PEARLS OF THE FAITH 
 
 OE 
 
 ISLAM'S ROSAET 
 
 BEING 
 
 THE NINETY-NINE BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF ALLAH 
 
 (ASMA-EL-HTJSNA) 
 
 "With Comments in Verse from various Oriental Sonrces 
 
 (AS MADE BY AN INDIAN MUSSULMAN) 
 
 EDWIN ARNOLD, O.S.I. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE LIGHT OF ASIA"; "THE INDIAN 
 SONG OF SONGS"; ETC. 
 
 "Allah hath most excellent names, therefore call upon Him by 
 the same." Kordn, ch. vii. "Al Aardf " 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 B. ALDEN, PUBLISHER 
 
 1883 
 
SO I 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IT is a custom of many pious Muslims to employ in 
 their devotions a three-stringed chaplet, each string con- 
 taining thirty-three beads, and each bead representing 
 one of the "ninety-nine beautiful names of Allah," 
 whenever this among many other religious uses is 
 made of it. The KorSn bids them "celebrate Allah 
 with an abundant celebration," and on certain occasions 
 such as during the intervals of the Taretwih night 
 service in RamadhSn the Faithful pass these ninety- 
 nine beads of the rosary through their fingers, repeating 
 with each " Name of God " an ejaculation of praise and 
 worship. Such an exercise is called Zifar, or "remem- 
 brance," and the rosary Masba'hah. 
 
 In the following pages of varied verse I have enumer- 
 ated these ninety-nine " beautiful names," and appended 
 to each from the point of view of an Indian Moham- 
 medan some illustrative legend, tradition, record, or 
 comment, drawn from diverse Oriental sources; occa- 
 sionally paraphrasing (as closely as possible) from the 
 text of the Korn itself, any particular passage contain- 
 ing the sacred Title, or casting light upon it. In this 
 way it seemed possible to present the general spirit of 
 Islm under a new and not unacceptable form; since 
 almost every religious idea of the KorSn comes up in 
 
4 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 the long catalogue of attributives. Tender, as well as 
 terrible; lofty in morality, albeit grim and stern in 
 dogma, the " Perspicuous Book" is still, and must al- 
 ways be, replete with interest for Christendom, since, if 
 Isl&m was born in the Desert, with Arab Sabseanism for 
 its mother and Judaism for its father, its foster-nurse 
 was Eastern Christianity, and Muhammad's attitude to- 
 wards Christ, and towards the religion which bears His 
 name, is ever one of profound reverence and grateful 
 recognition. Nor are the differences between the older 
 and younger creed really so great as their similitudes in 
 certain aspects. The soul of Islam is its declaration of 
 the unity of God : its heart is the inculcation of an ab- 
 solute resignation to His will. Not more sublime, there- 
 fore, in religious history appears the figure of Paul the 
 tent-maker, proclaiming the "Unknown God " at Athens, 
 than that of the camel- driver Muhammad, son of Abdal- 
 lah and Amtnah, abolishing all the idols of the Arabian 
 Pantheon, except their chief ALLAH TA'ALAH, "God 
 the Most High" and under that ancient and well- 
 received appellation establishing the oneness of the 
 origin, government, and life of the universe. Thereby 
 that marvellous and gifted Teacher created a vast 
 empire of new belief and new civilization, and prepared 
 a sixth part of humanity for the developments and rec- 
 onciliations which later times will bring. For Isl^m 
 must be conciliated ; it cannot be thrust scornfully aside 
 or rooted out. It shares the task of the education of 
 the world with its sister religions, and it will contribute 
 its eventual portion to 
 
 "that far-off divine event, 
 Towards which the whole creation moves." 
 
 Composed amid Scotch mountains during a brief 
 
PREFACE. 5 
 
 summer-rest from politics, and with no library near at 
 hand for references, my book has need to ask indul- 
 gence from the learned. It does but aim, however, to 
 suggest (in poetic form) juster thoughts than sometimes 
 prevail of Isldm, of its founder, and of its votaries ; em- 
 ploying the language of one among them, and thinking 
 with his thoughts, since this alone permits the necessary 
 sympathy. 
 
 I have thus at length finished the Oriental Trilogy 
 which I designed. In my " Indian Song of Songs " I 
 sought to transfer to English poetry a subtle and lovely 
 Sanskrit idyll of the Hindoo theology. In my "Light 
 of Asia" I related the story and displayed the gentle and 
 far-reaching doctrines of that great Hindoo prince who 
 founded Buddhism. I have tried to present here, in the 
 simple, familiar, and credulous, but earnest spirit and 
 manner of Isl&m and from its own points of view 
 some of the thoughts and beliefs of the followers of the 
 noble Prophet of Arabia. 
 
 ED WEST ARNOLD, C.S.I. 
 
 GLKNGYLE, PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND, 
 September, 1883. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 NO. PAGE 
 
 1. ALLAH 13 
 
 2. Ar-Rahmdn " The Merciful " 15 
 
 (The Sinful Angels.) 
 
 3. Ar-Raheem " The Compassionate" 17 
 
 (Solomon and the Ant.) 
 
 4. Al-Mdlik "The King of Kings" 19 
 
 (The Sultan and the Potter.) 
 
 5. Al-Kuddus "TheHolyOne" 22 
 
 (God's Name in Heaven.) 
 
 6. As-Saldm " The Peace" 24 
 
 (The Peace of Paradise.) 
 
 7. Al-Maumin " The Faithful " 27 
 
 (The Verity of Sayid.) 
 
 8. Al-Mufiaimin " The Help in Peril " 30 
 
 (The Spider and the Dove.) 
 
 9. Al-Hathim " The Mighty" 32 
 
 (The Throne- Verse.) 
 
 10. Al-Jabbdr " The All-Compelling" 33 
 
 (Sura 59.) 
 
 11. Al-Mutakabbir " The Majestic" 34 
 
 (Azar and Abraham.) 
 
 12. Al-Khalik "The Creator" 35 
 
 (Signs of the Lord.) 
 
 13. Al-Bari "The Artificer" 37 
 
 (Angels' Wings.) 
 
 14. Al-Muzawwir " The Fashioner" 38 
 
 (The Making of Man.) 
 
 15. Al-Ghaffdr " The Forgiver" 40 
 
 (Abraham's Offence.) 
 
 16. Al-Kahhdr " The Dominant " 42 
 
 (Sura " Of the Cattle.") 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 NO. PAGE 
 
 17. Al-Wahhdb " The Bestower" 44 
 
 (Ali and the Angels.) 
 
 18. Al-Razzdk " The Provider" 49 
 
 (Sura " Of the Forenoon.") 
 
 19. Al-Fdtta'h " The Opener" 50 
 
 (Muhammad's Journey to Heaven.) 
 
 20. AVAlim " The All-Knower" 55 
 
 (The Moakkibat.) 
 
 21. Al-Kdbiz "TheCloser" 57 
 
 (Evil Deeds.) 
 
 22. Al-Bdsit " The Uncloser" 59 
 
 (Good Deeds.) 
 
 23. Al-Khdfiz "TheAbaser" 62 
 
 (Nimrud and the Gnat.) 
 
 24. Ar-Rafi " The Exalter" 63 
 
 (Allah's Prophets.) 
 
 25. Al-Muhizz " The Honourer" 65 
 
 (Sura " Of Imran's Family.") 
 
 26. Al-Muzil " The Leader Astray" 66 
 
 (God's Will and Free-will.) 
 
 27. As-Sami'A 4l The All-Hearing" 68 
 
 (A Shepherd's Prayer.) 
 
 28. Al-Bazir " The All-Seeing" 71 
 
 (Azrael and the Indian Prince.) 
 
 29. Al-Hdkim "The Judge of All" 73 
 
 (The Last Day.) 
 
 30. Al-Hddil " The Equitable" 75 
 
 (Sura " Of Jonas.") 
 
 31. Al-Latif " The Gracious One" 76 
 
 (Sura " Of Counsel.") 
 
 32. Al-Khabir "He who is Aware" 77 
 
 (Muhammad in the Cemetery.) 
 
 33. Al-Hdlim "The Clement" 78 
 
 (The Dharra and the Date-stone.) 
 
 34. Al-'Aziz " The Strong". . . 79 
 
 (Sura " Of Al-Akhaf.") 
 
 35. Al-Ohdfir " The Pardoner" 80 
 
 (Hassan's Slave.) 
 
 36. Ash-Shdkir " The Thankful " 82 
 
 (Sura " Of Al-Kauthar.") 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 NO. PAGE 
 
 37. Al-'Alee " The Exalted " 84 
 
 (Sura "Of the Bee.") 
 
 38. Al-Kabir " The Very Great " 85 
 
 (The Seven Heavens.) 
 
 39. Al-Hdfiz * The Preserver" 87 
 
 (Sura " Of the Night Star.") 
 
 40. Al-MuTdt "TheMaintainer" 88 
 
 (Sura " Of the Inevitable.") 
 
 41. Al-Hasib " The Reckoner" 90 
 
 (Sura " Of Women.") 
 
 42. Al-Jamil " The Beneficent " 91 
 
 (The Rose-Garden.) 
 
 43. Al-Karim " The Bountiful " 93 
 
 (Sura " Of Cleaving Asunder.") 
 
 44. Al-Rakib " The Watchful " , 94 
 
 (The Books of Good and Evil.) 
 
 45. Al-Mujib " The Hearer of Prayer" 96 
 
 (Ali and the Jew.) 
 
 46. Al- Was'ih " The All-Comprehending 1 ' 100 
 
 (Turning to Mecca.) 
 
 47. Al-Hdkim al Mutlak. . " The Judge of Judges" 101 
 
 (The Angels of the Scales.) 
 
 48. Al-Wadood " The Loving" 103 
 
 (Tasmin and Salsabil.) 
 
 49. Al-Majid " The All-Glorious" 106 
 
 (Sura "Of the Cow.") 
 
 50. Al-Bdhith " The Raiser from Death" 107 
 
 (Iblis and Abraham.) 
 
 51. Ash-Stiahid " The Witness" 110 
 
 (Poets and Prophets.) 
 
 52. Al-Hakk " The Truth" Ill 
 
 (The Sin of Sins.) 
 
 53. Al-WaTdl " The Guardian" 112 
 
 (Sura " Of the Cow.") 
 
 54. Al-Kawi " The Almighty" 113 
 
 (The Fly and the False Gods.) 
 
 55. Al-Mateen " The Firm" 114 
 
 (The Tent-Pole.) 
 
 56. Al-Watt " The Nearest Friend " 115 
 
 (Abraham's Bread.) 
 
 57. Al-Hamid " The All-Praiseworthy" 119 
 
 (The Garden and the Rock.) 
 
10 CONTENTS. 
 
 NO. PAGE 
 
 58. Al-M'dhsi " The Accountant" 120 
 
 (Sura " Of the Earthquake.") 
 
 59. Al-Mubdi " The Beginner" 121 
 
 (The Light of Life.) 
 
 60. Al-Mu'hid "The Restorer" 122 
 
 (A Message from the Dead.) 
 
 61. Al-Mo'hyi " The Quickener" 125 
 
 (Sura " Of the Signs.") 
 
 62. Al-Mumit "The Slayer" 126 
 
 (The Angel of Death.) 
 
 63. Al-Haiy " The Ever-Living" 129 
 
 (The Life Beyond.) 
 
 64. Al-Kaiytim " The Self -Subsisting" 130 
 
 (The Trumpet.) 
 
 65. Al-Wdjid "The All-Perceiving" 131 
 
 (Sura " Of Daybreak.") 
 
 66. Al-Wdhid "TheOne" 133 
 
 (Al-I'hlas.) 
 
 67. As-Samad .."The Eternal" 134 
 
 (Ozair the Jew.) 
 
 68. Al-Kadar " Providence" 138 
 
 (Kismat.) 
 
 69. Al-Muktadir " The All-Powerful" 139 
 
 (Sura " Of the Moon.") 
 
 70. Al-Mukaddim \ " The Forewarner" ) 140 
 
 71. Al-Muwakhir " The Fulfiller" I ' ' 
 
 (Sura "Of K.") 
 
 72. Al-Awwal \ "The First" } 
 
 73. Al-Akhir ( "The Last" f 142 
 
 74. Ath-Thdhir ( "The Manifest" f " 
 
 75. A l-Bdtin ) " The Hidden" ) 
 
 (The " Mothers of the Names.") 
 
 76. Al-Wdli " The All-Governing" 144 
 
 (Solomon's Signet.) 
 
 77. Al-Mutdhdli " The One above Reproach" 149 
 
 (Moses and the Angel.) 
 
 78. Al-Barr "The Good" 151 
 
 (The Adulteress.) 
 
 79. Al-Taiowdb " The Relenting" 154 
 
 (Adam quitting Eden.) 
 
 80. Al-Muntdkim ) " The Avenger" I ^ 
 
 81. Al-Ghafoar f "The Rewarder" ' 
 
 (HeU and Heaven.) 
 
CONTENTS. 11 
 
 NO. PAGE 
 
 82. Al-Rawtif "The Ever-Indulgent" 160 
 
 (Sura "Of the Star.") 
 
 83. Mdlik-ul-MulU " King of the Kingdom" 162 
 
 (Sura "Of the Emigration." 
 
 84. Dhu'l jaldl wa Ikrdm." Lord of Splendid Power" 163 
 
 (Sura " Of the Merciful.") 
 
 85. Al-Muksit " The Equitable" 164 
 
 (The Last Sermon of the Prophet.) 
 
 86. Al-Jami l h " The Gatherer" 167 
 
 (Sura " Of Women.") 
 
 87. Al-Qhani " The All-Sufficing" 168 
 
 (Sura " Of Troops.") 
 
 88. Al-Mughnz " The Sufficer" 170 
 
 (Sura " Of the Afternoon.") 
 
 89. Al-Mu'hti j. " The Provider" I m 
 
 90. Al-Mdni l h f " The Withholder" i ' ' 
 
 (The Two Gateways.) 
 
 91. An-Ndfi'h " The Propitious" 173 
 
 (The Dove.) 
 
 92. Az-Zarr " The Harmful " 175 
 
 (King Sheddad's Paradise.) 
 
 93. An-Noor " The Light "...'..... 181 
 
 (Sura " Of Light.") 
 
 94. Al-Hddi "The Guide" 182 
 
 (The Four Travellers.) 
 
 95. Al-Azali \ " Eternal in the Past " \ Ig4 
 
 96. Al-Bdkt j " Eternal in the Future" J ' ' 
 
 (Sura u Of Ya Sin.") 
 
 97. Al-Warith " The Inheritor" 186 
 
 (The Rose and the Dewdrop.) 
 
 98. Al-EaschU " The Unerring" 188 
 
 (The Prophet's Oath.) 
 
 99. Az-Zaboor " The Patient" 190 
 
 (Islam.) 
 NOTES 191 
 
"ALLAH!" BI-'SMI-'LLAH! SAY THAT GOD is ONE, 
 LIVING, ETERNAL; AND BESIDES HIM NONE. 
 
THB ~^ 
 
 USIVBESITT 
 
 Say Ar-Rahman f " The Merciful " Him call ; 
 For He is full of mercy unto all. 
 
 ONCE on a day, in Paradise, 
 
 Discourse indignant did arise 
 
 Amongst the Angels, seeing how 
 
 The sons of Adam sinned below ; 
 
 Albeit Allah's grace had sent 
 
 Prophets with much admonishment. 
 
 " Heedless and guilty race," they cried, 
 
 ' ' Whose penitence is set aside 
 
 At each temptation ! Truth and Right 
 
 Ye know not!" Then a wondrous light 
 
 Fell on their brows a mighty word 
 
 Sounded the Presence of the Lord 
 
 Spake: " Of your number choose ye two 
 
 To go among mankind and do 
 
 ' Justice and Right,' teaching them these." 
 
 Therewith, from those bright companies, 
 
 Harftt went and Marfit went down 
 
 On earth, laying aside their crown 
 
 Of rays, and plumes of rainbow feather; 
 
 And on the judgment-seat together 
 
 Many long years they sate, and wrought 
 
 Just judgment upon each cause brought. 
 
16 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Until, before that justice-seat 
 There came a woman, fair and sweet, 
 So ravishing of form and mien 
 That great Soharah, who is queen 
 Of the third planet, hath not eyes 
 As soft, nor mouth made in such wise. 
 And one whom she did wrong, besought 
 Sentence against her: she had nought 
 Of plea, but in her dazzling grace 
 Stood fearless in the audience-place; 
 Consuming hearts with hot desire 
 By subtle Beauty's searching fire. 
 Then said Harut, forgetting Heaven, 
 " Pardon to such must, sure, be given." 
 Whispered M^rut, " If thou wilt be 
 Leman of mine, thou shalt go free." 
 And for her love those two contended, 
 Till the false scene was sorely ended 
 "With earthquake, and with lightning-flash, 
 And rolling thunder's wrathful crash, 
 " Midst which the city and the folk 
 Passed from their ken, and a Voice spoke: 
 " Come unto judgment, ye who called 
 Allah too merciful !" 
 
 Appalled 
 
 Harftt lay and Martit lay prone 
 In Paradise, before the Throne; 
 Hearing that doom of God, which said : 
 " Until My trumpet calls the dead, 
 Dwell on the earth, where ye have learned 
 The just may unto sin be turned." 
 
 Merciful One and just ! we bless 
 Thy name, and crave forgiveness. 
 
SOLOMON AND THE ANT. 17 
 
 Say Ar-Raheem ! call Him "Compassionate," 
 For He is pitiful to small and great. 
 
 ' Tis written that the serving-angels stand 
 Beside God's throne, ten myriads on each hand, 
 Waiting, with wings outstretched and watchful eyes, 
 To do their Master's heavenly embassies. 
 Quicker than thought His high commands they read, 
 Swifter than light to execute them speed ; 
 Bearing the word of power from star to star 
 Some hither and some thither, near and far. 
 And unto these nought is too high or low, 
 To mean or mighty, if He wills it so ; 
 Neither is any creature, great or small, 
 Beyond His pity; which embraceth all, 
 Because His eye beholdeth all which are; 
 Sees without search, and counteth without care, 
 Nor lies the babe nearer the nursing-place 
 Than Allah's smallest child to Allah's grace; 
 Nor any ocean roll so vast that He 
 Forgets one wave of all that restless sea. 
 
 Thus it is written ; and moreover told 
 
 How Gabriel, watching by the Gates of gold, 
 
 Heard from the Voice Ineffable this word 
 
 Of two-fold mandate uttered by the Lord: 
 
 ' ' Go earthward ! pass where Solomon hath made 
 
 His pleasure-house, and sitteth there arrayed, 
 
18 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Goodly and splendid whom I crowned the king 
 For at this hour My servant doth a thing 
 Unfitting : out of Nisibis there came 
 A thousand steeds with nostrils all a-flame 
 And limbs of swiftness, prizes of the fight; 
 Lo! these are led, for Solomon's delight, 
 Before the palace, where he gazeth now 
 Filling his heart with pride at that brave show; 
 So taken with the snorting and the tramp 
 Of his war-horses, that Our silver lamp 
 Of eve is swung in vain, Our warning Sun 
 "Will sink before his sunset- prayer's begun; 
 So shall the people say, ' This king, our lord, 
 Loves more the long-maned trophies of his sword 
 Than the remembrance of his God? * Go in! 
 Save thou My faithful servant from such sin." 
 
 " Also, upon the slope of Arafat, 
 Beneath a lote-tree which is fallen flat, 
 Toileth a yellow ant who carrieth home 
 Food for her nest, but so far hath she come 
 Her worn feet fail, and she will perish, caught 
 In the falling rain ; but thou, make the way naught, 
 And help her to her people in the cleft 
 Of the black rock." 
 
 Silently Gabriel left 
 
 The Presence, and prevented the king's sin, 
 And holp the little ant at entering in. 
 
 Thou wJiose love is wide and great, 
 We praise Thee, " The Compassionate." 
 
THE SULTAN AND THE POTTER. 19 
 
 Call Him " Al-Malik" King of all the kings, 
 Maker and Master of created things. 
 
 The Sultan of Damascus found asleep 
 
 The potter Ebn Soldi, 
 And bore him to the palace, where he waked 
 
 In garments beautiful. 
 
