for his disciples. She possessed nothing but a Thevr (or Sevr)25 veil, which she had destined to be her own winding-sheet.
She now ordered her servants to sell this veil, and so procure the necessaries for the projected feast. But, that same morning, Jelāl came to her house with his disciples, and, addressing her, said: “Nizāma Khātūn, sell not thy veil; to thee it is a piece of necessary furniture. Lo! we are come to thy entertainment.”
He and his disciples remained with her, engaged in spiritual exercises, three whole days and nights.