A few travelers were in my company, outwardly adorned with piety, and one of the nobles had a high opinion of this group and had assigned them a stipend. However, one of them acted in a way that was not befitting of dervishes. The noble’s opinion soured, and their support dwindled. I wanted to find a way to secure my companions’ livelihood. I sought an audience with the noble, but the doorkeeper did not let me in and treated me harshly. I excused him, for the wise have said:
Do not approach the doors of lords, ministers, and kings without a mediator, For when dogs and doorkeepers find a stranger, one grabs his collar and the other his hem.
When the close attendants of the noble learned of my situation, they brought me in with honor and assigned me a higher position. However, I humbly sat lower and said:
Let me remain a humble servant, To sit among the ranks of the servants.
He said, “By God, what is this talk?!”
If you sit on our heads and eyes, I will bear your burden, for you are precious.
In short, I sat and spoke on various topics until the matter of my companions’ misstep came up. I said:
What fault did the generous lord see, That he holds his servant in contempt? God’s greatness and justice are certain, He sees the fault but maintains the sustenance.
The noble greatly appreciated this speech and ordered the means of livelihood for my companions to be prepared as before and to cover the days of their idleness. I thanked him for the favor, kissed the ground in service, and apologized for my boldness. As I was leaving, I said:
When the Kaaba becomes the destination of needs, people travel from far distances to see it, You must bear with people like us, For no one throws stones at a fruitless tree.