 Consider! if a king should call thee " friend," 
 
 And lead thee to his court, 
 Roofed large with lazulite, and pavemented 
 
 With flow'rs, on green floors wrought; 
 
 If he should bid thee sit at meat; and spread 
 
 A table, served so fine 
 There lacked not any pleasant food or fruit 
 
 But came at call of thine; 
 
 If he hung high a glorious golden lamp 
 
 To shine where thy feet tread; 
 
 And stretched black 'broidered hangings, sown with 
 gems, 
 
 For curtains to thy bed; 
 
 If for thy heats he bade soft zephyrs blow; 
 
 Sent, at thy thirst, sweet rains ; 
 And filled the groves with minstrels, gayly garbed, 
 
 To charm thee with their strains; 
 
20 - PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 If, past the confines of his palace-grounds, 
 
 He showed thee spacious seas, 
 Where, wafted o'er the dancing foam, might sail 
 
 Thou and thine argosies; 
 
 If, for society in that fair place, 
 
 He gave glad companies, 
 Kinsmen and friends and helpmates, and the bliss 
 
 Of beauty's lips and eyes ; 
 
 With wisdom's scroll to study, and the ways 
 
 Of wondrous living things; 
 And lovely pleasure of all ornaments 
 
 That Nature's treasure brings, 
 
 Coral and pearl ; turkis, and agate stones 
 
 Milk-white or rosy-veined; 
 Amber and ivory ; jade ; shawls wove with gold, 
 
 Scarves with sea-purple stained ; 
 
 If the king gave thee these, and only wrote 
 
 Upon his inner door : 
 ' ' Serve me and honor me and keep my laws, 
 
 And thus live evermore 
 
 In better bliss, when ye shall pass hereby, 
 
 As surely pass ye must : " 
 Who is there would not praise that monarch's name 
 
 With forehead in the dust? 
 
 Lo! but He doeth this Allah our King, 
 
 His sky is lazulite; 
 His earth is paved with emerald- work; its stores 
 
 Are spread for man's delight; 
 
THE SULTAN AND THE POTTER. 21 
 
 His sun by day, His silver stars by night, 
 
 Shine for our sakes, His breeze 
 Cools us and wafts our ships; His pleasant lands 
 
 Are girdled with the seas 
 
 Which send the rain, and make the crystal bridge 
 
 Whereby man roams at will 
 Prom court to court of Allah's pleasure-house; 
 
 Seeing that writing still 
 
 Upon the inner gate which all must pass 
 
 ' ' Love me and keep my laws 
 That ye may live, since there is greater life 
 
 Beyond these darkened doors." 
 
 If Ebn Solul, the potter, loved Him not 
 Whose kindness was so strong; 
 
 If Ebn Solul kept not the palace laws, 
 Had not that Sultan wrong? 
 
 Sovereign Giver of good things, 
 
 We praise Thee, " Malik" King of kings. 
 
22 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 AUah-dL-Kuddusthe " Holy One" He is; 
 But purify thy speech, pronouncing this; 
 
 For even Israfil, 
 
 Who waits in Heaven still 
 Nearest the Throne, and hath the voice of sweetness, 
 
 Before his face doth fold 
 
 The wings of feathered gold, 
 Saying ' ' Al-Kuddfts ;" and in supreme completeness 
 
 Of lowly reverence stands, 
 
 Laying his angel-hands 
 Over his lips, lest Allah's holiest name 
 
 Be lightly breathed on high; 
 
 And that white mystery 
 Pass, as if that and others were the same. 
 
 * Iblis 'tis written when 
 
 He heareth among men 
 The name of "Allah" spoken, shrinks and flies; 
 
 But at the sound of this, 
 
 Uttered in realms of bliss, 
 The Djins and Angels, in their ranks, arise. 
 
 And what believer dares 
 Begin his morning prayers 
 
 *Cf. Koran, cxiv. chapter " Of men." 
 
GOD' 8 NAME IN HEAVEN. 23 
 
 Without " wuzu'h" th' ablution? who is seen 
 
 His Korn to rehearse 
 
 But hath in mind its verse, 
 " Let none me touch, save such as are made clean?" 
 
 Lo ! if with streams or sands 
 
 Ye lave the earnest hands 
 Lifted in prayer; and if ye wash the mouth 
 
 Which reads the sacred scroll, 
 
 Dare ye with sullied soul 
 Meditate this dread word, that shrines the truth 
 
 Of Allah's purity? 
 
 Bethink! His great eyes see 
 The hearts of men unto their inmost core ! 
 
 Make clean your hearts within; 
 
 Cast forth each inmost sin ; 
 Then with bowed brows, say this name, and adore. 
 
 Forgive, Thou Pure One ! Whom we bless 
 Of our good deeds the sinfulness. 
 
34 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 6 
 
 Thou Who art "Peace" and unto peace dost bring, 
 Allah-as-Saldm ! we praise Thee, Judge and King ! 
 
 WHEN th' unshunned Day arriveth, none of men shall 
 
 doubt it come ; 
 Into Hell some it will lower, and exalt to Heaven 
 
 some. 
 
 When the earth with quakenings quaketh, and the 
 
 mountains crumble flat, 
 Quick and dead shall be divided threefold ; on this side, 
 
 and that, 
 
 The Companions of the right hand (ah! how joyful 
 
 they will be !) 
 The Companions of the left hand (oh! what misery to 
 
 see!) 
 
 Such, moreover, as of old time, loved the truth and 
 
 taught it well, 
 First in faith, they shall be foremost in reward: the 
 
 rest to Hell! 
 
 But those souls attaining Allah, ah, the Gardens of 
 
 good cheer 
 Kept to lodge them! yea, besides the "Faithful," 
 
 many will be there. 
 
TEE PEACE OF PARADISE. 25 
 
 Lightly lying on soft couches, beautiful with broidered 
 
 gold, 
 Friends with friends, they shall be served by youths 
 
 immortal, who will hold 
 
 Akwdb, abareekcupa and goblets brimming with ce- 
 lestial wine 
 
 Wine which hurts nor head nor stomach this and 
 fruits of Heaven which shine 
 
 Bright, desirable; and rich flesh of what birds they rel- 
 ish best; 
 
 Yea, and feasted, there shall soothe them damsels fair- 
 est, stateliest 
 
 Damsels having eyes of wonder, large black eyes like 
 
 hidden pearls, 
 Lulu-l-maknun, Allah grants them, for sweet love, 
 
 those matchless girls. 
 
 Never in that Garden hear they speech of folly, sin, or 
 
 dread; 
 Only " Peace" As-Saldm only that one word for ever 
 
 said, 
 
 " Peace! Peace! Peace!" and the Companions of the 
 
 right hand (ah ! those bowers !) 
 They shall roam in thornless lote-groves, under mawz- 
 
 trees hung with flowers ; 
 
 Shaded, fed by flowing waters; near to fruits which 
 never cloy, 
 
 Hanging always ripe for plucking; and at hand the ten- 
 der joy 
 
26 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Of those maids of Heaven, the Houris : lo ! to them We 
 
 gave a birth 
 Specially creating, lol they are not as the wives of 
 
 earth; 
 
 Ever virginal and stainless, how so often they embrace, 
 Always young and loved and loving these are ; neither 
 is there grace 
 
 Like the grace and bliss the Black-eyed keep for you in 
 
 Paradise, 
 O Companions of the right hand! O ye others that were 
 
 wise!* 
 
 Giver of peace ! when comes that day, 
 Set us within Thy sight, we pray. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ivi. chapter " Of the Inevitable. 1 
 
THE VERITY OF SAYID. 27 
 
 Al-Maumin ! " Faithful," fast, and just is He, 
 And lowth such as live in verity. 
 
 IBN SAWA, Lord of Bahrein, in the field 
 
 Captured a Sheikh, an Arab of the hills, 
 
 Sayid-bin-Tayf ; and the king's oath was passed 
 
 That each tenth man of all the captives die 
 
 Together with their chieftains, for the war 
 
 Waxed fierce, and hearts of men were turned to flame. 
 
 So led they Sayid forth before the camp 
 
 At Azan ; and a eunuch of the guard, 
 
 Savage and black, stood with his haick uprolled 
 
 Back to the armpit, and the scimetar's edge 
 
 Naked to strike. 
 
 But suddenly the king 
 
 Inquired, " Art thou not he gave me to drink, 
 Hunting gazelles, before the war began?" 
 " Yea, I am he!" said Sayid. 
 
 Quoth the king, 
 
 " Ask not thy life, but ask some other boon, 
 That I may pay my debt." 
 
 Sayid replied, 
 
 " Death is not terrible to me who die 
 Red with this unbelieving blood of thine; 
 But there hath come a first-born in my tent; 
 
28 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Fain would I see my son's face for a day, 
 Before mine eyes are sealed. Lend me my life, 
 To hold as something borrowed from thy hand, 
 Which I will bring again." 
 
 " Ayl" laughed the king, 
 " If one should answer for it with his own. 
 Show me thy hostage 1" 
 
 " Let me stand his bond," 
 Spake one on whom the lot of mercy fell 
 Ishdk of Tayf , a gallant youth and fair 
 " I am his sister's son; bind ye my arms, 
 And set free Sayid, that he ride at speed, 
 And see his first-born's face, and come again." 
 
 So Sayid went free again, seeking his home. 
 But in the camp they mocked that faithful friend, 
 Saying, " Lo! as a fool thou diest now, 
 Staking thy life upon an Arab's word. 
 Why should he haste, to abide the bitter blade? 
 Will the scared jackal try the trap again; 
 The hawk once limed return unto the snare ? 
 Cry to the desert-wind to turn and come, 
 But call not Sayid." 
 
 Ishak only smiled, 
 And said, " He is a Muslim, he will come!" 
 
 The days passed, Sayid came not, and they led 
 The hostage forth, for Ish&k now must die ; 
 But still he smiled, saying, ' ' Till sunset's hour 
 Slay me not, for at sunset he will come. " 
 
 So fell it, for the sun had touched the palms, 
 And that black swordsman stood again in act 
 
THE VERITY OF SAYID. 29 
 
 To strike, when Sayid's white mare, galloping in, 
 Drew steaming breath before the royal tent; 
 And Sayid, leaping from the saddle, kissed 
 His kinsman's eyes, and gently spake to all, 
 "Labbayki! I am here." 
 
 Then said the king, 
 
 " Never before was known a deed like this 
 That one should stake his life upon a word; 
 The other ride to death as to a bride. 
 Live, and be friends of Ibn S&wa, but speak! 
 Whence learned ye these high lessons?" 
 
 Ish&k spake, 
 
 ' ' We are believers in the book which saith, 
 'Fulfil your covenants, if ye covenant; 
 For God is witness ! break no word with men 
 Which God hath heard ; and surely he hears all. ' " * 
 
 That verse the king bade write in golden script 
 Over the palace gate ; and he and his 
 Followed the Faith. 
 
 Taf Allah- al-Maumin ! 
 In truthfulness of act be our faith seen. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xvi. chapter " Of the Bee." 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 8 
 
 Gall Him Muhaimin, " Help in danger's hour," 
 P)*otector of the true who trust His power. 
 
 THE spider and the dove! what thing is weak 
 
 If Allah makes it strong? 
 The spider and the dov,e ! if He protect, 
 
 Fear thou not f oeman's wrong. 
 
 From Mecca to Medina fled our Lord, 
 
 The horsemen followed fast; 
 Into a cave to shun their murderous rage, 
 
 Muhammad, weary, passed. 
 
 Quoth Abu Bekr, " If they see, we die!" 
 
 Quoth Ebn Foheir, " Away!" 
 The guide Abdallah said, " The sand is deep, 
 
 Those footmarks will betray." 
 
 Then spake our Lord, " We are not four, but Five; 
 
 * He who protects ' is here. 
 Come! Al-Muhaimin now will blind their eyes; 
 
 Enter, and have no fear." 
 
 The band drew nigh; one of the Koreish cried, 
 
 1 ' Search ye out yonder cleft, 
 I see the print of sandalled feet which turn 
 
 Thither, upon the left!" 
 
THE SPIDER AND THE DOVE. 31 
 
 But when they drew unto the cavern's mouth, 
 
 Lo ! at its entering-in, 
 A ring-necked desert dove sate on her eggs ; 
 
 The mate cooed soft within. 
 
 And right athwart the shadow of the cave 
 
 A spider's web was spread; 
 The creature hung upon her net at watch; 
 
 Unbroken was each thread. 
 
 ' ' By Thammuz' blood, " the unbelievers cried, 
 
 "Our toil and time are lost; 
 Where doves hatch and the spider spins her snare 
 
 No foot of man hath crossed!" 
 
 Thus did a desert bird and spider guard 
 
 The blessed Prophet then ; 
 For all things serve their Maker and their God 
 
 Better than thankless men. 
 
 Allah-al-Muhaimin ! shield and save 
 Us, for his sake within that cave. 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 9 
 
 Say Al-Hathim! He is the Mighty One! 
 
 Praise Him, and hear the great "Verse of the Throne. 11 
 
 " ALLAH! there is none other God but He, 
 
 The Living God, the Self-subsistent One; 
 Weariness cometh not to Him, nor sleep; 
 
 And whatso is belongs to Him alone 
 In heaven and earth ; who is it intercedes " 
 
 With Him, save if He please? He is aware 
 What is before them and what after them, 
 
 And they of all His knowledge nothing share 
 Save what He will vouchsafe. His throne's foundation 
 
 Sits splendid, high above the earth and sky. 
 Which to sustain gives Him no meditation: 
 
 Mightiest He is, Supreme in Majesty." 
 
 Ayatu-'l-Koorsty ! this we Muslims grave 
 On polished gem and painted architrave; 
 But thou, write its great letters on thy heart, 
 Lauding the Mighty One, whose work thou art. 
 
SURA FIFTY-NINE. 33 
 
 10 
 
 The " All- Compelling !" golden is that verse, 
 Which doth His title Al-Jabbdr rehearse. 
 
 SUKA the nine and fiftieth: " Fear ye God, 
 
 O true believers ! and let every soul 
 
 Heed what it doth to-day, because to-morrow 
 
 The same thing it shall find gone forward there 
 
 To meet and make and judge it. Fear ye God, 
 
 For He knows whatsoever deeds ye do. 
 
 Be not as those who have forgotten Him, 
 
 For they are those who have forgot themselves ; 
 
 They are the evil-doers : not for such, 
 
 And for the heritors of Paradise, 
 
 Shall it be equal ; Paradise is kept 
 
 For those thrice blessed who have ears to hear. 
 
 Lo! had we sent "the Book" unto Our hills, 
 Our hills had bowed their crests in reverence, 
 And opened to the heart their breasts of rock 
 To take Heaven's message. Fear ye Him who knows 
 Present, and Past, and Future : fear ye Him 
 Who is the Only, Holy, Faithful Lord, 
 Glorious and good, compelling to His will 
 All things, for all things He hath made and rules. 
 
 So rule, Al-Jabbdr; make our wills 
 Bend, though more stubborn than tJie hills. 
 
34 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 11 
 
 Al-Mutakabbir ! all the heavens declare 
 His majesty, Who makes them what they are. 
 
 AZAR, of Abraham the father, spake 
 
 Unto his son, " Come! and thine offerings make 
 
 Before the gods whose images divine 
 
 In Nimrud's carved and painted temple shine. 
 
 Pay worship to the sun's great orb of gold; 
 
 Adore the queen-moon's silver state ; behold 
 
 Ot&red, Moshtari, Sohayl, in their might, 
 
 Those stars of glory, those high lords of light. 
 
 These have we wrought, as fitteth gods alone, 
 
 In bronze and ivory and chiselled stone. 
 
 Obey, as did thy sires, these powers of Heaven 
 
 Which rule the world, throned in the circles seven." 
 
 But Abraham said, " Did they not see the sun 
 Sink and grow darkened, when the days were done; 
 Did not the moon for them, too, wax and wane, 
 That they should pay her worship, false and vain? 
 Lo! all these stars have laws to rise and set 
 (Mred, Moshtari, Sohayl wilt thou yet 
 Bid me praise gods who humbly come and go, 
 Lights that a Greater Light hath kindled? No! 
 I dare not bow the knee to one of these; 
 My Lord is He who (past the sky man sees) 
 Waxeth and waneth not, Unchanged of all, 
 Him only ' God,' Him only ' Great,' I call." 
 
 Well spak'st thou, Friend of Allah ! none 
 Is "great " except the Greatest One. 
 
SIGNS OF THE LORD. 35 
 
 Praise the " Creator!" He who made us live, 
 Life everlasting unto us can give. 
 
 BY the glorious Book We have sent! do they wonder a 
 
 warner is come 
 
 Out from among themselves? do the misbelievers say 
 "This is a marvellous thing! what! when we are dead 
 
 and dust 
 
 To live! to arise! see now, this hope is a hope far 
 away 1" 
 
 But what the grave shall consume, and what of the 
 
 man it shall leave, 
 We know, for a roll is with Us where each soul's 
 
 order is set. 
 Will they call the truth a lie when it cometh to them, 
 
 and dwell 
 
 Wrangling and foolish and fearful, confounding the 
 matter? But yet 
 
 The heaven is above them to see how fair We have 
 
 builded its arch, 
 Painted it golden and blue, finished it perfect and 
 
 clear ; 
 And the earth how We spread it forth, and planted the 
 
 mountains thereon; 
 
 And made all the manifold trees and the beautiful 
 blossoms appear. 
 
36 PEAEL8 OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Memorials are these to the wise, and a message to him 
 
 who repents ; 
 Moreover We drop from the clouds the blessing of 
 
 water, the rain, 
 Whereby the cool gardens do grow, and the palms 
 
 soaring up to the sky 
 
 With their date-laden branches and boughs, one over 
 the other; and grain 
 
 To nourish the children of men. Lo! thus We have 
 
 quickened dead clay 
 
 On the bosom of earth, and beneath her so, too, shall 
 a quickening be. 
 
 What! deem they it wearied God to create? that His 
 
 power was spent? 
 
 They are fools, and they darken their eyes to that 
 which He willeth them see. 
 
 We have fashioned man, and we know the thoughts of 
 
 his innermost heart ; 
 We are closer to him than his blood, more near than 
 
 the vein of his throat; 
 At the right of ye all sits a watcher, a watcher sits at 
 
 your left ; 
 
 And whatso each speaketh or thinketh, those two 
 have known it and note. 
 
 Al-Khalik ! Fashioner Divine ! 
 Finish Thy work and make us Thine ! 
 
ANGELS' WINGS. 37 
 
 13 
 
 Ai-Bdri! Moulder of each form and frame, 
 Pots praise the Potter, when we speak this name. 
 
 PKAISE be to God, the Designer, Builder of earth and 
 
 of Heaven! 
 
 Fashioned His Angels He hath, making them mes- 
 sengers still; 
 Two wings to some and four wings to some, and to 
 
 some He hath given 
 
 Six and eight silver wings, making what marvels 
 He will. 
 
 Verily mighty is He, and what He bestoweth of 
 
 blessing 
 None can withhold; and none what He withholdeth 
 
 can send; 
 
 Children of men ! remember the mercies of Allah to- 
 wards ye, 
 
 Is there a Maker save this, is there another such 
 Friend? 
 
 Nowhere another one, we see, 
 Wondrous "Artificer!" like Thee. 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 14 
 
 Al-Muzawwir ! the "Fashioner!" say thus; 
 Still lauding Him who hath compounded us. 
 
 WHEN the Lord would fashion men, 
 Spake He in the Angels' hearing, 
 
 "Lo! Our will is there shall be 
 On the earth a creature bearing 
 
 Rule and royalty. To-day 
 
 We will shape a man from clay." 
 
 Spake the Angels, " Wilt Thou make 
 Man who must forget his Maker, 
 
 Working evil, shedding blood, 
 Of Thy precepts the forsaker? 
 
 But Thou knowest all, and we 
 
 Celebrate Thy majesty." 
 
 Answered Allah, "Yea! I know 
 What ye know not of this making; 
 
 Gabriel ! Michael ! Israfil ! 
 Go down to the earth, and taking 
 
 Seven clods of colors seven, 
 
 Bring them unto Me in Heaven." 
 
 Then those holy Angels three 
 Spread their pinions and descended; 
 
 Seeking clods of diverse clay, 
 That all colors might be blended; 
 
THE MAKING OF MAN. 
 
 Yellow, tawny, dun, black, brown, 
 White and red, as men are known. 
 
 But the earth spake, sore afraid, 
 "Angels ! of my substance take not; 
 
 Give me back my dust, and pray 
 That the dread Creator make not 
 
 Man, for he will sin, and bring 
 
 Wrath on me and suffering." 
 
 Therefore empty-handed came 
 
 Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, 
 Saying, "Lord ! Thy earth imploreth 
 
 Man may never on her dwell ; 
 ' He will sin and anger thee, 
 Give me back my clay! ' cried she." 
 
