Original content

English translation

One day a new disciple built a new house; The elder (pīr) came and inspected his house. The sheikh spoke to that new disciple of his — He tested that right-thinking one: "Why did you make a window, O companion?" He said: "So that light may enter by this way." He said: "That is secondary; what is truly needed Is that by this way you may hear the call to prayer."

Bāyazīd searched much throughout his journey To find someone who was the Khiḍr of his own time. He saw an old man with a stature like the crescent moon; He saw in him the radiance and speech of the spiritual men (rijāl). His eyes were blind, yet his heart was like the sun — Like an elephant that has seen India in its dream. With eyes shut, the sleeping one sees a hundred delights; When he opens them, he sees nothing — O wonder! Many a wonder becomes luminous in sleep; Within sleep the heart becomes a window. He who is awake and yet sees a sweet dream — He is a gnostic (ʿārif); rub the dust of his feet in your eyes.

He sat before him and inquired about his state; He found him a dervish and also a man with family. He said: "Where is your resolve, O Bāyazīd? Where do you intend to carry the baggage of your wandering?" He said: "I intend to go to the Ka'ba at dawn." He said: "Come, what provisions do you have with you for the road?" He said: "I have two hundred silver dirhams; See, they are tied tightly in the corner of my cloak." He said: "Circumambulate around me seven times, And count this as better than the circumambulation of the Hajj. And lay those dirhams before me, O generous one; Know that you have performed the Hajj and your desire is fulfilled. You have performed the Umra, you have gained everlasting life; You have been purified, you have hastened upon Ṣafā. By the truth of that Truth which your soul has witnessed — God has chosen me over His own House. Though the Ka'ba is indeed His outward house, My created being is also the house of His innermost secret. Since He made that house, He has never entered it; But into this house, none but the Living One (al-Ḥayy) has ever entered. When you have seen me, you have seen God; You have circumambulated the Ka'ba of Truth. Serving me is obedience and praise of God — Lest you suppose that the Real (al-Ḥaqq) is separate from me. Open your eyes well and look upon me, That you may see the light of the Real within a human being."

Bāyazīd kept those subtle points well in mind; He held them in his ear like golden rings. Through him, Bāyazīd came into great increase; The one who had reached the end arrived at last at the ultimate end.