123 A brief notice of some of the [Jan. 



the followers of Islam are subdivided. On this Kounawi sent one of 

 his friends, a person of great acquirements, to the Mouldna, in the midst 

 of a large assembly, to ask whether this were true; and, if so, to dis- 

 grace him publicly. He went, and on the Afould?ia's acknowledging it, 

 commenced a violent harangue filled with abuse and invective. The 

 Mouldna patiently allowed him to go on until he was fatigued. When 

 he had concluded, he smiled and calmly observed — " In all that thou 

 hast just been saying I also agree." His reviler abashed and confused, 

 retired. 



The following anecdote, from a number of others of the same stamp, 

 may suffice to shew the manner in which these dreaming visionaries 

 are accustomed to apply the external impressions of this sublunary 

 world to the subjects of their own abstruse meditations. One day the 

 Mouldna, seated among his pupils, observed, on hearing the sound of a 

 llebab, " the sound of that instrument is the melody of the gate of 

 Paradise." A bystander of little faith, remarked, " I too hear the 

 very same sound, but do not experience these glowing sensations." 

 The Mouldna, in allusion to the scepticism of his adversary, exclaim- 

 ed, " God forbid that you should! What we hear is the melody of the 

 portals of Paradise opening for us : what you hear is the grating of 

 them closing upon you." In his last illness J elal-uddin thus addressed 

 his intimates — " Be not sorrowful in that I am now about to depart 

 from among you : inasmuch as Nur Mansur (the mercy of God on him), 

 a hundred and fifty years after the termination of his mortal career, 

 became visible to Shaikh Ferid uddin Attar ; and remained with him 

 continually as his spiritual guide. Under every circumstance be ye 

 with me, and keep me in remembrance, in order that I may extend your 

 welfare in every state of existence (lit. in every dress) in which my 

 destiny may place me. There are now only two links that bind me to 

 this world : the first, obedience to the will of God— the second, your- 

 selves. W T hen, through Almighty grace, I become a simple elementary 

 being, and the world of indivisibility shall have opened on my view, the 

 tie which attaches me to you will still remain." 



When Shaik Sadi Uddin (may God purify his inward state) came to 

 see the dying poet, he ejaculated, " May Allah grant you a speedy reco- 

 very and advance your dignity." Jelal uddin replied, " May God also 

 effect your cure. Between the lover and his mistress there now remains 

 nought but a thin garment. Would ye not that light unite with light?" 