 Spake the Lord to Azrael, 
 
 ' ' Go thou, who of wing art surest. 
 Tell my earth this shall be well; 
 
 Bring those clods, which thou procurest 
 From her bosom, unto Me; 
 Shape them as I order thee. " 
 
 Thus 'tis written how the Lord 
 Fashioned Adam for His glory, 
 
 Whom the Angels worshipped, 
 All save Iblis ; and this story 
 
 Teacheth wherefore Azrael saith, 
 
 " Come thou!" at man's hour of death. 
 
 Allah ! when he doth call us, take f 
 We are such clay as Thou did'st make. 
 
40 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 15 
 
 ALGhaffdr, the " For giver," praise thereby. 
 Thy Lord who is so full of clemency. 
 
 ONCE, it is written, Abraham, "God's Friend," 
 
 Angered his Lord; for there had ridden in 
 
 Across the burning yellow desert-flats 
 
 An aged man, haggard with two days' drouth. 
 
 The water-skin swung from his saddle-fork 
 
 Wrinkled and dry ; the dust clove to his lids, 
 
 And clogged his beard ; his parched tongue and black 
 
 lips 
 
 Moved to say, " Give me drink," yet uttered nought; 
 And that gaunt camel which he rode upon, 
 Sank to the earth at entering of the camp, 
 Too spent except to lay its neck along 
 The sand, and moan. 
 
 To whom when they had given 
 The cool wet jar, asweat with diamond-drops 
 Of sparkling life, that way-worn Arab laved 
 The muzzle of his beast, and filled her mouth ; 
 Then westward turned with blood-shot, worshipping 
 
 eyes, 
 
 Pouring forth water to the setting orb: 
 Next, would have drunk, but Abraham saw, and said, 
 "Let not this unbeliever drink, who pours 
 God's gift of water forth unto the sun, 
 Which is but creature of the living Lord." 
 
ABRAHAM'S OFFENCE. 41 
 
 But while the man still clutched the precious jar, 
 Striving to quaff, a form of grace drew nigh, 
 Beauteous, majestic. If he came afoot, 
 None knew, or if he glided from the sky. 
 With gentle air he filled a gourd and gave 
 The man to drink, and Abraham in wrath 
 That one should disobey him in his tents 
 Made to forbid ; when full upon him smote 
 Eyes of divine light, eyes of high rebuke 
 For this was Michael, Allah's messenger 
 "Lo ! God reproveth thee, thou Friend of God! 
 Forbiddest thou gift of the common stream 
 To this idolater, spent with the heat, 
 Who, in his utmost need, watered his beast, 
 And bowed the knee in reverence, ere he drank? 
 Allah hath borne with him these threescore years, " 
 Bestowed upon him corn and wine, and made 
 His household fruitful and his herds increase ; 
 And find'st thou not patience to pity him 
 Whom God hath pitied, waiting for the end, 
 Since none save He wotteth what end will come, 
 Or who shall find the light. Thou art rebuked! 
 Seek pardon! for thou hast much need to seek." 
 
 Thereat the Angel vanished, as he came ; 
 But Abraham, with humbled countenance, 
 Kissed reverently the heathen's hand, and spake 
 Leading him to the chief seat in the tent 
 " God pardon me, as He doth pardon thee!" 
 
 Long-suffering Lord ! ah, who should be 
 Forgiven, if Thou wert < 
 
42 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 16 
 
 Al-Kahhdr call Him " Dominant," tlie King, 
 Who makeih, knoweth, ruleth everything. 
 
 THE " Chapter of the Cattle :" * Heaven is whose, 
 And whose is earth ? Say Allah's, That did choose 
 
 On His own might to lay the law of rnercy. 
 He, at the Resurrection, will not lose 
 
 One of His own. What falleth, night or day, 
 Falleth by His Almighty word alway. 
 
 "Wilt thou have any other Lord than Allah, 
 Who is not fed, but feedeth all flesh? Say! 
 
 For if He visit thee with woe, none makes 
 The woe to cease save He; and if He takes 
 
 Pleasure to send thee pleasure, He is Master 
 Over all gifts; nor doth His thought forsake 
 
 The creatures of the field, nor fowls that fly; 
 They are "a people" also: "These, too, I 
 
 Have set," the Lord saith, "in My book of record; 
 These shall be gathered to Me by and by." 
 
 With Him of all things secret are the keys; 
 None other hath them, but He hath ; and sees 
 
 Whatever is in land, or air, or water, 
 Each bloom that blows, each foam-bell on the seas. 
 
 * Of. Koran, vi. chapter " Of the Cattle." 
 
SURA " OF THE CATTLE." 43 
 
 Nor is there any little hidden grain 
 Swelling beneath the sod, nor in the main 
 Any small fish or shell, nor of the earth 
 Green things or dry things upon hill or plain, 
 
 But these are written in th' unerring Book: 
 And what ye did by day, and when ye took 
 
 Your slumbers, and the last sleep ; then to Him 
 Is your return, and the account's there! look! 
 
 Al-Kalifidr ! All-embracing One ! 
 Our trust is fixed on Thee alone. 
 
44 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 17 
 
 Praise " the Bestower:" unto all that live 
 He giveth, and He loveth those who give. 
 
 THE Imfon All, Lion of the Faith, 
 
 Have ye not heard his giving? what he had 
 
 The poor had, for he held his gold and goods 
 
 As Allah's almoner. Ali it was 
 
 Who in the Mecca mosque at evening prayer 
 
 Being entreated by some needy one 
 
 Would not break off, yet would not let the man 
 
 Ask him in vain for what he asked of God, 
 
 Favor and aid; wherefore amid the words 
 
 He drew his emerald, carved with Allah's praise, 
 
 From his third finger, giving it ; and prayed 
 
 With face unturned. 
 
 If he had pieces ten, 
 
 He succored five score ; if one dinar, then 
 Into ten dirhems he divided that, 
 And fed ten " people of the bench." Our Lord 
 (On whom be peace !) in all men's hearing said, 
 "This is the Prince of Givers!" 
 
 Once it fell, 
 
 Being sore hungered in his house, he cried, 
 " Fatmeh! thou daughter of the Prophet of God, 
 Find me to eat, if thou hast any food." 
 
ALT AND THE ANGELS. 45 
 
 And Fatmeh said, " Father of Hassan! here 
 
 Not a dry date is left not one I swear 
 
 By Him besides Whom is none other God ; 
 
 But in the corner of the tomb I laid 
 
 Six silver akchas : take them, if thou wilt, 
 
 And buy thee in the market food, and bring 
 
 Fruits for our boys, Hassan and Hussain." Thus 
 
 Ali departed. On his way he spied 
 
 Two Mussulmans, of whom one rudely haled 
 
 The other, crying, " Pay thy debt, or come 
 
 Unto the prison where the smiter waits." 
 
 And he who owed had nought, and wept amain, 
 
 Sighing, " Alas the day!" But Ali asked, 
 
 " What is thy debt, my brother?" Then he moaned, 
 
 ' ' Six akchas, for the lack of which the chains 
 
 Must load me." "Nay!" spake Ali, "they are here; 
 
 Take them and pay the man, and go in peace." 
 
 So went that debtor free, but Ali came 
 
 Empty in hand and belly home again 
 
 Unto his door, where Fatmeh and the sons, 
 
 Hassan and Hussain, seeing him approach, 
 
 Ran joyous forth, crying, " He bringeth us 
 
 Dates now, and honey, and new camels' milk; 
 
 Soon shall we feast." But when they saw his cloth 
 
 Hang void, and troubled eyes, and heard him say, 
 
 " Upon my road I met a poorer man 
 
 Who, for six akchas, should have borne the chains; 
 
 To him I gave them, and I bring ye nought," 
 
 Then the lads wept; but Fatmeh smiled and spake: 
 
 "Well hast thou done, O servant of the Lord! 
 
 Weep not, ye sons of Ali, though we fast; 
 
 Who f eedeth Allah's children, feasts His own : 
 
 He, the ' Bestower/ will provide for us." 
 
46 PEAEL8 OF THE FAITH. 
 
 But All turned, heart-sore because the boys 
 Lacked meat, and Fatmeh's lovely eyes were sunk 
 Hollow with hunger. " I will go," thought he, 
 " Unto the blessed Prophet, for, if one 
 Be burdened with a thousand woes, his word 
 Dismisses them and makes the sorrow joy." 
 So bent he mournful steps thither, to tell 
 The Lord Muhammad of this strait, when lo! 
 An Arab in mid path encountered him, 
 Of noble bearing, with a chieftain's mien, 
 Leading a riding-camel by her string, 
 Black, with full teeth, the best beast ever foaled. 
 "Buy Wurdah! buy my desert rose," quoth he; 
 " One hundred akchas make her thine, so thou 
 Shalt own the best in Hedjaz, or at choice 
 Sell her for double money. " Ali said, 
 ' ' The beast is excellent ! fain would I buy, 
 But have not in my scrip thy price." " Go to," 
 The Sheikh replied ; ' ' take her and bring thy gold, 
 When Allah pleaseth, to the western gate; 
 I will await thee." 
 
 Ali nodded; took 
 
 The nose-string, turning to the left to seek 
 The camel-merchants that should buy the beast; 
 Whom at the very entry of the Khan 
 Another Arab in the desert garb, 
 Lordly and gracious like his fellow, met, 
 And quick saluted, saying, " Peace with thee! 
 God send thee favor! wilt thou sell me now 
 Thy riding-camel with the great stag-eyes? 
 Here be three hundred akchas counted down, 
 Silver and gold, good money! Such an one 
 
ALI AND THE ANGELS. 47 
 
 I sought, but found not, till I saw thee here." 
 
 "If thou wilt buy," quoth Ali, " be it so!" 
 
 And thereupon that Bedawee counted out 
 
 Dinars and dirhems little suns and moons 
 
 Of glittering gold and silver in his cloth, 
 
 And took the beast ; but Ali, with one piece 
 
 Bought food and fruits, and, hastening home again, 
 
 Heard his lads laugh with joy to see the store 
 
 Poured forth; white cakes and dates and amber 
 
 grapes 
 
 And smiled himself to mark Fatmeh's soft eyes 
 Gladden ; then, having eaten, blessed the Lord, 
 Giver of gifts, " Bestower." 
 
 So, once more 
 
 Made he to go unto the western gate 
 To pay his seller ; but upon the street 
 The Prophet met him. Lightly smiled our Lord, 
 (On whom be comfort!) lightly questioned he, 
 Saying, " O Ali! who was he did sell 
 Thy riding-camel, and to whom didst thou 
 Sell her again?'' Quoth Ali, "Only God 
 Knoweth, except thou knowest!" Spake our Lord, 
 " Yea, but I know! that was great Gabriel, 
 Chief messenger of Heaven, from whom thou bought'st; 
 And he to whom thou sold'st was Israfil, 
 His heavenly fellow; and that beast did come 
 Forth from the pleasure-fields of Paradise, 
 And thither back is gone ; for look ! my son, 
 Allah hath recompensed thee fifty times 
 The goodly deed thou didst, giving thine all 
 To free the weeping debtor. Oh, He sees 
 And measures and bestows ; but what is kept, 
 
48 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Beyond gifts here, for kindly hearts that love, 
 God only wotteth, and the Eternal Peace." 
 
 Bestower ! grant us grace to see 
 Our gain is what we lose for TJiee. 
 
SURA " OF THE FORENOON." 49 
 
 18 
 
 Al-Razzdk ! the "Provider /" thus again 
 Praise Him who, having formed thee, doth sustain. 
 
 BY the high dawn, 
 When the light of the sun is strong! 
 
 By the thick night, 
 When the darkness is deep and long! 
 He hath not forsook thee, nor hated! 
 
 By his mercies, I say, 
 The life which will come shall be better 
 
 Than the life of to-day, 
 
 In the latter days 
 The Lord thy " Provider" shall give; 
 
 When thou knowest His gift 
 Thou wilt not ask rather to live; 
 Look back! thou wert friendless and frameless, 
 
 He made thee from nought ; 
 Look back ! thou wert blinded and wandering, 
 
 To the light thou art brought! 
 Consider! shall Allah forego thee 
 
 Since thus He hath wrought? * 
 
 The favor of thy Lord perpend, 
 And praise His mercies without end. 
 
 *Cf. Koran, xciii. chapter " t Of the Forenoon.' 1 
 
50 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 19 
 
 Al-Fattd'h ! praise the " Opener!" and recite 
 The marvels of that " Journey of the Night. " * 
 
 OUR Lord Muhammad lay upon the hill 
 Saf, whereby the holy city stands, 
 
 Asleep, wrapped in a robe of camels* wool. 
 Dark was the night that Night of grace and still; 
 When all the seven spheres, by God's commands, 
 Opened unto him, splendid and wonderful ! 
 
 For Gabriel, softly lighting, touched his side, 
 Saying, "Rise, thou enwrapped one! come and see 
 
 The things which be beyond. Lo! I have brought 
 Borak, the horse of swiftness; mount and ride!" 
 Milk-white that steed was, with embroidery 
 Of pearls and emeralds in his long hair wrought. 
 
 Hooved like a mule he was, with a man's face; 
 His eyes gleamed from his forelock, each a star 
 
 Of lucent hyacinth ; the saddle-cloth 
 Was woven gold, which priceless work did grace! , 
 The lightning goeth not so fast or far 
 As those broad pinions which he fluttered forth. 
 
 One heel he smote on Safa, and one heel 
 On Sinai where the dint is to this day. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xvii. chapter " Of the Night Journey." 
 
MUHAMMAD'S JOURNEY TO HEAVEN. 51 
 
 Next at Jerusalem lie neighed. Our Lord, 
 Descending with th' Archangel there, did kneel 
 Making the midnight prayer ; afterwards they 
 Tethered him to the Temple by a cord. 
 
 "Ascend!" spake Gabriel; and behold! there fell 
 Out of the sky a ladder bright and great, 
 
 "Whereby, with easy steps, on radiant stairs, 
 They mounted past our earth and heaven and hell 
 To the first sphere, where Adam kept the gate, 
 Which was of vaporous gold and silvery squares 
 
 Here thronged the lesser Angels : some took charge 
 To fill the clouds with rain and speed them round, 
 And some to tend live creatures; for what's born 
 Hath guardians there in its own shape : a large 
 Beauteous white cock crowed matins, at the sound 
 Cocks in a thousand planets hailed the morn. 
 
 Unto the second sphere by that white slope 
 Ascended they, whereof Noah held the key; 
 
 And two-fold was the throng of Angels here; 
 But all so dazzling glowed its fretted cope, 
 Burning with beams, Muhammad could not see 
 What manner of celestial folk were there. 
 
 The third sphere lay a thousand years beyond 
 If thou should'st journey as the sun -ray doth, 
 But in one FdtihaJi clomb they thitherward. 
 David and Solomon in union fond 
 Ruled at the entrance, keeping Sabaoth 
 Of ceaseless joy. The void was paven hard 
 
 With paven work of rubies if there be 
 Jewels on earth to liken unto them 
 
52 PEARLS OF TEE FAITH. 
 
 Which had such color as no goldsmith knows 
 And here a vast Archangel they did see, 
 "Faithful of God " his name, whose diadem 
 Was set with peopled stars; wherefrom arose 
 
 Lauds to the glory of God, filling the blue 
 With lovely music, as rose-gardens fill 
 
 A land with essences; and young stars, shaking 
 Tresses of lovely light, gathered and grew 
 Under his mighty plumes, departing still 
 Like ships with crews and treasure, voyage-making. 
 
 So came they to the fourth sphere, where there sate 
 Enoch, who never tasted death; and there 
 
 Behind its portal awful Azrael writes; 
 The shadow of his brows compassionate 
 Made night across all worlds; our Lord felt fear, 
 Marking the stern eyes and the hand which smites. 
 
 For always on a scroll he sets the names 
 Of new-born beings, and from off the scroll 
 He blotteth who must die; and holy tears 
 Roll down his cheeks, recording all our shames 
 And sins and penalties; while of each soul 
 Monker and Nakir reckon the arrears. 
 
 Next, at the fifth sphere's entry, they were 'ware 
 Of a door built in sapphire, having graven 
 
 Letters of flashing fire, the faith unfolding, 
 " THERE is NO GOD SAVE GOD." Aaron sate there 
 Guarding the " region of the wrath of Heaven;" 
 And Israfil behind, his trumpet holding, 
 
 His trumpet holding which shall wake the dead 
 And slay the living all his cheek puffed out, 
 
MUHAMMAD'S JOURNEY TO HEAVEN. 53 
 
 Bursting to blow ; for none knows Allah's time, 
 Nor when the word of judgment shall be said: 
 And darts, and chains of flame, lay all around, 
 Terrible tortures for th' ungodly's crime. 
 
 When to the sixth sphere passed they, Moses sped 
 Its bars of chrysoprase, and kissed our Lord, 
 
 And spake full sweet, ' ' Prophet of Allah ! thou 
 More souls of Ismael's tribes to truth hast led, 
 Than I of Isaak's." Here the crystal sword 
 Of Michael gave the light they journeyed through. 
 
 But at the seventh sphere that light which shone 
 Hath not an earthly name, nor any voice 
 Can tell its splendor, nay, nor any ear 
 Learn, if it listened ; only he alone 
 Who saw it, knows how there th' elect rejoice, 
 Isa, and Ibrahim, and the souls most dear. 
 
 And he, the glorious regent of that sphere, 
 Had seventy thousand heads ; and every head 
 
 As many countenances; and each face 
 As many mouths; and in each mouth there were 
 Tongues seventy thousand, whereof each tongue said, 
 Ever and ever, ' ' Praise to Allah ! praise 1" 
 
 Here, at the bound, is fixed that lotus- tree 
 SEDRA, which none among the Angels pass; 
 
 And not great Gabriel's self might farther wend: 
 Yet, led by presences too bright to see, 
 Too high to name, on paths like purple glass 
 Our Lord Muhammad journeyed to the end. 
 
 Alone ! alone ! through hosts of Cherubim 
 Crowding the infinite void with whispering vans, 
 
54 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 From splendor unto splendor still he sped; 
 Across the " Lake of Gloom" they ferried him, 
 And then the " Sea of Glory:" mortal man's 
 Heart cannot hold the wonders witnessed. 
 
 So to the "Region of the Veils" he came, 
 Which shut all times off from eternity, 
 
 The bars of being where thought cannot reach : 
 Ten thousand thousand are they, walls of flame 
 Lambent with loveliness and mystery, 
 Ramparts of utmost heaven, having no breach. 
 
 Then he SAW GOD! our Prophet saw THE THRONE! 
 O Allah! let these weak words be forgiven! 
 
 Thou, the Supreme, "the Opener," spake at last; 
 The Throne! the Throne! he saw; our Lord alone! 
 Saw it and heard ! but the verse falls from heaven 
 Like a poised eagle, whom the lightnings blast. 
 
 And Gabriel waiting by the tree he found; 
 And Borak, tethered to the Temple porch ; 
 
 He loosed the horse, and 'twixt its wings ascended. 
 One hoof it smote on Zion's hallowed ground, 
 One upon Sinai ; and the day-star's torch 
 Was not yet fading when the journey ended. 
 
 Al-Mttd'h! " Opener!" we say 
 Thy name, and worship Thee alway. 
 
THE MOAKKIBAT. 55 
 
 20 
 
 Al-'Alim! the " All-Knower f" by this wwd 
 
 Praise Him Who sees th' umeen, and hears th* unheard. 
 
 IP ye keep hidden your mind, if ye declare it aloud, 
 Equally God hath perceived, equally known is each 
 
 thought: 
 If on your housetops ye sin, if in dark chambers ye 
 
 shroud, 
 
 Equally God hath beheld, equally judgment is 
 wrought. 
 
 He, without listing, doth know how many breathings 
 
 ye make; 
 Numbereth the hairs of your heads, wotteth the beats 
 
 of your blood ; 
 Heareth the feet of the ant when she wanders by night 
 
 in the brake; 
 
 Counteth the eggs of the snake and the cubs of the 
 wolf in the wood. 
 
 Mute the Moakkib&t* sit this side and that side of men, 
 One on the right noting good, and one on the left 
 
 noting ill; 
 
 Each hath those Angels beside him who write with in- 
 visible pen 
 
 Whatso he doeth, or sayeth, or thinketh, recording it 
 still, 
 
 * These are the " Successors," or Angels of Record, who relieve 
 each other in the duty of registering human actions, etc. 
 
56 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Vast is the mercy of God, and when a man doeth aright, 
 Glad is the right-hand Angel, and setteth it quick on 
 
 the roll ; 
 Ten times he setteth it down in letters of heavenly 
 
 light, 
 
 For one good deed ten deeds, and a hundred for ten 
 on the scroll. 
 
