In Book 3 of Jalaluddin Rumi's *Masnavi*, the poet recounts the story of a maimed (handless) sheikh who miraculously weaves baskets with both hands. When a visitor discovers him working in his hut and asks how this is possible, the sheikh explains it is through excessive love and longing for God, but asks the visitor to keep the miracle a secret until his death. This narrative serves as a profound allegory for divine grace and spiritual empowerment, illustrating how God provides for and empowers those who truly rely on Him, transcending physical limitations.

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## Original content
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در عریش او را یکی زایر بیافت 
کو بهر دو دست می زنبیل بافت
گفت او را ای عدو جان خویش 
در عریشم آمده سر کرده پیش
این چراکردی شتاب اندر سباق 
گفت از افراط مهر و اشتیاق
پس تبسم کرد و گفت اکنون بیا 
لیک مخفی دار این را ای کیا
تا نمیرم من مگو این با کسی 
نه قرینی نه حبیبی نه خسی
بعد از آن قومی دگر از روزنش 
مطلع گشتند بر بافیدنش
گفت حکمت را تو دانی کردگار 
من کنم پنهان تو کردی آشکار
آمد الهامش که یکچندی بدند 
که درین غم بر تو منکر می‌شدند
که مگر سالوس بود او در طریق 
که خدا رسواش کرد اندر فریق
من نخواهم کان رمه کافر شوند 
در ضلالت در گمان بد روند
این کرامت را بکردیم آشکار 
که دهیمت دست اندر وقت کار
تا که آن بیچارگان بد گمان 
رد نگردند از جناب آسمان
من ترا بی این کرامتها ز پیش 
خود تسلی دادمی از ذات خویش
این کرامت بهر ایشان دادمت 
وین چراغ از بهر آن بنهادمت
تو از آن بگذشته‌ای کز مرگ تن 
ترسی وز تفریق اجزای بدن
وهم تفریق سر و پا از تو رفت 
دفع وهم اسپر رسیدت نیک زفت

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## English translation
In his bower a pilgrim found him,
weaving baskets with both hands.
He said to him: O enemy of your own soul,
you have come into my bower, thrusting your head forward.
Why did you hasten so in this race?
He said: From excess of love and longing.
Then he smiled and said: Now come in,
but keep this hidden, O noble one.
Until I die, tell this to no one—
not a companion, not a beloved, not a nobody.
After that, another group through his window
became aware of his weaving.
He said: You know the wisdom, O Creator—
I conceal it, yet You revealed it.
Inspiration came to him: There were some for a time
who in this grief were denying you,
saying: Perhaps he was a hypocrite on the Path,
and so God disgraced him before the crowd.
I do not want that flock to become unbelievers,
to go astray in error and ill-thinking.
We made this karāmat manifest
to give you a hand in the hour of need,
so that those wretched ill-thinking ones
may not be turned away from the threshold of Heaven.
I would have consoled you before this, without these karāmāt,
from My own Essence.
This karāmat I gave you for their sake,
and I placed this lamp for that reason.
You have passed beyond fearing the death of the body
and the scattering of the body's limbs.
The illusion of the separation of head and foot has departed from you;
the shield against illusion has reached you, mighty and firm.

دفتر سوم - بخش ۷۴ - کرامات شیخ اقطع و زنبیل بافتن او بدو دست / Book Three - Section 74 - The Miracles of the Maimed Sheikh and His Weaving of Baskets with Both Hands

The story of the Sheikh who was mistakenly accused of theft and had his hand severed is a key narrative in Book Three of Rumi's Masnavi. It illustrates the theme of patience, divine protection, and the hidden spiritual status of God's saints (Abdal).

### Key Narrative Elements
- **False Accusation:** The Sheikh is found among a band of thieves and is arrested and punished alongside them due to a lack of discernment by the city guard (Shahna).
- **The Severed Hand:** His right hand is severed before a rider intervenes, recognizing the Sheikh as a saint.
- **Divine Vindication and Apology:** The guard, realizing the holy status of the Sheikh, rushes to beg for forgiveness.

### Spiritual Significance
This tale highlights how outward trials can be forms of spiritual discipline and how the truly spiritual accept destiny without rancor, paving the way for the manifestation of divine miracles in subsequent sections.

The Tale of the Accused Sheikh and His Severed Hand in the Masnavi

## Original content
<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right; line-height: 2; margin-top: 0.5rem;">

در عریش او را یکی زایر بیافت 
کو به هر دو دست می زنبیل بافت
گفت او را ای عدو جان خویش 
در عریشم آمده سر کرده پیش
این چراکردی شتاب اندر سباق 
گفت از افراط مهر و اشتیاق
پس تبسم کرد و گفت اکنون بیا 
لیک مخفی دار این را ای کیا
تا نمیرم من مگو این با کسی 
نه قرینی نه حبیبی نه خسی
بعد از آن قومی دگر از روزنش 
مطلع گشتند بر بافیدنش
گفت حکمت را تو دانی کردگار 
من کنم پنهان تو کردی آشکار
آمد الهامش که یک چندی بدند 
که درین غم بر تو منکر می شدند
که مگر سالوس بود او در طریق 
که خدا رسواش کرد اندر فریق
من نخواهم کان رمه کافر شوند 
در ضلالت در گمان بد روند
این کرامت را بکردیم آشکار 
که دهیمت دست اندر وقت کار
تا که آن بیچارگان بد گمان 
رد نگردند از جناب آسمان
من تورا بی این کرامتها ز پیش 
خود تسلی دادمی از ذات خویش
این کرامت بهر ایشان دادمت 
وین چراغ از بهر آن بنهادمت
تو از آن بگذشته ای کز مرگ تن 
ترسی وز تفریق اجزای بدن
وهم تفریق سر و پا از تو رفت 
دفع وهم اسپر رسیدت نیک زفت

</div>

## English translation
In his hut, a visitor found him
weaving a basket with both hands.
He said to him, "O enemy of your own soul,
you have entered my hut, poking your head in!
Why did you hasten so much in this race?"
He said, "Out of excessive love and longing."
Then he smiled and said, "Come in now,
but keep this a secret, O noble one.
Until I die, do not speak of this to anyone,
not to a companion, nor a friend, nor anyone insignificant."
After that, another group through his window
became aware of his weaving.
He said, "You know the wisdom, O Creator,
I keep it hidden, but You have made it manifest!"
Inspiration came to him: "For a while there were those
who, in this affliction, were denying you,
Saying, 'Perhaps he was a hypocrite on the path,
so God disgraced him among the group.'
I do not want that flock to become disbelievers,
and proceed in misguidance and evil suspicion.
We made this miracle manifest
that We might give you a hand at the time of work,
So that those poor, suspicious ones
would not be rejected from the heavenly threshold.
Without these miracles, I would have already
consoled you from My own Essence.
I gave you this miracle for their sake,
and I placed this lamp for that reason.
You have moved beyond fearing the death of the body,
and the separation of the body's parts.
The illusion of the separation of head and foot has left you;
to repel illusion, a very sturdy shield has reached you."

دفتر سوم - بخش ۷۴ - کرامات شیخ اقطع و زنبیل بافتن او به دو دست / Book Three - Section 74 - The Miracles of the Maimed Sheikh and His Weaving of Baskets with Both Hands

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