Of the Morals of Dervishes

I

A person of distinction asked a parsa, or devout and holy man, saying,
"What do you offer in justification of a certain abid, another species
of Mohammedan monk, whose character others have been so ready to
question?" He replied: "In his outward behavior I see nothing to blame,
and with the secrets of his heart I claim no acquaintance.--Whomsoever
thou seest in a parsa's habit, consider him a parsa, or holy, and esteem
him as a good man; and if thou knowest not what is passing in his mind,
what business has the mohtasib, or censor, with the inside of the
house?"

II

I saw a dervish who, having laid his head at the fane of the Cabah of
Mecca, was complaining and saying, "O gracious, O merciful God! thou
knowest what can proceed from the sinful and ignorant that may be worthy
of thy acceptance!--I brought my excuse of imperfect performance, for I
have no claim on the score of obedience. The wicked repent them of their
sins; such as know God confess a deficiency of worship."

Abids, or the pious, seek a reward of their devotion, merchants a profit
on their traffic. I, a devoted servant, have brought hope, not
obedience, and have come as a beggar, and not for lucre!--_Do unto me
what is worthy of thyself; but deal not with me as I myself have
deserved_.--Whether thou wilt slay me or pardon my offence, my head and
face are prostrate at thy threshold. Thy servant has no will of his own;
whatever thou commandest, that he will perform. At the door of the Cabah
I saw a petitioner, who was praying and weeping bitterly. I ask not,
saying, "Approve of my obedience, but draw the pen of forgiveness across
my sins."

III

Within the sanctuary of the Cabah, at Mecca, I saw Abd-u'l-cadur the
Gilani, who having laid his face upon the Hasa, or black stone, was
saying, "Spare and pardon me, O God! and if, at all events, I am doomed
to punishment, raise me up at the day of resurrection blindfolded, that
I may not be put to shame in the eyes of the righteous." Every morning
when the day begins to dawn, with my face in the dust of humility, I am
saying, "O thou, whom I never can forget, dost thou ever bestow a
thought on thy servant?"

IV

A thief got into a holy man's cell; but, however much he searched, he
could find nothing to steal, and was going away disappointed. The good
soul was aware of what was passing, and taking up the rug on which he
had slept, he put it in his way that he mig