 But when one doeth amiss the right-hand Angel doth 
 
 lay 
 
 His palm on the left-hand Angel and whispers, "For- 
 bear thy pen! 
 Peradventure in seven hours the man may repent him 
 
 and pray; 
 
 At the end of the seventh hour, if it must be, witness 
 it then."* 
 
 Al-'Alim! Thou Who knowest all, 
 With hearts unveiled on Thee we call. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xiii. chapter " Of thunder." 
 
EVIL DEEDS. 57 
 
 Yakbuzu wa Yabsutu ! heaven and hell 
 He closeth and uncloseth and doth well ! * 
 
 IN gold and silk and robes of pride 
 
 An evil-hearted monarch died; 
 
 Pampered and arrogant his soul 
 
 Quitted the grave. His eyes did roll 
 
 Hither and thither, deeming some 
 
 In that new world should surely come 
 
 To lead his spirit to a seat 
 
 Of state, for kingly merit meet. 
 
 What saw he? 'twas a hag so foul 
 
 There is no Afrit, Djin, or Ghoul 
 
 With countenance as vile, or mien 
 
 As fearful, and such terrors seen 
 
 In the fierce voice and hideous air, 
 
 Blood-dripping hands and matted hair. 
 
 " Allah have mercy!'* cried the king, 
 
 " Whence and what art thou, hateful thing?" 
 
 " Dost thou not know who gav'st me birth?" 
 
 Eeplied the form; "thy sins on earth 
 
 In me embodied thus behold. 
 
 I am thy wicked work! unfold 
 
 Thine arms and clasp me, for we two 
 
 In hell must live thy sentence through." 
 
 * Of. Kor&n, ii. chapter " Of the Cow." 
 
58 PEAEL8 OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Then with a bitter cry, 'tis writ, 
 The king's soul passed unto the pit. 
 
 Al-Kabiz ! so He bars the gate 
 Against the unregenerate. 
 
GOOD DEEDS. 
 
 Yet He who shuts the gate, just wrath to wreak, 
 Unbars it, full of mercy, to the meek. 
 
 THERE died upon the Miraj night, 
 
 A man of Mecca, Amru height ; 
 
 Faithful and true, patient and pure, 
 
 Had been his years ; he did endure 
 
 In war five spear- wounds, and in peace 
 
 Long journeying for his tribe's increase; 
 
 And ever of his gains he gave 
 
 Unto poor brethren kind as brave: 
 
 But these forsook, and age and toil 
 
 Drained the strong heart as flames drink oil; 
 
 Till, lone and friendless, gray and spent 
 
 A thorn-tree's shadow for his tent, 
 
 And desert sand for dying-bed 
 
 Amru the camel-man lay dead. 
 
 What is it that the 'Hadtth saith? 
 Even while the true eyes glazed in death, 
 And the warm heart wearied, and beat 
 The last drum of its long defeat, 
 An Angel, lighting on the sand, 
 Took Amru's spirit by the hand, 
 And gently spake, "Dear brother, come! 
 A sore road thou didst journey home; 
 
60 PEAELS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 But life's dry desert thou hast passed, 
 And Zem-Zein sparkles nigh at last." 
 Then with swift flight those twain did rise 
 Unto the gates of Paradise, 
 Which opened, and the Angel gave 
 A golden granate, saying, ' ' Cleave 
 This fruit, my brother!" But its scent 
 So heavenly seemed, and so intent, 
 So rapt was Amru, to behold 
 The great fruit's rind of blushing gold 
 And emerald leaves -he dared not touch, . 
 Murmuring, "O M^lik! 'tis too much 
 That I am here, with eyes so dim, 
 And grace all fled." Then bade they him 
 Gaze in the stream which glided stilly, 
 'Mid water-roses and white lily, 
 Under those lawns and smiling skies 
 That make delight in Paradise ; 
 When, lo ! the presence imaged there 
 Was of such comeliness, no peer 
 Among those glorious Angels stood 
 To Amru, mirrored in the flood. 
 
 "I ! is it I?" he cried in gladness, 
 "Am I so changed from toil and sadness?** 
 " This was thy hidden self," replied 
 The Angels. " So shalt thou abide 
 By our bright river evermore ; 
 And in that fair fruit's secret core 
 Which on the Tree of Life hath grown 
 Another marvel shall be shown. 
 Ah, happy Amru! cleave!" He clove: 
 Sweet miracle of bliss and love ! 
 
GOOD DEEDS. 61 
 
 Forth from the pomegranate there grew, 
 As from its bud a rose breaks through, 
 A lovely, stately, lustrous maid, 
 Whose black orbs long silk lashes shade, 
 Whose beauty was so rich to see 
 No verse can tell it worthily; 
 Nor is there found in any place 
 One like her for the perfect grace 
 Of soft arms wreathed and ripe lips moving 
 In accents musical and loving; 
 For thus she spake: " Peace be to thee, 
 My Arnru!" Then, with quick cry, he: 
 "Who art thou, blessed one? what name 
 Wearest thou? teach my tongue to frame 
 This worship of my heart." Said she, 
 " Thy good deeds gave me being: see, 
 If in my beauty thou hast pleasure, 
 How the Most High doth truly treasure 
 Joy for his servants. Murzieh I 
 She that doth love and satisfy 
 And I am made by Allah's hand 
 Of ambergris and musk, to stand 
 Beside thee, soothing thee, and tending 
 In comfort and in peace unending." 
 
 So hand in hand, 'tis writ, they went 
 To those bright bowers of high content. 
 
 Al-Bdsit ! thus He opens wide 
 His mercies to the justified. 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 the "Abaserf" praise Tiereby 
 Him Who doth mock at earthly majesty. 
 
 HEARD ye of Nimrud? Cities fell before him; 
 
 Skinar, from Accad to the Indian Sea, 
 His garden was; as God, men did adore him; 
 
 Queens were his slaves, and kings his vassalry. 
 
 Eminent on his car of carven brass, 
 
 Through f oeman's blood nave-deep he drave his wheel ; 
 And not a lion in the river-grass 
 
 Could keep its shaggy fell from Nimrftd's steel. 
 
 But he scorned Allah, schemed a tower to invade Him; 
 
 Dreamed to scale Heaven, and measure might with 
 
 God; 
 Heaped high the foolish clay wherefrom We made him, 
 
 And built thereon his seven-fold house of the clod. 
 
 Therefore, the least Our messengers among, 
 We sent; a gray gnat dancing in the reeds: 
 
 Into his ear she crept, buzzing, and stung. 
 So perished mighty Nimrftd and his deeds. 
 
 Thou Abaser of all pride f 
 Mighty Thou art, and none beside. 
 
ALLAH'S PROPHETS. 63 
 
 24 
 
 Ar-Bafi! the "Exalter!" laud Him so 
 Who loves the humble and lifts up the low. 
 
 WHOM hath He chosen for His priests and preachers, 
 Lords who were eminent, or men of might? 
 
 Nay, but consider how He seeks His teachers, 
 Hidden, like rubies unaware of light. 
 
 Ur of the Chaldees! what chance to discover . 
 
 Th' elect of Heaven in Azar's leathern tent? 
 But Allah saw his child, and friend, and lover, 
 
 And Abraham was born, and sealed, and sent. 
 
 The babe committed to th' Egyptian water! 
 
 Knew any that the tide of Nilus laved 
 The hope of Israel there? yet Pharaoh's daughter 
 
 Found the frail ark, and so was Moses saved. 
 
 Low lies the Syrian town behind the mountain 
 "Where Mary, meek and spotless, knelt that morn, 
 
 And saw the splendid Angel by the fountain, 
 And heard his voice, "Lord Isa shall be born!" 
 
 Nay, and Muhammad (blessed may he be!), 
 
 Abdallah's and Amiriah's holy son, 
 Whom black Halimah nursed, the Bedawee, 
 
 Where lived a lonelier or a humbler one? 
 
64 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Think how Tie led the camels of Khadljah, 
 Poor, but illumined by the light of Heaven ; 
 
 Mightier than Noah, or Enoch, or Elijah, 
 Our holy Prophet to Arabia given. 
 
 Man knew him not, wrapped in his cloth, and weeping 
 Lonely on HirS, all that wondrous night ; 
 
 But Allah for his own our Lord was keeping : 
 
 "Rise, thou enwrapped one!" Gabriel spake, "and 
 write." 
 
 Save God there is none high at all, 
 Nor any low whom He doth call. 
 
SUftA " OF IMRAN'S FAMILY." 65 
 
 Al-Muhizz ! by this title celebrate 
 
 The " Honorer" Whose favor maketh great. 
 
 SAY "God," say "Lord of all! 
 Kingdoms and kings Thou makest and unmakest, 
 This one Thou takest, that one Thou forsakest; 
 
 Alike are great and small; 
 
 Into Thy hand they fall/'* 
 
 " In Thy dread hand they rest; 
 
 Their nights and days, their waking and their sleeping, 
 Their birth, and life, and death lie in Thy keeping; 
 
 * Be thus ' to each Thou say'st, 
 
 And thus to be is best, 
 
 "Though it seem good or ill. 
 Isl&m! to Thee our souls we do resign, 
 Turning our faces to the blessed shrine; 
 
 Seeking no honor still 
 
 Save from Thy will."* 
 
 Al-Muhizz! only this we pray 
 To learn Thy will and to obey. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, iii. chapter " Of Imran's Family." 
 
66 f EARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 26 
 
 0, Al-MuzU! what if it be Thy will, 
 Having made man, to lead him into ill? 
 
 SAITH the Perspicuous Book: " All things which be are 
 
 of God; 
 Neither, except by His word, falleth a leaf to the 
 
 ground; 
 If He will open He openeth, and whom He hath blinded 
 
 He blindeth, 
 
 Leading, misleading; to none liable, blamable, 
 bound."* 
 
 Saith the Perspicuous Book: "Tied on the neck of a 
 
 man 
 
 Hangeth the scroll of his fate, not a line to be gain- 
 said or grudged ; 
 When the trumpet of Israfil thunders, the Angels will 
 
 show it and say, 
 
 Read there what thine own deeds have written; 
 thyself by thyself shall be judged." f 
 
 Wilt thou be wiser than God Who knoweth beginning 
 
 and end? 
 
 Wilt thou be juster than He whose balance is turned 
 by a sigh? 
 
 *Cf. Koran, iii. chapter " Of Imran's Family." 
 tCf. Koran, xvii. chapter " Of the Night Journey." 
 
GOD'S WILL AND FREE-WILL. 67 
 
 He sayeth, " It shall not be equal for the doers of right 
 
 and of wrong." 
 
 "It shall not be equal," He sayeth, " for them that 
 accept and deny." * 
 
 Al-MuzU ! lead us not astray f 
 Teach us to find the perfect way. 
 
 * Cf . Kor&n, eodem loco. 
 
68 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 27 
 
 As-Sami'h ! Thou Hearer ! none can le 
 So far, his crying doth not come to Thee. 
 
 WHITES in his Mesnevt, Jelalu-'d-deen: 
 
 There came a man of Yaman, poor and old, 
 
 To Mecca, making pilgrimage ; untaught, 
 
 A shepherd of the hills. Humble he trod 
 
 The six mikat, the stages of the Hadj ; 
 
 Humbly indued the ihr&m, garb of faith 
 
 Which hath no seam; made due ablutions, kissed 
 
 The black stone; then three times with hastening feet 
 
 Circled the Kaabah, and four times paced 
 
 With slackened gate the tawaf, as is due, 
 
 (For such observances the Mollah taught). 
 
 But, when he bowed before the Holy Place, 
 
 Thus brake his soul from him, knowing no prayer, 
 
 Full of God's love, though ignorant of God: 
 
 " O Master! O my Sheikh! where tarriest Thou? 
 
 Show me Thy face that I may worship Thee, 
 
 May toil Thy servant, which I am in heart: 
 
 Ah ! let me sew Thy shoes, anoint Thine hair, 
 
 Wash Thy soiled robes, and serve Thee daily up 
 
 My she-goats' freshest milk I love thee so ! 
 
 Where hidest Thou, that I may kiss Thine hand, 
 
 Chafe Thy dear feet, and ere Thou takest rest 
 
 In the gold sky, beside Thy sun, belike, 
 
A SHEPHERD'S PRATER. 69 
 
 Among the soft-spread fleeces of Thy clouds 
 Sweep out Thy chamber, O my joy, my King!" 
 
 Which hearing, they who kept the shrine, incensed, 
 Had haled him to the gateway, crying, "Dog! 
 What blasphemy is this thou utterest, 
 Saying such things of Him That hath no needs 
 Of nourishment, nor clothing, nor repose, 
 Nor hands, nor feet, nor any form or frame ; 
 That thou, base keeper of the silly herd, 
 Shouldst proffer service to the All-Powerful? 
 Meet were it that we stoned thee dead with stones, 
 Who art accursed and injurious. 
 Beyond! these holy walls are not for thee." 
 
 So, sore abashed, that shepherd made to go, 
 Silent and weeping; but our Prophet marked, 
 And with mild eyes smiled on the man ; then spake 
 To those that drave him forth: " Ye, when ye pray 
 Outside this holy place, in distant lands, 
 Whither turn ye your faces?" Each one said, 
 "Unto the Kaabah." "And when ye pray, 
 Within the blessed precincts, pilgrims here, 
 Which way lies Mecca?" " All is sacred here," 
 They answered, " and it matters nought which way." 
 "Lo! now ye reason well," replied our Lord; 
 "Inside the Kaabah it matters nought 
 Whither men turn; and in the secret place 
 Of perfect love for God, words are as breath 
 And will is all. This simple shepherd's prayer 
 Came unto Allah's ears clearer than yours, 
 Nathless his ignorance, because his heart 
 Not tongue, not understanding uttered it. 
 
70 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Make room for God's poor lover nighest me; 
 Good fellowship hath any man with him 
 To whom Heaven's ear as quick inclines itself 
 As doth a mother's when her babe lisps love." 
 
 Then were they sore ashamed in that hour. 
 
 Hearer of hearts! As-Sarm l h! so 
 Our love inspire, and Thine bestow. 
 
AZRAEL AND THE INDIAN PRINCE. 71 
 
 Al-Bazir ! Thou Seer ! great and small 
 Live in Thy vision, which embraceth all. 
 
 WERE it one wasted seed of water-grass, 
 Blown by the wind, or buried in the sand, 
 He seeth and ordaineth if it live; 
 Were it a wild bee questing honey-buds, 
 He seeth if she find, and how she comes 
 On busy winglets to her hollow tree. 
 The seeing of His eyes should not be told, 
 Though all the reeds in all the earth were cut 
 To writing-sticks, and all the seven seas 
 Were seven times multiplied, flowing with ink, 
 And seventy angels wrote. He beholds all 
 Which was, or is, or will be: yea, with Him 
 Is present vision of five secret things: 
 The day of Judgment; and the times of rain; 
 The child hid in the womb is quickenring, 
 And whether male or female ; what will fall 
 To-morrow (as ye know what did befall 
 Yesterday); and where every man shall die.* 
 
 " Where every man shall die." Al Beidhftwi 
 Presenteth how there sate with Solomon 
 A prince of India, and there passed them by 
 Azrael, Angel of Death, on shadowy plumes; 
 
 *Cf. Koran, xxxi. chapter " Of Lokman." 
 
72 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 With great eyes gazing earnestly, as one 
 
 Who wonders, gazing. And, because the prince 
 
 Sate with the king, he saw what the king saw, 
 
 The Djins and Angels, and saw Azrael 
 
 Fixing on him those awful searching eyes. 
 
 " What name, I pray thee, wears yon messenger?" 
 
 So asked he of the king ; and Solomon 
 
 Made answer, " It is Azrael, who calls 
 
 The souls of men." "He seemed," whispered the 
 
 prince, 
 
 " To have an errand unto me; bid now 
 That one among thy demon ministers 
 Waft me, upon the swiftest wing that beats, 
 To India, for I fear him." Solomon 
 Issued command, and a swift Djin sprang forth 
 Bearing the prince aloft, so that he came 
 To Coromandel, ere the fruit which fell 
 Out of the fig had touched the marble floor. 
 
 Thereupon Azrael said to Solomon, 
 
 ' ' I looked thus earnestly upon the man 
 
 In wonder, for my Lord spake, ' Take his soul 
 
 In India; ' yet behold he talked with thee 
 
 Here in Judaea! Now, see! he hath gone 
 
 There where it was commanded he should die." 
 
 Then followed Azrael. In that hour the prince 
 Died of a hurt, sitting in India. 
 
 With Thee, Lord, be the time and place, 
 So that we die in Thy dear grace. 
 
THE LAST DAT. 73 
 
 29 
 
 Al-Hdkim ! think upon tJie Day of Doom, 
 
 And fear " the Judge" before Whom all must come. 
 
 WHEN the sun is withered up, 
 
 And the stars from Heaven roll ; 
 
 When the mountains quake, 
 
 And ye let stray your she-camels, gone ten months in foal ; 
 
 When wild beasts flock 
 
 With the people and the cattle 
 
 In terror, in amazement, 
 
 And the seas boil and rattle; 
 
 And the dead souls 
 
 For their bodies seek ; 
 
 And the child vilely slain 
 
 Is bid to speak, 
 
 Being asked, " Who killed thee, little maid? 
 
 Tell us his name!" 
 
 While the books are unsealed, 
 
 And crimson flame 
 
 Flayeth the skin of the skies, 
 
 And Hell breaks ablaze; 
 
 And Paradise 
 
 Opens her beautiful gates to the gaze ; 
 
 Then shall each soul 
 
 Know the issues of the whole, 
 
 And the balance of its scroll.* 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ixxxi. chapter " Of the Folding Up." 
 
74 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Shall We swear by the stars 
 
 Which fade away? 
 
 By the Night drowned in darkness, 
 
 By the dead Day? 
 
 We swear not ! a true thing is this ; 
 
 It standeth sure, 
 
 He saw it and he heard, and Our word 
 
 Will endure ! 
 
 When the sky cleaves asunder, 
 
 And the stars 
 
 Are scattered; and in thunder 
 
 All the bars 
 
 Of the seas burst, and all the .graves are emptied 
 
 Like chests upturned, 
 
 Each soul shall see her doings, done and undone, 
 
 And what is earned. 
 
 The smiting, the smiting 
 
 Of that Day! 
 
 The horror, the splendor, 
 
 Who shall say? * 
 
 The Day when none shall answer for his brother; 
 
 The Day which is with God, and with none other. 
 
 Al-Hakim ! Judge ! Save by Thy power, 
 Who might abide that awful hour ? 
 
 *Cf. Koran, Ixxxii. chapter " Of Cleaving Asunder.' 
 
SURA "OF JONAS." 75 
 
 30 
 
 Al-Hddil! " Just Lord!" we magnify 
 
 Thy righteous Law, which shall the whole world try. 
 
 GOD will roll up, when this world's end approacheth, 
 The broad blue spangled hangings of the sky, 
 
 Even as As-Sigill * rolleth up his record, 
 And seals and binds it when a man doth die. 
 
 Then the false worshippers, and what they follow, 
 
 Will to the pit, like ''stones of hell," descend; 
 But true believers shall hear Angels saying, 
 "This is your day; be joyous without end." f 
 
 In that hour dust shall lie on many faces, 
 And may faces shall be glad and bright ; J 
 
 Ye who believe, trust and be patient always, 
 Until God judges, for He judges right. 
 
 Give us to pass before Thy throne 
 Among the number of Thine own! 
 
 * A name of the Angel of Registration, 
 t Cf. Koran, xxi. chapter " Of the Prophets/ 
 $ Cf. Koran, Ixxx. chapter " Of the Frown." 
 Cf. Koran, x. chapter " Of Jonas." 
 
76 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 31 
 
 Dread is His wrath, but boundless is His grace, 
 Al-Latiff Lord! show us Thy "favoring" face! 
 
 MOST quick to pardon sins is He : 
 
 Who unto God draws near 
 One forward step, God taketh three 
 
 To meet, and quit his fear. 
 
 If ye will have of this world's show, 
 God grants, while Angels weep ; 
 
 If ye for Paradise will sow, 
 Eight noble crops ye reap.* 
 
 Ah, Gracious One, we toil to reap : 
 The soil is hard, the way is steep ! 
 
 * Of. Koran, xlii. chapter " Of Counsel." 
 
MUHAMMAD IN THE CEMETERY. 77 
 
 Al-KhaUr! Thou Who art "aware" of all, 
 By this name also for Thy grace we call. 
 
 ONE morning in Medina walked our Lord 
 Among the tombs: glad was the dawn, and broad 
 On headstones and on footstones sunshine lay; 
 Earth seemed so fair, 'twas hard to be away. 
 " O people of the graves!" Muhammad said, 
 ' ' Peace be with you ! Your caravan of dead 
 Hath passed the defile, and we living ones 
 Forget what men ye were, of whom the sons, 
 And what your merchandise and where ye went ; 
 But Allah knows these things ! Be ye content 
 Since Allah is ' aware.' Ah! God forgive 
 Those that are dead, and us who briefly live." 
 
 Tea ! pardon, Lord, since Thou dost know 
 To-morrow, now, and long ago. 
 
78 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 " Clement?' is our Lord above ; 
 Magnify AUah by this name of lose. 
 
 YE know the ant that creeps upon the fig, 
 
 The dharra, made so small, 
 Until she moveth in the purple seeds 
 
 She is not seen at all. 
 
 If, on the judgment-day, holding the scales 
 
 When all the trial's done 
 The Angel of the Balance crteth, "Lord! 
 
 The good deeds of this one 
 
 Outweigh his evil deeds, justly assessed, 
 
 By half one dharra' s weight;" 
 Allah will say, ' ' Multiply good to him, 
 
 And open Heaven's gate!" 
 
 Not if thy work be worth a date-stone's skin 
 
 Shall it be overpast; 
 Thus it is written in the Sacred Book,* 
 
 Thus will it be at last. 
 
 Faithful and just, Al-Hdtim ! we 
 Take refuge in Thy clemency. 
 
 * Of. Korfin, iv. chapter " Of Women." 
 
SURA " OF AL-AKHAF." 79 
 
 34 
 
 Al- l Aziz! " Strong and Sovereign" God, Thy hand 
 Is over all Thy works, holding command. 
 
 MAKER of all ye truly call the Strong and Sovereign 
 
 One, 
 Yet have ye read that verse which saith whereto His 
 
 work was done? 
 Open "the Book," and, heedful, look what weighty 
 
 words are given 
 (The Chapter of Al-Akh&f) concerning Earth and 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 "The Heavens and earth," Al-AkhSf saith, "and 
 
 whatso is between, 
 Think ye that We made these to be, and then not to 
 
 have been? 
 Think ye "We fashioned them in jest, without their 
 
 times, and plan, 
 And purpose? Nay! accurst are they who judge of 
 
 God by man. " * 
 
 Higher, Wiser, than we know, 
 Let not IJiy creatures judge Ihee so. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xlvL chapter " Of Al-Akhaf." 
 
80 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 35 
 
 He is the " Pardoner" and his Scripture hath 
 "Paradise is for them that check their wrath, 
 And pardon sins; so Allah doth with souls; 
 He loveth best him who himself controls, " * 
 
 KNOW ye of Hassan's slave? Hassan the son 
 
 Of All. In the camp at Ras-al-hadd 
 
 He made a banquet unto sheikhs and lords, 
 
 Rich dressed and joyous; and a slave bore round, 
 
 Smoking with new-cooked pillaw, Badhan's dish 
 
 Carved from rock-crystal, with the feet in gold, 
 
 And garnets round the rim ; but the boy slipped 
 
 Against the tent-rope, and the precious dish 
 
 Broke into shards of beauty on the board, 
 
 Scalding the son of AH. One guest cried, 
 
 "Dog! wert thou mine, for this thing thou shouldst , 
 
 howl!" 
 
 Another, " Wretch! thou meritest to die." 
 And yet another, ' ' Hassan ! give me leave 
 To smite away this swine's head with my sword!" 
 Even Hassan's self was moved ; but the boy fell 
 Face to the earth and cried, ' ' My lord ! 'tis writ, 
 'Paradise is for them that check their wrath.' " 
 " 'Tis writ so, " Hassan said; " I am not wroth." 
 " My lord!" the boy sobbed on, "also 'tis writ, 
 ' Pardon the trespasser.' " Hassan replied, 
 
 * Cf . Kor&n, iii. chapter " Of Imran's Family." 
 
HASSAWS SLAVE. 81 
 
 " Tis written I remember I forgive." 
 
 ' ' Now is the blessing of the Most High God 
 
 On thee, dear master!" cried the happy slave, 
 
 " For He 'tis writ ' loves the beneficent. 1 " 
 
 " Yea! I remember, and I thank thee, slave," 
 
 Quoth Hassan; " better is one noble verse 
 
 Fetched from ' the Book,' than gold and crystal brought 
 
 From Yaman's hills. Lords! he hath marred the dish, 
 
 But mended fault with wisdom. See, my slave! 
 
 I give thee freedom, and this purse to buy 
 
 The robe and turban of a Muslim freed." 
 
 Al-Ghdfir! pardon us, as we 
 Forgive a brother's injury. 
 
PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 " Grateful" Ash-Shdkir is He; praise Him so 
 Who tJianketh men for that He did bestow. 
 
 So much hast thou of thy hoard 
 As thou gavest to thy Lord ; 
 Only this will bring thee in 
 Usance rich and free from sin: 
 Send thy silver on before, 
 Lending to His sick and poor. 
 Every dirhem dropped in alms 
 Touches Allah's open palms, 
 Ere it fall into the hands 
 Of thy brother. Allah stands 
 Begging of thee, when thy brother 
 Asketh help. Ah! if another 
 Proffered thee, for meat and drink, 
 Food upon Al-KSuthar's brink,* 
 Shining K&uthar which doth flow 
 Sweet as honey, cool as snow, 
 White as milk, and smooth as cream, 
 Underneath its banks, which gleam 
 Green and golden chrysolite, 
 In the Gardens of delight, 
 Whence who drinks never again 
 Tasteth sorrow, age, or pain 
 
 * Of. Koran, cviii. 
 
SURA " OF AL-KAUTHAR." 
 
 Who would not make merchandise, 
 Buying bliss in Paradise, 
 Laying up his treasure where 
 Stores are safe and profits clear? 
 But ye lend at lower cost, 
 Whilst Ash-Sh^kir offers most, 
 Good returning seven times seven, 
 Paying gifts of earth with Heaven. 
 
 Allah, Who dost reward so well, 
 What maketh man in sin to dwell? 
 
84 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 37 
 
 Al-'Hali! believers, magnify 
 
 By this great name, Allah, our Lord " Most High." 
 
 HE willed, and Heaven's blue arch vaulted the air; 
 
 "Be!" said He Earth!* and the round earth was 
 
 made; 
 See! at the hour of late and early prayer 
 
 The very shadows worship Him, low laid. 
 
 Most High ! the lengthening shadows teach 
 Morning and evening prayer to each. 
 
 *Cf. Koran, xvi. chapter "Of the Bee." 
 
THE SEVEN HEAVENS. 85 
 
 38 
 
 Praise Him, Al-Kattr,, seated on "t?ie Throne," 
 The "Very Great," the High-exalted One. 
 
 SEVEN Heavens Allah made: 
 First " Paradise," the Jennat-al-Firdaus ; 
 
 The next, Al Huld, "Gate of Eternity;" 
 The third, Dar-as-Saldm, the "Peaceful House;" 
 
 The fourth, Dar-al-Kurdr, "Felicity;" 
 The fifth was Aidenn, " Home of Golden Light;" 
 
 The sixth, Al Na'Um, " Garden of Delight;" 
 The seventh, Al-Hittiyun, " Footstool of the Throne;" 
 
 And, each and every one, 
 Sphere above sphere, and treasure over treasure, 
 The great decree of God made for reward and pleasure. 
 
 Saith the Perspicuous Book:* 
 
 "Look up to Heaven! look! 
 
 Dost thou see flaw or fault 
 
 In that vast vault, 
 
 Spangled with silvery lamps of night, 
 Or gilded with glad light 
 Of sunrise, or of sunset, or warm noon? 
 
 Rounded He well the moon? 
 Kindled He wisely the red Lord of Day? 
 
 Look twice! look thrice, and say!" 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ixvii. chapter " Of the Kingdom." 
 
86 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Thy weak gaze fails; 
 
 Eyesight is drowned in yon abyss of blue; 
 Ye see the glory, but ye see not through: 
 
 God's greatness veils 
 
 Its greatness by its greatness all that wonder 
 Lieth the lowest of those Heavens under, 
 
 Beyond which Angels view 
 Allah, and Allah's mighty works, asunder; 
 The thronged clouds whisper of it when they thunder. 
 
 Allah KaVir ! in silence we 
 Meditate on Thy majesty. 
 
SUfiA " OF THE NIGHT STAM." 87 
 
 Al-Hdfiz ! "Preserver!" succor us 
 Who humbly trustful, cry unto Thee thus. 
 
 BY the Sky and the Night star! 
 By Al-T^rek the white star! 
 
 Shining clear 
 When darkness covers man and beast 
 
 To proclaim dawn near, 
 And the gold sun hastening from the east, 
 We have set a guard upon you, every one ; 
 
 Be ye not afraid ! 
 Of seed from loins, and milk from bosom-bone, 
 
 Ye were made : 
 We are able to remake you, when ye die, 
 
 For cold death 
 Cometh forth from Us, as warm life cometh 
 
 And gift of breath. 
 Do the darkness and the terror plot against you? 
 
 We also plan ; 
 They that love you are stronger than your haters 
 
 Trust God, O man!* 
 
 " Ta Hdfiz ! " on your doors ye grave , 
 In your hearts, too, these scriptures have f 
 
 * Cf. Koran Ixxxvi. chapter " Of the Night Star." 
 
PEARLS OF TEE FAITH. 
 
 40 
 
 Praise Al-MuMt, the great " Maintainer /" He 
 Made us, and makes our sustenance to be. 
 
 THE chapter of the "Inevitable:"* We gave 
 The life ye live; why doubt ye We can save 
 
 What once hath been from wasting if We will- 
 When, like dry corn, man lieth in his grave? 
 
 Did ye cause seed to grow, or was it We, 
 Wherefrom spring all the many lives that be? 
 
 Who stirred the pulse which couples man and maid, 
 And in the fruit hid that which forms the tree? 
 
 Ye go afield to scatter grain, and then 
 
 Sleep, while We change it into bread for men; 
 
 Have ye bethought why seed should shoot, not sand, 
 Granite, or gravel? Why the gentle rain 
 
 Falleth so clean and sweet from out Our sky, 
 Which might be salt and black and bitter? Why 
 
 The soft clouds gather it from off the seas 
 To spread it o'er the pastures by and by? 
 
 The flame ye strike rubbing Afr and Markh,f 
 Have ye considered that strange yellow spark? 
 
 Did ye conceive such marvel, or did We 
 Grant it, to warm and cheer men in the dark? 
 
 * Koran, Ivi. 
 
 t The woods used by the ancient Arabs to kindle fire. 
 
SURA " OF THE INEVITABLE." 
 
 Not now, but when the soul conies to the neck. 
 The meaning of those mercies each shall reck. 
 Then are We nearest, though ye see it not; 
 Can ye that summoned spirit order back? 
 
 Nay, Al-Mukit! in life and death 
 
 Thine are we : Truth Thy Scripture saith. 
 
90 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 41 
 
 Laud Him as " Reckoner," casting up th* account, 
 And maktny little merits largely mount. 
 
 GIVE more than thou takest : 
 
 If one shall salute thee, 
 
 Saying, "Peace be upon thee," 
 The salute which thou makest, 
 
 Speak it friendlier still, 
 
 As beseemeth goodwill; 
 Saying, "Peace, too, and love 
 From Allah above 
 
 Be with thee :" for heard 
 
 Is each brotherly word; 
 And it shall not be lost 
 That thou gavest him most. * 
 
 Ta Hasib! praise to Thee ; for aU 
 Our good deeds needs must be so small. 
 
 * Of. Koran, iv. chapter " Of Women." 
 
THE ROSE-GARDEN. 91 
 
 Al- Jamil ! " the Benign ;" ah, name most dear, 
 Which bids us low and worship without fear. 
 
 -Too much ye tremble, too much fear to feel 
 That yearning love which Allah's laws reveal ; 
 Too oft forget your troubled journey through 
 He who is Power, is Grace and Beauty too, 
 And Clemency, and Pity, and Pure Rest, 
 The Highest and the Uttermost and Best; 
 Sweeter than honey, and more dear to see 
 Than any loveliness on land or sea 
 By bard or lover praised, or famed in story ; 
 For these were shadows of His perfect glory; 
 Which is not told, because, who sees God near 
 Loseth the speech to speak, in loving fear, 
 So joyous is he, so astonished. 
 
 Hath there come to ye what the Dervish said 
 A"; Kaisareya, in the marble shrine, 
 Who woke from vision of the love divine? 
 " I have seen Allah!" quoth he all a-glow 
 With splendor of the dream which filled him so 
 " Yea! I have paced the Garden of Delight, 
 And heard and known 1" 
 
 " Impart to us thy light," 
 His fellows cried. 
 
 He paused, and smiled, and spake: 
 4 Fain would I say it, brothers, for your sake 
 
92 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 For I have wandered in a sphere so bright, 
 
 Have heard such things, and witnessed such a sight, 
 
 That now I know whither all nature turns, 
 
 And what the love celestial is which burns, 
 
 At the great heart of all the world, ensuring 
 
 That griefs shall pass and joy be all enduring. 
 
 Yet ask me not! I am as one who came 
 
 Where, among roses, one bush, all aflame 
 
 By fragrant crimson blossoms, charged the air 
 
 With loveliness and perfume past compare. 
 
 Then had I thought to load my skirt with roses, 
 
 That ye might judge what wealth that land discloses; 
 
 And filled my robe, plucking the peerless blooms; 
 
 But ah! the scent so rich, so heavenly, comes; 
 
 So were my senses melted into bliss 
 
 With the intoxicating breath of this ; 
 
 I let the border of my mantle fall 
 
 The roses slipped ! I bring ye none at all. " 
 
 Brothers ! with other eyes must we 
 Behold the Hoses on tTiat J'ree. 
 
SURA "OF CLEAVING ASUNDER." 
 
 43 
 
 Allah- al-Karim ! Bountiful Lord ! we bless 
 By this good name Thy loving kindnesses. 
 
 O MAN! what hath beguiled, 
 That thou shouldst stray 
 From the plain easy way 
 Of Allah's service, being Allah's child? 
 When thou wert not, 
 And when thou wast a clot, 
 He did foresee thee, and did fashion thee 
 From heel to nape, 
 Giving thee this fair shape, 
 Composing thee in wondrous symmetry 
 More than thy mother in the form thou wearest; 
 Nearer to thee than what on earth is nearest. 
 Kinder than kin is He 
 Wilt thou forgetful be? * 
 
 Ya Karim ! since Thou lovest thus, 
 Quicken, ah, quicken love in us. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ixxxii. chapter " Of Cleaving Asunder." 
 
94 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 44 
 
 AllaTi-al-EaW) ! praise ye "the Watchful One" 
 Who noteth what men do and leave undone. 
 
 THE book of the wicked is in Sijjm, 
 
 A close-writ book : 
 A book to be unfolded on the Awful Day, 
 
 The day whereto men would not look. 
 
 What Sijjln is 
 
 Who shall make thee know? 
 The Black Gaol. Under Jehannum, 
 Under Lathd, the " red glow," 
 Under Hutamah, " the fires which split;" 
 Beneath 8a'hir t the " Yellow Hell," 
 And scorching Sakar, lieth it, 
 And Jahim, where devils dwell: 
 Lower from light and bliss 
 Than Hdwiyeh, " the abyss:" 
 Sijjln is this. 
 
 But the books of the righteous are in Hilliyun, 
 
 And what shall make thee see 
 The glory of that region, nigh to God, 
 
 Where those records be? 
 Joy shall make their portion : they shall lie 
 
 With the light of delight upon their faces, 
 On soft seats reclining 
 
 In peaceful places; 
 
THE BOOKS OF GOOD AND EVIL. 95 
 
 Drinking wine, pure wine, sealed wine, 
 
 Whose seal is musk and rose; 
 Allayed by the crystal waves that shine 
 
 In Tasmln, which flows 
 From the golden throne of God: at its brink 
 
 Angels drink.* 
 
 " Watcher!" grant our names may "be 
 In that Book lying near to Thee, 
 
 * Of. Koran, Ixxxiii. chapter " Of Short Weight." 
 
96 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Allah-al-Mujtb, Who biddest men to pray, 
 And hearest prayer; thus praise we Thee dfaoay. 
 
 OUR Lord the Prophet (peace to him !) doth write 
 Sura the seventeenth, intituled "Night:" 
 " Pray at the noon, pray at the sinking sun, 
 In night-time pray; but most when night is done, 
 For daybreak's prayer is surely borne on high 
 By Angels changing guard within the sky." 
 And in another verse, " Dawn's prayer is more 
 Than the wide world with all its treasured store." 
 
 Therefore the Faithful, when the growing light. 
 Gives to discern a black hair from a white. 
 Haste to the mosque, and, bending Mecca- way, 
 Recite Al-Fdtihah while 'tis scarce yet day: 
 Praise be to Allah, Lord of all that live. 
 Merciful Sing and Judge, to Thee we give 
 Worship and honor ! Succor us and guide 
 Where those have walked wJio rest Thy Throne beside; 
 TJie way of peace, the way of truthful speech, 
 The way of righteousness. So we beseech" 
 He who saith this, before the east is red, 
 A hundred prayers of Azan hath he said. 
 
 Hear now this story of it told, I ween, 
 For your soul's comfort by Jelalu-'d-deen 
 
ALI AND THE JEW. 97 
 
 In the great pages of the Mesnevi ; 
 
 For therein, plain and certain, shall ye see 
 
 How precious is the prayer at break of day 
 
 In Allah's ears, and in His sight alway 
 
 How sweet are reverence and gentleness 
 
 Done to His creatures: "All" (whom I bless!), 
 
 The son of Abu Talib he, surnamed 
 
 "Lion of God," in many battles famed, 
 
 The cousin of oiir Lord the Prophet (grace 
 
 Be his!), uprose betimes one morn, to pace, 
 
 As he was wont, unto the mosque, wherein 
 
 Our Lord (bliss live with him!) watched to begin 
 
 Al-Fdtihah. Darkling was the sky, and strait 
 
 The lane between the city and mosque-gate, 
 
 By rough stones broken and deep pools of rain ; 
 
 And therethrough toilfully, with steps of pain, 
 
 Leaning upon his staff an old Jew went 
 
 To synagogue, on pious errand bent ; 
 
 For those be " People of the Book," and some 
 
 Are chosen of Allah's will who have not come 
 
 Unto full light of knowledge; therefore, he, 
 
 Ali, the Caliph of proud days to be 
 
 Knowing this good old man, and why he stirred 
 
 Thus early, ere the morning mills were heard 
 
 Out of his nobleness and grace of soul 
 
 Would not thrust past, though the Jew blocked the 
 
 whole 
 
 Breadth of the lane, slow hobbling. So they went, 
 That ancient first; and, in soft discontent, 
 After him Ali, noting how the sun 
 Flared near, and fearing prayer might be begun; 
 Yet no command upraising, no harsh cry 
 To stand aside, because the dignity 
 
98 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Of silver hairs is much, and morning praise 
 Was precious to the Jew, too. Thus their ways 
 Wended the pair; great Ali, sad and slow, 
 Following the graybeard, while the east, a-glow, 
 Blazed with bright spears of gold athwart the blue, 
 And the Muezzin's call came, "Illahu! 
 Allah-U- Allah r 
 
 In the mosque, our Lord 
 
 (On whom be peace) stood by the mimbar-board, 
 In act to bow and Fdtihah forth to say. 
 But, while his lips moved, some strong hand did lay 
 Over his mouth a palm invisible, 
 So that no voice on the assembly fell. 
 Ta ! Rabbi 'lalamma thrice he tried 
 To read, and thrice the sound of reading died, 
 Stayed by this unseen touch. Thereat amazed, 
 Our Lord Muhammad turned, arose, and gazed, 
 And saw alone of all within the shrine 
 A splendid Presence, with large eyes divine 
 Beaming, and golden pinions folded down, 
 Their speed still tokened by the fluttered gown: 
 Gabriel he knew, the Spirit who doth stand 
 Chief of the Sons of Heav'n, at God's right hand; 
 "Gabriel! why stay'st thou me?" the Prophet said, 
 " Since at this hour the FdtihaTi should be read." 
 But the bright Presence, smiling, pointed where 
 Ali towards the outer gate drew near, 
 Upon the threshold shaking off his shoes, 
 And giving "alms of entry," as men use. 
 "Yea!" spake th' Archangel, "sacred is the sound 
 Of morning praise, and worth the world's great round, 
 Though earth were pearl and silver; therefore I 
 Stayed thee, Muhammad, in the act to cry. 
 
ALI AND THE JEW. 99 
 
 Lest Ali, tarrying in the lane, should miss, 
 For his good deed, its blessing and its bliss." 
 Thereat the Archangel vanished, and our Lord 
 Read Fdtihah forth beneath the mimbar^board. 
 
 Us, too, Mujib ! in "hearing keep; 
 Better is prayer than food or sleep/ 
 
100 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 46. 
 
 "All- Comprehending One" Al-Wasi'h ! we 
 By this name also praise and honor Thee. 
 
 TUKN, wheresoe'er ye be, to Mecca's stone, 
 For this is holy, and your Lord doth hear; 
 
 Thitherwards turn! so hath all Islam one 
 Heart to its thought and harbor of its prayer. 
 
 But Allah's house eastwards and westwards lies, 
 Northwards and southwards. He is everywhere : 
 
 Whithersoever way ye bend your eyes, 
 Face to face are ye with Al-Wasi'h there. 
 
 It is not righteousness to kneel aright 
 Fronting the Kiblah; but to rightly hold 
 
 Of God, and of His judgment, and the bright 
 Bands of His Angels : and what truth is told 
 
 In the sure KorSn by God's holy Prophet; 
 
 To succor orphans, strangers, suppliants, kin; 
 Your gold and worldly treasure to give of it 
 
 Ransom for captives, alms which mercy win : 
 
 To keep your covenants when ye covenant; 
 
 Your woes and sufferings patiently to bear, 
 Being the will of God : this is to front 
 
 Straight for the Kiblah : this is faith and fear.* 
 
 Abounding Lord! in every place 
 Is built the Mecca of Thy grace. 
 
 * Cf. Korfin, ii. chapter " Of the Cow." 
 
THE ANGELS OF THE SCALES. 101 
 
 47 
 
 Al- Hakim! Judge of all the judges f show 
 Mercy to us and make us justice know. 
 
 ONLY one Judge is just, for only One 
 Knoweth the hearts of men; and hearts alone 
 Are guilty or are guiltless. That which lied 
 Was not the tongue he is a red dog tied. 
 
 And that which slew was not the hand ye saw 
 Grasping the knife she is a slave whose law 
 The master gives, seated within the tent; 
 The hand was handle to the instrument; 
 
 The dark heart murdered. O believers! leave 
 Judgment to Heav'n except ye do receive 
 Office and order to accomplish this; 
 Then honorable, and terrible, it is. 
 
 The Prophet said: * "At the great day of doom 
 Such fear on the most upright judge shall come 
 That he shall moan, ' Ah! would to God that I 
 Had stood for trial, and not sate to try!' " 
 
 He said: "The Angels of the Scales will bring 
 Just and unjust who judged before Heav'n's King, 
 Grasping them by the neck ; and, if it be, 
 One hath adjudged his fellows wickedly 
 
 * Cf . the Mishkai 
 
102 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 "He shall be hurled to hell so vast a height 
 Tis forty years' fierce journey ere he light ; 
 But if one righteously hath borne the rod, 
 The Angels kiss those lips which spake for God." 
 
 Lord! make us just, that we may be 
 A little justified with Thee. 
 
TASMIN AND SALSABIL. 103 
 
 48 
 
 " The Loving" Al-Wadood! ah, title dear, 
 WJiereby Thy children praise Thee, free of fear. 
 
 SWEET seem your wedded days; and dear and tender 
 Your children's talk; brave 'tis to hear the tramp 
 
 Of pastured horses ; and to see the splendor 
 Of gold and silver plunder; and to camp 
 
 With goats and camels by the bubbling fountain; 
 
 And to drink fragrance from the desert wind, 
 And to sit silent on the mighty mountain; 
 
 And all the joys which make life bright and kind. 
 
 But ye have heard of streams more brightly flowing 
 Than those whereby ye wander ; of a life 
 
 Glorious and glad and pure beyond earth's knowing; 
 Love without loss, and wealth without the strife. 
 
 Lo ! we have told you of the golden Garden 
 Kept for the Faithful, where the soil is still 
 
 Wheat-flour and musk and camphire, and fruits harden 
 To what delicious savor each man will 
 
 Upon the Tooba tree ; which bends its cluster 
 To him that doth desire, bearing all meat; 
 
 And of the sparkling fountains which out-lustre 
 Diamonds and emeralds, running clear and sweet, 
 
104 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Tasmin and Salsabil, whose lucent waters 
 
 Are rich, delicious, undistracting wine; 
 And of the Houris, pleasure's perfect daughters, 
 
 Virgins of Paradise, whose black eyes shine 
 
 Soul-deep with love and languor, having tresses 
 Night-dark, with scents of the gold-blooming date 
 
 And scarlet roses ; lavishing caresses 
 That satisfy, but never satiate; 
 
 Whose looks refrain from any save their lover, 
 Whose peerless limbs and bosoms' ivory swell 
 
 Are like the ostrich egg which feathers cover 
 From stain and dust, so white and rounded well : 
 
 Dwelling in marvellous pavilions, builded 
 Of hollow pearls, wherethrough a great light shines 
 
 Cooled by soft breezes and by glad suns gilded 
 On the green pillows where the Blest reclines. 
 
 A rich reward it shall be, a full payment 
 For life's brief trials and sad virtue's stress, 
 
 When friends with friends, clad all in festal raiment, 
 Share in deep Heaven the Angels' happiness; 
 
 Kay, and full payment, though ye give those pleasures 
 Which make life dear, to fight and die for faith, 
 
 Rendering to God your wives and flocks and treasures, 
 That He may pay you tenfold after death. 
 
 For, if the bliss of Paradise, transcending 
 Delights of earth, should w v in ye to be bold, 
 
 Yet know, this glory hath its crown and ending 
 In Allah's grace, which is the Joy untold, 
 
TASMIN AND 8AL8ABIL 105 
 
 The Utmost Bliss. Beyond the Happy River 
 The justified shall see God's face in Heaven, 
 
 Live in His sweet goodwill,* and taste for ever 
 Al-Wadood's f love, unto His children given. 
 
 Yea! for high Heaven's felicity 
 Is but the shadow, Lord, of Thee. 
 
 * Of. Koran, ix. chapter " Of Repentance." 
 
 t Cf. Koran, Ixxxv. chapter " Of Zodiacal Signs." 
 
106 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 49 
 
 Al-Majid ! Glorious Lord upon the Throne* 
 With this great name we praise Thee, Sovereign One ! 
 
 BY the Heavens, walled with silver signs and towers ! 
 
 By the Promised Day ! 
 
 By the Witness and the Witnessed; and the Way 
 Of righteousness ! this glorious Book of ours 
 
 Lieth treasured up in Heaven, 
 
 As 'twas given 
 On the mighty " Night of Powers;" 
 
 And its easy bond is this, 
 
 The which to keep is bliss: 
 
 ' ' None save Glorious Allah serve; 
 
 Never from His precepts swerve; 
 
 Honor teacher, father, mother; 
 
 Unto him who is thy brother, 
 
 Unto kindred, friends also, 
 
 Orphans, suppliants, sad ones, show 
 
 Gentleness and help; to each 
 
 Speak with kind and courteous speech. 
 
 Give in alms that thou may'st spare, 
 
 And be constant in thy rprayer" * 
 
 Allah al-Majid ! Thy favor grant, 
 That we may keep this covenant. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ixxxv. chapter " Of Celestial Signs., 
 t Cf. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Heifer." 
 
IBLIS AND ABRAHAM. 107 
 
 50 
 
 Al-BdJiith / Opener of the Tombs ! we praise 
 Thy power, which unto life the dead can raise. 
 
 iBLfs spake to Abraham: 
 " What is this thy Lord hath told thee? 
 Shall the Resurrection be 
 1 When the mouldering clods enfold thee? 
 Nay! and if a man might rise, 
 Buried whole, in heedful wise, 
 See yon carcase, tempest-beaten 
 Part the wandering fox hath eaten, 
 Part by fishes hath been torn, 
 Part the sea-fowl hence have borne ; 
 Never back those fragments can 
 Come to him who was a man." 
 
 Abraham spake unto his Lord : * 
 " Show me how is wrought this wonder; 
 Can Thy resurrection be 
 When a man's dust lies asunder?" 
 
 " Art thou therefore not believing," 
 Allah said, " because deceiving 
 Iblts fills with lies thy heart?" 
 "Nay," he answered, "but impart 
 Knowledge, Mightiest One and Best! 
 That my heart may be at rest." 
 
 * Of. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Heifer." 
 
108 PEARLS OF TEE FAITH. 
 
 God said: " Take, thou doubting one! 
 Four birds from among My creatures; 
 Sever each bird's head, and so 
 Mingle feathers, forms, and features, 
 That the fragments shall not be 
 Knowable to such as ye. 
 Into four divide the mass, 
 Then upon the mountains pass, 
 On four peaks a portion lay, 
 And, returning homeward, say, 
 1 By the name and power of God 
 Who hath made men of the clod, 
 And hath said the dead shall rise- 
 Birds! fly hither in such wise 
 As ye lived.' And they shall come, 
 Perfect, whole, and living, home." 
 
 Thereupon Al-Khalil took 
 A raven, eagle, dove, and cock; 
 From their bodies shore* the heads, 
 Cut the four fowl into shreds, 
 Mingled all their mass together, 
 Blood and bone, and flesh and feather; 
 Then dividing this four- wise, 
 Laid it where four peaks did rise 
 Two to south and two to north. 
 Then the dove's head held he forth, 
 Crying, "Come!" Lo! at the word 
 Cooed at his feet the slaughtered bird. 
 "Come, raven!" spake he: as he spoke, 
 On glossy wing, with eager croak, 
 Flew round the raven. Then he said, 
 "Return! thou cock:" the cock obeyed. 
 
IBLIS AND ABRAHAM. 109 
 
 Lastly the eagle summoned he, 
 Which circling came, on pinions free, 
 Restored and soaring to the sky, 
 With perfect plumes and undimmed eye. 
 
 So in the Holy Book 'tis writ 
 How Abraham's heart at rest was set. 
 
 Why should we fear to yield our breath, 
 To Thee That art the Lord of Death? 
 
110 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 51 
 
 Ash-Shahid ! God is "Witness /" and He toofc 
 Witness of us, ye People of the Book ! 
 
 THE spirits of the Prophets came at morn 
 To Sinai, summoned by their Lord's command, 
 
 Singers and seers ; those born and those unborn, 
 The chosen souls of men, a solemn band. 
 
 The noble army ranged, in viewless might, 
 Around that mountain peak which pierces heaven ; 
 
 Greater and lesser teachers, sons of light; 
 Their number was ten thousand score and seven. 
 
 Then Allah took a covenant with His own, 
 Saying, "My wisdom and My word receive; 
 
 Speak of Me unto men, known or unknown, 
 Heard or unheard; bid such as will, believe." 
 
 ' ' And there shall come apostles, guiding ye, 
 Jesus, Muhammad: follow them and aid! 
 
 Are you resolved, and will you war for Me?" 
 " We are resolved, O Lord of all!" they said. 
 
 "Bear witness then!" spake Allah, "souls most dear, 
 I am your Lord and ye heralds of Mine." 
 
 Thenceforward through all lands His Prophets bear 
 The message of the mystery divine.* 
 
 Allah-ash- Shahid ! make us to hear 
 The errand that Thy children bear. 
 
 * Of. Koran, iii. chapter "Of Imran's Family." 
 
SURA "OF THE COW." Ill 
 
 52 
 
 Thou, the Truth ! when so Thy name we call, 
 All's said that need be said, sith Thou art all. 
 
 TRUTH and all truth He is ! serve Him alone 
 -Who hath none other by nor near His Throne; 
 Unto all sins is Allah's pardon given 
 Except what giveth Him partners in Heaven,* 
 Being Apart, Exalted, Truth and Light, 
 Only and wholly hold thou this aright! 
 
 Ya HaTck ! true God ! never with Thee 
 Can other or can equal oe. 
 
 * Of. Koran, iv. chapter "O/ Yemen." 
 
112 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 53 
 
 Alaikul shay Wakttf * Guardian of all! 
 By this name trustfully on Thee we call. 
 
 VEBILY God is guard ! 
 What other hath created you, and made 
 Men gone before, and earth's foundations laid 
 
 So broad and hard, 
 To be your dwelling-place; 
 And Heaven's star-jewelled face 
 Arched for your roof-top ; and the tender rain 
 Sent down at the due season, whereby grain 
 
 Groweth, and clustered gold 
 
 Of dates, and grapes that hold 
 The purple and the amber honey-juice? 
 
 These for your use 
 
 Your Lord and " Agent" gave. 
 Make Him no peers, nor other guardian have. 
 
 Allan-al- Wakil ! Thy wards are we; 
 Have us in Thy fidelity. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Heifer." 
 
THE FLY AND THE FALSE GODS. 113 
 
 54 
 
 Thou mighty One ! Whose mercy Jiath upraised 
 Mankind to praise Thee, be Thou hereby praised ! 
 
 CONSIDER them that serve 
 "ThB false gods, how they lay in golden dishes 
 Honey and fruits and fishes 
 Before their idols; and the green fly comes, 
 Shoots through the guarded gates, and hums 
 Scorn of their offering, stealing what she will ; 
 And none of these great gods the thief can kill, 
 
 So swift she is and small: 
 
 And none of all 
 
 Can make one little fly, for all their state; 
 So feeble are they, and so falsely great.* 
 Ye people of the stocks and stones! herein 
 A parable is set against your sin. 
 But Allah high doth rule 
 Whose hand made all things, being " Powerful." 
 
 Al-Kawi ! King of power and might! 
 Be Thy hand o'er us day and night ! 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xxii. chapter " Of Believers." 
 
114 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 55 
 
 Allah-al-Mateen ! " Firm" is our Lord and fast ; 
 Praise Him Who doth upJwld Thee to the last. 
 
 BY the Angels ranged in ranks, 
 
 And the Rain-cloud Drivers, 
 And the Reciters of the word, " Thy God is one,' 
 
 Firm is our Lord ! 
 
 Of the heavens the tent-pole, 
 
 Al- Watad ; and of earth 
 
 Hdbl-al-Hateen, the sure Cord : * 
 
 By this thy soul 
 
 Holdeth, from birth: 
 Fast is the cord, and sure ; 
 They only shall endure 
 Who dwell beneath the mighty tent upholden 
 By Al-Watad,\ the Golden. 
 
 Stay of Thy servants, Al-Mateen ! 
 In Thee is strong deliverance seen. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, iii. chapter " Of the Family of Imran." 
 t Cf. Koran, Ixxviii. chapter " Of the Information." 
 
ABRAHAM'S BREAD. 115 
 
 Al- Wall ! Nearest of all friends, and Best, 
 So praise your Lord, Whose help is mightiest. 
 
 CLOSE is He always to His faithful ones, 
 
 But closer dwelt they in the times of old. 
 
 Hath it come to ye what Al-Baidh&wi 
 
 Presenteth of the days of Abraham, 
 
 Whom Allah called His " Friend," and like a friend 
 
 Softly entreated,* stooping out of Heaven 
 
 To help and comfort him so dear to God ? 
 
 Ofttimes the Angels of his Lord would light 
 
 Familiarly, with folded wings, before 
 
 The curtain of his tent, conversing there; 
 
 Ofttimes, on thorny flats of wilderness, 
 
 Or in the parched pass, or the echoing cave, 
 
 The very voice of God would thrill his ears; 
 
 And he might answer, as a man with man, 
 
 Hearing and speaking things unspeakable. 
 
 Wherefore, no marvel that he gave his son 
 
 At Allah's bidding, and had back his son 
 
 Patient and safe when the wild goat came down 
 
 And hung amid the nebbuk by his horns, 
 
 On Thabir, nigh to Mecca, in the vale 
 
 Of Mina;f an d the knife of Abraham 
 
 Reddened with unwept blood. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, iv. chapter " Of Women." 
 
 t Cf. Koran, xxxvii. chapter " Of the Ranged." 
 
116 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 There had fall'n drought 
 Upon the land, and all the mouths he fed 
 Hungered for meal; therefore Al-Khalil sent 
 Messengers unto Egypt to a lord 
 Wealthy and favorable, having store 
 Of grain and cattle by the banks of Nile. 
 " Give unto Abraham," the message said, 
 ' ' A little part for gold, yet more for love 
 (As he had given, if the strait were thine) 
 Meal of the millet, lentil, wheat, and bean, 
 That he and his may live ; for drought hath comfe 
 Upon our fields and pastures, and we pine." 
 Spake the Egyptian lord, " Lo! now ye ask 
 O'ermuch of me for friendliness, and more 
 Than gold can buy, since dearth hath also come 
 Over our fields, and nothing is to spare. 
 Yet had it been to succor Abraham, 
 And them that dwell beneath his tent, the half 
 Of all we hold had filled your empty sacks. 
 But he will feed people we wot not of, 
 Poor folk, and hungry wanderers of the waste : 
 The which are nought to us, who have of such, 
 If there were surplusage. Therefore return; 
 Find food elsewhere!" 
 
 Then said the messengers 
 One to another, "If we shall return 
 With empty sacks, our master's name, so great 
 For worship in the world, will suffer shame, 
 And men will say he asked and was denied." 
 Therefore they filled their sacks with white sea-sand 
 (Jathered by Gaza's wave, and sorrowfully 
 Journeyed to Kedar, where lay Abraham, 
 To whom full privately they told this thing, 
 
ABRAHAM'S BREAD. 117 
 
 Saying, " We filled the sacks with snow-white sand, 
 
 Lest thy great name be lessened 'mongst the folk, 
 
 Seeing us empty-handed ; for the man 
 
 Denied thee corn; since thou wouldst give, quoth he, 
 
 To poor folk and to wanderers of the waste, 
 
 And there are hungry mouths enough by Nile." 
 
 Then was the heart of Abraham sore, because 
 The people of his tribe drew round to share 
 The good food brought, and all the desert trooped 
 With large-eyed mothers and their pining babes, 
 Certain of succor if the sheikh could help. 
 So did the spirit of Al-Khalil sink 
 That into swoon he fell, and lay as one 
 Who hath not life. But Sarai, his wife 
 That knew not bade her maidens bring a sack, 
 Open its mouth, and knead some meal for cakes. 
 And when the sack was opened, there showed flour, 
 Fine, three times bolted, whiter than sea-sand; 
 Which in the trough they kneaded, rolling cakes, 
 And baking them over the crackling thorns; 
 So that the savor spread throughout the camp 
 Of new bread smoking, and the people drew 
 Closer and thicker, as ye see the herds 
 Throng horn, and wool, and hoof at watering-time, 
 When after fiery leagues, the wells are reached. 
 
 But Abraham, awaking, smelled the bread : 
 " Whence," spake he unto Sarai, " hast thou meal, 
 Wife of my bosom? for the smell of bread 
 Riseth, and lo! I see the cakes are baked." 
 " By God! Who is the only One," she said, 
 " Whence should it come save from thy friend who 
 
 sent, 
 The lord of Egypt?" "Nay!" quoth Abraham, 
 
118 PEAELS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 And fell upon his face, low-worshipping, 
 
 " But this hath come from the dear mighty hands 
 
 Of Allah of the Lord of Egypt's lords 
 
 My ' Friend/ and King, and Helper: now my folk 
 
 Shall live and die not. Glory be to God!" 
 
 He that Tiath Allah for afiwnd, 
 To want and woe hath put the end. 
 
THE GARDEN AND THE ROCK. 119 
 
 57 
 
 Rich to reward your Lord is; oh, do ye 
 Praise Al-Hamid, the "Ever-praiseworthy!" 
 
 PKAISE him by alms; and when ye help believers, 
 Mar not your gifts with grudging word or will ; 
 
 Since ye at Allah's hands are free receivers, 
 Freely bestow. A garden on a hill 
 
 Is as a likeness of that fair compassion 
 Shown for the sake of God: the heavy rain 
 
 Descendeth, and the dew; and every fashion 
 Of good seed springs tenfold in fruit and grain. 
 
 The likeness of the evil heart, bestowing 
 That men may praise, is as the thin-clad peak, 
 
 Wherefrom the rain washes all soil for growing, 
 Leaving the hard rock naked, fruitless, bleak. 
 
 Say, will ye plant on rock or plenteous garden? 
 
 Grow nought, or grow green vines that shade afford ?- 
 Forgive your brethren as ye ask for pardon; 
 
 Give as ye have received, and praise your Lord ! * 
 
 Allah-al-Hamid ! what tongue can tell 
 Thy goodness, ever-laudable ? 
 
 *Cf. Koran ii. chapter "Of the Heifer." 
 
120 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 58 
 
 Al-Mushi! The " Accountant!" laud Him so 
 Who reckoneth up the deeds men do below. 
 
 " IN GOD'S NAME, MERCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE!" 
 
 WHEN Earth shall quake with quaking,* 
 
 And cast her burden forth 
 
 Of corpses; and live men 
 
 Shall ask with terror shaking 
 
 " What aileth Earth?" that day 
 
 She shall reply, and say 
 
 That which her Lord commands : 
 
 And men shall come in bands, 
 This side and that side, ranged to show 
 Their works, and the account to know. 
 And he that wrought of good a red ant's weight 
 
 Shall see it writ: 
 And who did evil, aye! as the skin of a date, 
 
 Shall witness it. 
 
 Al-Muhsi! dread Accountant ! look 
 In mercy on our judgment-book. 
 
 *Cf. Koran, xcix. chapter " Of the Earthquake." 
 
THE LIGHT OF LIFE. 121 
 
 59 
 
 Al-Mubdi ! praise Him by this holy name, 
 Who gave to all the spark which lights life's flame. 
 
 WHENCE came ye; 'and the people of the groves; 
 
 The streams, the seas, the wilderness, the air; 
 Beasts, fishes, fowl; each with their lives and loves, 
 
 Each glad to be, each in its kind so fair? 
 
 " Begotten of their like?" Yea! but " their like," 
 Who did devise that, and the hidden charm 
 
 Whereby as flame from torch to torch doth strike 
 The light of life shines on, bright, joyous, warm? 
 
 Al-Mubdi hath devised it! His decree 
 In the beginning shaped and ordered each, 
 
 Saying to all these things foreseen, " So be!" 
 And so they were, obeying Allah's speech. 
 
 Al-Mubdi ! " Great Beginner!" take 
 Our praises, /<??* life's pleasant sake ! 
 
122 PEAEL8 OF THE FAITH. 
 
 60 
 
 He made life and He takes it but instead 
 Gives more; praise the Restorer, Al-Mu'Md! 
 
 HE who died at Azan sends 
 This to comfort faithful friends. 
 
 Faithful friends ! it lies, I know, 
 Pale and white and cold as snow ; 
 And ye say, "Abdullah's dead!" 
 Weeping at my feet and head; 
 I can see your falling tears, 
 I can hear your cries and prayers ; 
 Yet I smile, and whisper this 
 ' ' I am not that thing you kiss ; 
 Cease your tears, and let it lie ; 
 It was mine, it is not I." 
 
 Sweet friends ! what the women lave, 
 For its last bed in the grave, 
 Is a tent which I am quitting, 
 Is a garment no more fitting, 
 Is a cage from which, at last, 
 Like a hawk my soul hath passed. 
 Love the inmate, not the room; 
 The wearer, not the garb ; the plume 
 Of the falcon, not the bars 
 Which kept him from the splendid stars. 
 
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD. 123 
 
 Loving friends! be wise, and dry 
 Straightway every weeping eye; 
 What ye lift upon the bier 
 Is not worth a wistful tear. 
 Tis an empty sea-shell, one 
 Out of which the pearl is gone; 
 The shell is broken, it lies there; 
 The pearl, and all, the soul, is here. 
 'Tis an earthen jar whose lid 
 Allah sealed, the while it hid 
 That treasure of His treasury, 
 A mind which loved Him ; let it lie ! 
 Let the shard be earth's once more, 
 Since the gold shines in His store! 
 
 Allah Mu'hid, Allah most good! 
 Now thy grace is understood ; 
 Now my heart no longer wonders 
 What Al-Barsakh * is, which sunders 
 Life from death, and death from Heaven ; 
 Nor the " Paradises Seven" 
 Which the happy dead inherit; 
 Nor those "birds" which bear each spirit 
 Towards the Throne, " green birds and white," 
 Radiant, glorious, swift their flight ! 
 Now the long, long darkness ends, 
 Yet ye wail, my foolish friends, 
 While the man whom ye call "dead" 
 In unbroken bliss instead 
 Lives, and loves you; lost, 'tis true 
 By any light which shines for you ; 
 But in light ye cannot see 
 Of unfulfilled felicity, 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xxiii. chapter " Of Believers." 
 
134 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 And enlarging Paradise, 
 Lives the life that never dies. 
 
 Farewell, friends! Yet not farewell; 
 Where I am, ye too shall dwell. 
 I am gone before your face 
 A heart-beat's time, a gray anf s pace. 
 When ye come where I have stepped, 
 Ye will marvel why ye wept, 
 Ye will know, by true love taught, 
 That here is all, and there is naught. 
 Weep awhile, if ye are fain, 
 Sunshine still must follow rain! 
 Only not at death, for death 
 Now I see is that first breath 
 Which our souls draw when we enter 
 Life, that is of all life centre. 
 
 Know ye Allah's law is love, 
 Viewed from Allah's Throne above: 
 Be ye firm of trust, aud come 
 Faithful onward to your home 1 
 ' ' La Allah ilia Allah / Yea, 
 Mu'hid! Restorer! Sovereign!" say! 
 
 He who died at Azan gave 
 
 This to those that made his grave. 
 
SURA "OF THE SIGNS." 125 
 
 61 
 
 Al'Mo'hyi! the " Quickener!" hereby 
 Praise Him Whom Angels praise eternally. 
 
 of His signs is this,"* saith the Great Book; 
 " Under the angry sun the slain earth look! 
 Dries up to dust; dies every growing thing; 
 Then blow we breaths of southern wind which bring 
 Rain-dropping clouds, and see! the dead earth lives, 
 And stirs, and swells ; and every herb revives. 
 So shall the dead be quickened by His breath, 
 This is Al-Mo'hyi's sign," the Great Book saith. 
 
 thou believer ! shall it be 
 
 He saves the green thing, and not thee ? 
 
 * Of. Koran, xli. chapter " Of Signs Explained." 
 
126 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 He quicJceneth, but " He ktlleth:" blessed they 
 Who may abide in trust that final day! 
 
 YEA! some have found right good to hear the summons 
 
 of their Lord, 
 And gone as glad as warriors proud, who take up spear 
 
 and sword 
 At sounding of the song of fight; as light of heart as 
 
 those 
 For whom the bride unveileth her mouth of pearl and 
 
 rose. 
 
 Jelalu-'d-'Din, Er-Rumi, the saint of Balkh, the son 
 Of him surnamed " Flower of the Faith," this was a 
 
 chosen one, 
 To whom Death softly showed himself, Heaven's gentle 
 
 call to give ; 
 For what word is it bids us die, save that which made 
 
 us live? 
 
 Sick lay he there in Konya; 'twas dawnf the golden 
 
 stream 
 Of light, new springing in the east, on Ms thin lips did 
 
THE ANGEL OF DEATH. 127 
 
 Those lips which spake the praise of God all through 
 
 his holy years, 
 And murmured now, with faith and hope unchanged, 
 
 the morning prayers. 
 
 Then one who watched beside his bed, heard at the 
 inner gate 
 
 A voice cry, "Aftahf 'open!' from far I come, and 
 wait 
 
 To speak my message to Jel^l a message that will 
 bring 
 
 Peace and reward to him who lies the Fdtihah mur- 
 muring. " 
 
 Thereat the watcher drew the bar which closed the 
 
 chamber-door, 
 Wondering and 'feared, for ne'er was heard upon this 
 
 earth before 
 
 Accents so sweet and comforting, nor ever eyes of men 
 Saw presence so majestical as his who entered then. 
 
 Entered with gliding footsteps a bright celestial youth, 
 Splendid and strange in beauty, past words to speak its 
 
 truth; 
 Midnight is not so dark and deep as was his solemn 
 
 gaze, 
 By love and pity lighted, as the night with silvery 
 
 rays. 
 
 " What is thy name?" the watcher asked, "that I may 
 
 tell my lord, 
 Thou fair and dreadful messenger! whose glance is as 
 
 a sword ; 
 
128 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Whose face is like tlie Heaven unveiled ; whose tender 
 
 searching voice 
 Maketh the heart cease beating, but bids the soul 
 
 rejoice." 
 
 " AZKAEL ANA," spake the shape, "lam the Spirit of 
 
 Death; 
 Aud I arn sent from Allah's throne to stay thy master's 
 
 breath." 
 "Come in! come in! thou Bird of God," cried joyously 
 
 Jelftl, 
 "Fold down thy heavenly plumes and speak! Isl&ml 
 
 what shall be, shall." 
 
 "Thou blessed one!" the Angel said, "I bring thy 
 
 time of peace ; 
 When I have touched thee on the eyes, life's latest ache 
 
 will cease ; 
 God bade me come as I am seen amid the heavenly 
 
 host, 
 No enemy of awful mould, but he who loveth most. " 
 
 "Dear Angel! do what thou art bid," quoth Jel&l, 
 
 smilingly, 
 " God willing, thou shalt find to-day a patient one in 
 
 me; 
 Sweet is the cup of bitterness which cometh in such 
 
 wise !" 
 With that he bowed his saintly brow, and Azrael 
 
 kissed his eyes. 
 
 Al-MumU ! " Slayer /" send Him thus, 
 In love, not anger, unto us. 
 
THE LIFE BEYOND. 129 
 
 63 
 
 Praise Him, Al-Haiy ! the " Ever-living" King, 
 Who to eternal life His own doth bring. 
 
 SAITH the Book: " Count not as dead * 
 Such as for the Faith have bled; 
 Stark and red their bodies lie. 
 But their souls are in the sky, 
 Resident with God, who grants 
 All for which the spirit pants. 
 Joyful are they, resting there 
 Free from sorrow, pain, or fear; 
 Watching us who, left in life, 
 Are not quit, as yet, of strife ; 
 But shall soon attain, to share 
 Allah's mercies, and declare 
 Side by side with those that He 
 Showeth grace eternally, 
 And withholdeth not the pay 
 At the ending of the day. 
 
 Ta-Haiy! Thou ever-living Lord, 
 Be ours such work and such reward. 
 
 * Cf. Korn, iii. chapter " Of Imran's Family.' 
 
130 PBAELB OF THE FAITH. 
 
 64 
 
 Magnify Him, Al-Kavyum; and so call 
 The " Self-subsisting" God Whojudgeth all. 
 
 WHEN the trumpet shall sound, 
 
 On that day,* 
 The wicked, slow-gathering, 
 
 Shall say, 
 "Is it long we have lain in our graves? 
 
 For it seems as an hour!" 
 Then will Israfil call them to judgment; 
 
 And none shall have power 
 To turn aside, this way or that ; 
 
 And their voices will sink 
 To silence, except for the sounding 
 
 Of a noise, like the noise on the brink 
 Of the sea, when its stones 
 
 Are dragged with a clatter and hiss 
 Down the shore, in the wild breakers' roar: 
 
 The sound of their woe shall be this ! 
 
 Then they who denied 
 
 That He liveth Eternal, " Self-made," 
 Shall call to the mountains to crush them; 
 
 Amazed and aff rayed. 
 
 Thou Self-subsistent, Living Lord ! 
 Thy grace against that day afford. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xx. chapter" Of T. H." 
 
SURA " OF DAYBREAK." 131 
 
 65 
 
 Al- Wdjid ! praise hereby that Watchful One 
 Whose eyes see all things underneath the sun. 
 
 By the Ten holy eves and the Dawns of gold ! * 
 
 By the One and the Manifold ! 
 
 By the deepening of the Darkness of the night! 
 
 (And these be oaths of might :) 
 
 Hast thou considered what with Ad God wrought, 
 
 And whereunto He brought 
 
 Proud Iram of the pillared throne, 
 
 Whose like no other land did own; 
 
 And Thamud's race, which hewed houses of rocks; 
 
 And Pharaoh, strong for shocks 
 
 As is a tent with tent-pegs driven deep?f 
 
 Lo! these their haughty state did keep, 
 
 And multiply their wickedness; 
 
 Till Allah, who long-suffering hath, 
 
 Laid upon them the scourges of His wrath. 
 
 Verily, as a " watch-tower" is your Lord. 
 Lo! if ye knew this, would ye shut your hoard 
 When the poor cry ; devour the weak ; and love 
 Your riches more than treasures stored above? 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Ixxxix. chapter " Of Daybreak." 
 
 t The Arabic word Watad bears this signification. 
 
132 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Ho! when the earth's bones crack, 
 
 And, rank on rank, the angels gather, 
 
 And hell's black gates fly back, 
 
 How will each say, " Would God in life's fair weather, 
 
 I had bethought me of this storm of hell!" 
 
 But then it shall be well 
 For thee, thou soul! to-day uncomforted, 
 Who know'st that Allah sees; 
 And patiently awaitest till He please 
 Call thee to comfort, praising Him and praised. 
 Joyous thou shalt be raised 
 To Paradise, hearing His angels say, 
 " Enter, and be exceeding glad to-day!" 
 
 Air Wdjid ! "Watcher !" saw by grace, 
 Who shall attain tJiat happy place? 
 
AL-PHLAS. 133 
 
 66 
 
 Wahid! The "One/" ye faithful, say herein 
 Sura Al-I'hlds* cleansing souls from sin. 
 
 'IN GOD'S NAME, MEKCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE!" 
 
 SAY: " He is God alone, 
 
 Eternal on the Throne. 
 Of none begotten, and begetting none, 
 Who hath not like unto Him any one !" f 
 
 Ta Wdhidf Holy! Only! we 
 Thus do declare Thy unity. 
 
 * This name is given to the Sura as "clearing oneself" from 
 heresy, 
 t Of. Koran, cxii. chapter " Of Unity." 
 
134 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 67. 
 
 As-Samad! the "Eternal!" by this name 
 Laud Him Who will be, was, and is the same. 
 
 OF Heaven's prodigious years man wotteth nought; 
 The "Everlasting!" hast thou strained thy thought 
 Searching that depth, which numbs the seeking mind 
 As too much light the eager gaze doth blind? 
 The years of men are measured by the sun, 
 And were not, until he his course begun; 
 And will not be, when his gold dial dies: 
 But God lived while no sun shone in the skies; 
 And shall be living when all worlds are dead: 
 Yet hereof, though ye see the truth is said, 
 Ye take no more the meaning than one takes 
 Measure of ocean by the cup that slakes 
 His thirst, from rillet running to the sea. 
 
 Behind before ye, shines Eternity, 
 Visible as the vault's fathomless blue, 
 Which is so deep the glance goes never through, 
 Though nothing stays save depth : so is it seen 
 That Allah must be ever, and hath been; 
 Seen, but not comprehended for man's wit 
 Knows this, yet knows not understanding it. 
 
 Mete ye not Allah's times by man's : life gives 
 No measure of the Life Divine which lives 
 
OZAIR THE JEW. 135 
 
 Unending, uncommenced, having no stay 
 Of yesterday, to-morrow, or to-day; 
 Being forever one unbroken Now 
 Where past and future come not. 
 
 Heard'st thou how, 
 
 What time fair Zion was given to sword and flame, 
 Ozair* the Jew upon his camel came 
 Over those hills which ring the sea of Lot,f 
 So that one footstep and ye see her not, 
 And then another and the city comes 
 Full upon view with all her milk-white domes. 
 But the Chaldean now had spoiled the place, 
 And desolate and waste was Zion's face, 
 Pier proud abodes unpeopled, and her ways 
 Heaped with charred beams and lintels. Ozair says, 
 " O Lord! who promised to Jerusalem 
 Comfort and peace; and for her sons, to them 
 A glad return, how shall Thy word be kept 
 When fire and steel over these roofs have swept, 
 And she, that was a queen, lies dead and black, 
 A smoking ruin, where the jackals pack? 
 A hundred years were not enough to give 
 Life back to Zion! Can she ever live?" 
 
 But while he spake, the Angel of the Lord 
 Laid on his doubting front a fiery sword, 
 And Ozair in that lonely desert spot 
 Fell prone, and lay breathing and moving not 
 One hundred years, while the great world rolled on, 
 And Zion rose, and mighty deeds were done. 
 
 * Identified by some commentators with Ezra of Scripture. 
 t The Dead Sea. 
 
136 PEAEL8 OF THE FAITH. 
 
 And when the hundred years were flown, God said, 
 
 "Awake, Ozair! how long hast tarried, 
 
 Thinkest thou, here?" Ozair replied, " A day, 
 
 Perchance, or half." The awful Voice said, "Nay! 
 
 But look upon thy camel." Of that beast 
 
 Nought save white bones was left : no sign, the least, 
 
 Of flesh, or hair, or hide: the desert grass 
 
 Was matted o'er its shanks, and roots did pass 
 
 From a gnarled fig-tree through the eye-pits twain, 
 
 And in and out its ribs grew the vervain. 
 
 But 'mid the moulderings of its saddle-bags 
 
 And crimson carpet, withered into rags, 
 
 A basket, full of new-picked dates, stood there 
 
 Beside a cruise of water, standing where 
 
 He set them fresh, twice fifty years ago; 
 
 And all the dates were golden with the glow 
 
 Of yestreen's sunset, and the cruise's rim 
 
 Sparkled with water to the very brim. 
 
 " Ozair!" the awful Voice spake, " look on these! 
 
 He maketh and unmaketh what shall please; 
 
 Saves or destroys, restores or casts away; 
 
 And centuries to Him are as a day; 
 
 And cities all as easy to revive 
 
 As this thy camel here, which now shall live." 
 
 Thereon the skull and bones together crept 
 From tangled weed and sand where they had slept; 
 The hide and hair came, and the flesh filled in, 
 The eyes returned their hollow pits within, 
 The saddle-bags upon its haunches hung, 
 The carpet on the saddle-horns was flung, 
 The nose-rope from the muzzle fell. The beast 
 Rose from its knees, and would have made to feast 
 
OZAIR THE JEW. 137 
 
 On the green herbage where its bones had lain, 
 
 But that it heard bells of a caravan 
 
 Coming from Kedron, and with glad cry roared. 
 
 Then Ozair looked, and saw newly restored 
 
 Zion's fair walls and temples, and a crowd 
 
 Of citizens; and traffic rich and loud 
 
 In her white streets; and knew time should not be 
 
 Reckoned 'gainst Him who hath eternity. 
 
 As-Samadf Everlasting One! 
 
 Thy times are good : Thy will be done. 
 
138 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 68 
 
 Al-Kadar! He is " Providence!" hereby 
 The Lord of all things living magnify. 
 
 WHEN ye say Kismat, say it wittingly, 
 O true believers ! under Allah's throne 
 
 Place is not left for those accursed three, 
 
 ' ' Destiny, " ' ' Fortune, " ' ' Chance. " Allah alone 
 
 Ruleth His children : Kismat ye shall deem 
 Each man's " allotted portion," from of old 
 
 Fixed for his part in the Eternal scheme 
 By those great Hands which all the worlds enfold. 
 
 Sayeth " the Book:" " There passeth no man's soul 
 Except by God's permission, and the Speech 
 
 Writ in the scroll determining the whole, 
 The times of all men, and the times for each. " * 
 
 Also it sayeth: " If a man shall choose 
 This world's reward, to him it shall be given; 
 
 And if a man shall dare his life to lose 
 For Paradise, he shall be paid in Heaven, "f 
 
 Ta Radar ! "Ruler /" teach us still, 
 Islam, submission to Thy will. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, iii. chapter " Of Imran's Family.' 
 t Cf. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Cow." 
 
SURA " OF THE MOON." 139 
 
 69 
 
 Al-Muktadirf the <( Powerful/" by this 
 
 Praise we the Word, whence cometh woe and bliss. 
 
 VERILY, all things saith " the Book" * We made, 
 Decreeing; and Our bidding was one word, 
 Quick, as the twinkling of an eye; and all, 
 Whatever things men do, stands in the scrolls, 
 Where great and small alike are written down ; 
 And then shall surely come the Hour the Hour I 
 And bitter for the sinners it will be 
 When they are dragged, upon their faces, down 
 To hell, and taste the touch of fire; but sweet 
 Will it be for the pious these shall sit 
 'Mid streams and gardens in the seat of truth, 
 Happy, near Muktadir, the Mighty One. 
 
 Grant us that seat of truth to see, 
 Almighty Allah ! nigh to Thee. 
 
 *Cf. Koran, liv. chapter " Of the Moon." 
 
140 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 70,71 
 
 Mukaddim ! Muwakhir ! by these names still 
 Praise Him Who hath forewarned, and doth fulfil. 
 
 WHEN the trumpet shall be ringing, 
 Then the threatened Day hath come, 
 Every soul to judgment bringing.* 
 
 Each soul shall itself deliver 
 With two Angels, unto doom, 
 With a Witness and a Driver. 
 
 He that driveth shall say, " Vainly 
 Warned we thee, till this upholding 
 Of the veil: now thou seest plainly.". 
 
 And the Witness by his side, 
 He shall say, a scroll unfolding, 
 " This is what I testified." 
 
 Loud shall sound th' award eternal : 
 "Hurl to hell the misbelievers, 
 Sinners, liars ; let infernal 
 
 "Torments seize perverse transgressors!" 
 Then will speak the wan deceivers, 
 Seeking pleas and intercessors. 
 
 But the awful Voice shall thunder, 
 " Wrangle not in Allah's hearing! 
 Many a sign and many a wonder 
 
 * Cf. Koran, 1. chapter " Of K." 
 
SURA " OF K" 141 
 
 " Did forewarn ye of repentance ; * 
 Time is past for more forbearing ; 
 Not with Us is change of sentence." 
 
 Heaven shall say to Hell that morning, 
 " Art thou full?" Hell shall inquire, 
 " Hast thou others?" blackly yawning 
 
 "With choked gullet. But believing 
 Souls will see, brought nigh and nigher, 
 Paradise's gates, receiving 
 
 Those to whom We promised Heaven. 
 "Patient ones! for ever striving 
 Towards the Merciful ! forgiven 
 
 Are your f alterings ; enter ye 
 Into peace ; now is arriving 
 The great Day of eternity." 
 
 Forewarner and Fulfilled ! we 
 Confess with dread Thine equity. 
 
 * The text is, "I put forth unto you the menace. 
 
143 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 72, 73, 74, 75 
 
 Avowal! Akhir! TMMr ! Batin! tfosefour 
 Be "Mothers oftJie Names;" * thy Lord adore, 
 Speaking such words as do Him truly call 
 Essence and Substance, First and Last in all. 
 
 SURA the seven and fiftieth: f there is writ 
 The holy verse which keeps the charge of it ; 
 
 The verse which all the names of Allah holdeth 
 As in one sky the silver stars all sit. 
 
 The chapter " of the Iron!" and this script 
 Set on its forefront, as a hilt is tipped 
 
 With four-fold gold ; or as a helm of steel 
 By some far-sparkling crest-gem is equipped. 
 
 " He is the First and Last" this scripture shows 
 "Outer and Inner, That which doth disclose, 
 And That which hides Itself; the Manifest, 
 The Secret; and all things and thoughts He knows." 
 
 41 In six days earth and heaven He made alone, 
 Then reasccndcd the Eternal Throne; 
 
 What entereth earth and issueth thence He sees, 
 And what goes up and down the sky is known" 
 
 * These four divine titles are known by the technical appella- 
 tion of "The Mothers of the Names," being regarded as funda- 
 mental and all-comprehensive. 
 
 t Cf. Koran, Ivii. chapter " Of Iron," v. 3. 
 
THE "MOTHERS OF THE NAMES." 143 
 
 "To Allah, Who is nigh where'er ye be, 
 And whatsoever deeds ye do doth see; 
 His is the kingdom of the earth and heaven ; 
 All things return to Allah finally." 
 
 Beginning ! End ! Without ! Within ! 
 We celebrate Thy praise herein. 
 
144 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 76 
 
 Laud Him who governs governors and kings, 
 Angels, and Djins, and men, and living things. 
 
 WOT ye of Solomon's signet, graved of a sapphire in 
 
 gold, 
 Graved with the great name of God, writ on the blue 
 
 of the stone? 
 Wisdom and riches and power had he who that treasure 
 
 did hold; 
 
 Safe in the strength of the signet he sate on his ivory 
 throne. 
 
 Only King Solomon knew how the dread letters did 
 
 flow, 
 What was the breathing of Aleph, where came the 
 
 whispering Tod; 
 When he spake the ineffable Word, the sea-winds at 
 
 bidding would blow; 
 
 And the hills yield their iron, and jewels, and gold, 
 at the naming of God. 
 
 And out of the void of the sky, and up from the gulfs 
 
 and the capes, 
 And forth from the caverns of earth, and down from 
 
 the mountains of flame, 
 Flocked Demons with wonderful wings, and Ifreet of 
 
 horrible shape, 
 
 And Djins, with red eyes, made of fire; Divs, Peris, 
 and Giants, they came. 
 
SOLOMON'S SIGNET. 145 
 
 They came, at the call of the name, from Kf, that en- 
 girdles the seas; 
 From the gloom of the tombs in the graveyard, from 
 
 ruins on desolate ground ; 
 
 From the pool and the marsh and the forest; from poi- 
 sonous blossoms and trees; 
 
 Monstrous or dwarfish, constrained, enchained, sub- 
 dued, by a sound; 
 
 The sound of the title of Allah, spoken so as the Angels 
 
 speak: 
 
 Nor spirits uncomely only, and evil; ethereal bands 
 Thronged down from their heavenly houses, the Great 
 
 King's service to seek, 
 
 Hearing that nameless Name which all things living 
 commands. 
 
 Aud the fowl and the beasts were fain to gather, each 
 
 creature by each, 
 When Solomon summoned hereby, pronouncing the 
 
 mystical words. 
 Moreover, their dumb mouths opened, and the fly and 
 
 the bee had a speech ; 
 
 And he knew the heart of the lions, and learned the 
 mind of the birds. 
 
 Thus is it writ how he marched by Tayf from the Syr- 
 ian laud 
 Through the "Valley of Ants" and heard the cry of 
 
 that people of clay, 
 
 "Hide ye! hide in the earth! for there passeth Solo- 
 mon's band; 
 
 We are many and wise, but we die, if the king's foot 
 cometh this way," 
 
146 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 And he laughed, but leaped to the ground, and bowed 
 
 his forehead and said, 
 " O Lord God! grant me to learn from the ant the 
 
 wit to be meek. 
 
 I am many and strong, and a king; yet Thou canst in- 
 stantly tread 
 
 The pride of this earth to dust, and the strongest to 
 Thee are but weak!" 
 
 Then he viewed the birds, and cried, "I see not 
 
 amongst ye here 
 Al-Hudhud, the crested lapwing; what doth she to 
 
 linger away? 
 
 Ill shall it fall for her, who seeketh us water clear, 
 If she find not a fountain for prayers before the end- 
 ing of day! 
 
 But they tarried not long until the whirr of her speckled 
 
 wings 
 Brought unte Solomon's feet the crested lapwing, 
 
 who spake, 
 " I have seen a queen that is greater than any save thee, 
 
 O King! 
 
 In Seba she reigneth majestic, and glorious kingship 
 doth make. 
 
 " There hath she a marvellous throne of silver, figured 
 
 with gold, 
 And the head of the throne is a moon in a jasper and 
 
 emerald curve, 
 For her people worship the moon." And Solomon 
 
 answered, "Behold! 
 
 Little bird! if thou liest not, this queen shall the 
 Merciful serve!" 
 
SOLOMONS SIGNET. 147 
 
 Thereafter the message went from the servant of God, 
 
 the king: 
 ' ' Solomon, son of David, to Balkis, queen of the 
 
 south : 
 Peace be to them that follow the Name upon Solomon's 
 
 ring; 
 
 Yield thee, and worship Allah; cursed is the idola- 
 trous mouth." 
 
 Then Balkis sent him gifts, of gold bricks, yellow and 
 
 red; 
 And beautiful slaves five hundred, with amber and 
 
 musk ; and a gem 
 Drilled with a crooked hole, which never a goldsmith 
 
 could thread; 
 And a topaz of price, unpierced, and a diamond 
 
 diadem. 
 
 He bade the sea-worm eat a way through the unpierced 
 
 stone ; 
 , And the little ant carry a thread through the ruby's 
 
 crooked drill. 
 "Doth she offer to Solomon gifts?" quoth he, on his 
 
 ivory throne, 
 
 "We are richer than Seba's kingdom! By Allah!" 
 said he, "I will 
 
 "That one of my slaves bring hither Queen Balkis' 
 
 jewelled seat; 
 Thereby she shall learn that the glory is ours, and 
 
 the knowledge and might." 
 Then Asaf the wise commanded, and a Djin spread 
 
 his pinions fleet, 
 
 And brought the moon-throne thither, and set it be- 
 fore them aright. 
 
148 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 In a guarded house she had shut it, which a thousand 
 
 bowmen kept, 
 But when she was come to Salem, lo! Solomon the 
 
 king 
 Sate there on her own gold seat, and Balkis bowed her 
 
 and wept, 
 
 Saying, "I pray thee, teach me the Name on thy 
 signet ring! 
 
 " We have sinned against our souls, following lower 
 
 Lords ; 
 
 Our kingdom we give, and our goods, and our lives, 
 and our spirits to thine." 
 
 Such worship had he of old who knew Al- Watt's words 
 Which rule the rulers, and knew the sound of the 
 Name Divine.* 
 
 Ya Wall ! Gracious Lord ! impart 
 True knowledge of Thee, as Thou art. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xxvii. chapter " Of the Ant." 
 
MOSES AND THE ANGEL. 149 
 
 77 
 
 Praise Him, Al-MutdMli! Whose decree 
 Is wiser than the wit of man can see. 
 
 'Tis written in the chapter " of the Cave," * 
 An Angel of the Lord, a minister, 
 Had errands upon earth, and Moses said, 
 " Grant me to wend with thee, that I may learn 
 God's ways with men." The Angel, answering, said, 
 " Thou canst not bear with me; thou wilt not have 
 Knowledge to judge ; yet if thou f ollowest me, 
 Question me not, whatever I shall do, 
 Until I tell thee." 
 
 Then they found a ship 
 On the sea-shore, wherefrom the Angel struck 
 Her boards sfnd brake them. Moses said, ' ' Wilt drown 
 . The mariners? this is a strange thing wrought?" 
 "Did I not say thou couldst not bear with me?" 
 The Angel answered " be thou silent now!" 
 
 Yet farther, and they met an Arab boy : 
 Upon his eyes with mouth invisible 
 The Angel breathed ; and all his warm blood froze, 
 And, with a moan, he sank to earth and died. 
 Then Moses said, " Slayest thou the innocent 
 Who did no wrong? this is a hard thing seen!" 
 "Did I not tell thee," said the Minister, 
 Thou wouldst not bear with me? question me not!" 
 
 * Of. Koran, xviii. 
 
150 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Then came they to a village, where there stood 
 A lowly hut ; the garden-fence thereof 
 Toppled to fall: the Angel thrust it down, 
 A ruin of gray stones, and lime, and tiles, 
 Crushing the lentils, melons, saffron, beans, 
 The little harvest of the cottage folk. 
 " What hire," asked Moses, " hadst thou for this deed, 
 Seeming so evil?" 
 
 Then the Angel said, 
 
 " This is the parting betwixt me and thee; 
 Yet will I first make manifest the things 
 Thou couldst not bear, not knowing; that my Lord 
 ' Exalted above all reproach ' be praised. 
 The ship I broke serve th poor fisher-folk 
 "Whose livelihood was lost, because there came 
 A king that way seizing all boats found whole; 
 Now have they peace. Touching the Arab boy: 
 In two moons he had slain his mother's son, 
 Being perverse ; but now his brother lives, 
 Whose life unto his tribe was more, and he 
 Dieth blood-guiltless. For the garden wall: 
 Two goodly youths dwell there, offspring of one 
 That loved his Lord, and underneath the stones 
 The father hid a treasure, which is theirs. 
 This shall they find, building their ruin up, 
 And joy will come upon their house ! But thou, 
 Journey no more with me, because I do 
 Nought of myself, but all by Allah's will. 
 
 Al-Mutd7idl! Maker of men, 
 Exalted art Thou past our Teen. 
 
THE ADULTEEESS. 151 
 
 78 
 
 Praise Him, Al-Barr ! Whose goodness is so great; 
 Who is so loving and compassionate. 
 
 PITY! for He is Pitiful; a king 
 
 Is likest Allah, not in triumphing 
 
 'Mid enemies o'erthrown, nor seated high 
 
 On stately gold, nor if the echoing sky 
 
 Rings with his name, but when sweet mercy sways 
 
 His words and deeds. The very best man prays 
 
 For Allah's help, since feeble are the best ; 
 
 And never shall man reach th' angelic rest 
 
 Save by the vast compassion of Heaven's King. 
 
 Our Prophet once, Ayesha answering, 
 
 Spake this: " I shall not enter that pure place, 
 
 Even I, except through Allah's covering grace." 
 
 Even our Lord (on him be peace!); oh, see! 
 
 If he besought tjie Sovereign Clemency, 
 
 How must we supplicate it? Truly thus 
 
 Great need there is of Allah's grace for us, 
 
 And that we live compassionate ! 
 
 Hast seen 
 
 The record written of Salah-ud-Deen 
 The Sultan ? how he met, upon a day, 
 In his own city on the public way, . 
 A woman whom they led to die. The veil 
 Was stripped from off her weeping face, and pale 
 Her shamed cheeks were, and wild her dark fixed eye, 
 And her lips drawn with terror at the cry 
 
152 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Of the harsh people, and the rugged stones 
 
 Borne in their hands to break her, flesh and bones; 
 
 For the law stood that sinners such as she 
 
 Perish by stoning, and this doom must be ; 
 
 So went the wan adulteress to her death. 
 
 High noon it was, and the hot khamseen's breath 
 
 Blew from the desert sands and parched the town. 
 
 The crows gasped, and the kine went up and down 
 
 With lolling tongues; the camels moaned; a crowd 
 
 Pressed with their pitchers, wrangling high and loud, 
 
 About the tank; and one dog by a well, 
 
 Nigh dead with thirst, lay where he yelped and fell, 
 
 Glaring upon the water out of reach, 
 
 And praying succor in a silent speech, 
 
 So piteous were its eyes. Which when she saw, 
 
 This woman from her foot her shoe did draw, 
 
 Albeit death-sorrowful, and looping up 
 
 The long silk of her girdle, made a cup 
 
 Of the heel's hollow, and thus let it sink 
 
 Until it touched the cool black water's brink; 
 
 So filled th' embroidered shoe, and gave a draught 
 
 To the spent beast, wkich whined, and fawned, and 
 
 quaffed 
 
 Her kind gift to the dregs; next licked her hand, 
 With such glad looks that all might understand 
 He held his life from her; then, at her feet 
 He followed close, all down the cruel street, 
 Her one friend in that city. 
 
 But the king, 
 
 Riding within his litter, marked this thing, 
 And how the weman, on her way to die, 
 Had such compassion for the misery 
 
THE ADULTERESS. 153 
 
 Of that parched hound: "Take off her chain, and 
 
 place 
 
 The veil once more above the sinner's face, 
 And lead her to her house in peace!" he said, 
 " The law is that the people stone thee dead 
 For that which thou hast wrought; but there is come, 
 Fawning around thy feet, a witness dumb, 
 Not heard upon thy trial ; this brute beast 
 Testifies for thee, sister! whose weak breast 
 Death could not make ungentle. I hold rule 
 In Allah's stead, who is * the Merciful,' 
 And hope for mercy ; therefore go thou free 
 I dare not show less pity unto thee!" 
 
 As we forgive and more than we 
 Ta Barr! good God! show clemency. 
 
154 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 TO 
 
 Praise Him, Al-Tawwdb; if a soul repents, 
 Seven times and seventy times thy Lord relents. 
 
 AT the gates of Paradise, 
 Whence the angry Angels drave him, 
 Adam heard in gentle wise 
 Allah's whisper, which forgave him : 
 " Go," it said, " from this fair place, 
 Ye that sinned ; yet not despairing ; 
 Haply there shall come a grace 
 And a guidance ; and in fearing 
 Me, and following My will, 
 Blessed shall your seed be still." * 
 
 Know ye not that God receives 
 Gladly back the soul which grieves? 
 Know ye not that He relents 
 Ere the sinner well repents? 
 Terribly His justice burns, 
 Easily His anger turns, f 
 
 Spake our Lord : ' ' If one draw near 
 Unto God with praise and prayer 
 Half a cubit, God will go 
 Twenty leagues to meet him so. 
 
 * Of. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Heifer," v. 35. 
 t Cf. Koran, ix. chapter " Of Repentance." 
 
ADAM QUITTING EDEN. 155 
 
 He who walketh unto God, 
 God will run upon the road, 
 All the quicklier to forgive 
 One who learns at last to live." 
 
 Ta Tawwab! for Ihy mercy's sake, 
 Us to sweet peace and pity take. 
 
156 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 80,81 
 
 "Forgiver!" and "Avenger !" worship Him 
 By these two names, Ghafoor and Muntakim. 
 
 * O MEN, of dry clay moulded, as the potter moulds the 
 
 jars; 
 Djins, that We have fashioned from the smokeless 
 
 fire of stars : 
 
 What terror of the Lord will ye abide f 
 
 He^ is Lord of east and west, He is Lord of south 
 and north; 
 
 And the seas obey the limits which He set them, pour- 
 ing forth : 
 
 What terror of the Lord witt ye abide f 
 
 Their white pearls, large and small, are the handiwork 
 
 of Him ; 
 And the ships, with towering sails, by His winds and 
 
 waters swim: 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide ? 
 
 But the earth and all her creatures shall die and be de- 
 cayed ; 
 
 Only the face of Allah will ne yp er change nor fade : 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide ? 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Iv. chapter " Of the Merciful" 
 
HELL AND HEAVEN. 157 
 
 The face of Allah ruling in glorious array; 
 For all things look unto Him, and He governs day by 
 day: 
 
 Which terror of your Lord, will ye abide? 
 
 Yet will He find good leisure, ye twain! ye Djins and 
 
 Men, 
 To judge you at the judgment, O Clay and Flame ! what 
 
 then? 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide f 
 
 If ye can pass His gateways, east, west, and south and 
 
 north 
 Which shut in earth and heaven hasten ye ! pass ye 
 
 forth : 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide ? 
 
 But Life and Death enclose ye; by no way shall ye 
 
 pass; 
 A fence of flame shall stay ye, and a moat of molten 
 
 brass: 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide ? 
 
 And when the sky is rended, red like a new-ripped 
 
 hide, 
 There shall be no accusing, admitted or denied : 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide f 
 
 No yea nor nay! no questions! the sinner's brand is 
 
 sin; 
 Thereby shall he be known, and flung Hell's blazing 
 
 walls within: 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide? 
 
158 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Flung by the forelock and the feet: " ' This Hell existed 
 
 not/ 
 Ye said. Now broil ! and when ye thirst, drink sulphur 
 
 scalding hot:" 
 
 Which terror of your Lord will ye abide ? 
 
 But sweet for him who was faithful, and feared the 
 
 face of his God, 
 Are the Gardens of joy preparing, and the gates of the 
 
 Golden Abode : 
 
 Which bounty of his Lord will he deny? 
 
 With leafy branching fruit-trees are set those Gardens 
 
 twain, 
 And softly the streamlets warble, and brightly the 
 
 fountains rain: 
 
 Which bounty of his Lord will he deny ? 
 
 And the fruit of the Golden Gardens swings delicate, 
 
 near to reach. 
 Where they rest on their 'broidered couches, hearing 
 
 delightful speech: 
 
 Which bounty of their Lord will they deny ? 
 
 Therein are the shy-faced maidens, refraining their 
 
 night-black eyes 
 From any save that glad lover whose joy is their Para 
 
 dise: 
 
 Which bounty of their Lord will they deny ? 
 
 From any but that glad lover, that happy lord for whom 
 Their mouths of pearl rain kisses, their lips of ruby 
 bloom: 
 
 Which bounty of their Lord will they deny? 
 
HELL AND HEAVEN. 159 
 
 Shall the wages of righteous-doing be less than the 
 
 promise given? 
 Nay! but by God, the Glorious, the debt shall be paid 
 
 in heaven ! 
 
 What bounty of their Lord shall they deny ? 
 
 man! fear Him, magnify Him; 
 Al-Ohafoor and Al-Muntakim. 
 
160 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Praise Him, Al-lSawuf, Just and Kind alway, 
 Who knoweth how He made us of the day. 
 
 SAY, " Lord of all, to Thee 
 
 Goeth our road; 
 Require not of our souls 
 
 Too much, dear God ! 
 Thou wilt not! what was earned 
 
 Thou dost defray; 
 And what was done amiss 
 
 That we must pay; 
 But ah ! be not extreme 
 
 With what's forgot, 
 With error, or small sin. 
 
 And load us not 
 
 With burdens which we cannot carry, Lord! 
 But favor, help, forgiveness afford."* 
 
 Tender His answers are : 
 
 (The " Chapter of the Star/'f 
 Ay at the Thirty- Third): " The heavens and earth 
 
 To Us pertain , and We 
 
 Will deal, assuredly, 
 Well with the good, but with the ill in wrath. 
 
 Yet not for each offence, 
 
 Errors of flesh or sense, 
 
 * Cf. Koran, ii. chapter " Of the Heifer." 
 t Cf . Koran, liii. 
 
SURA "OF THE STAR." 161 
 
 Shall there be judgment, children of the loam! 
 
 Our mercy reacheth far; 
 
 We know ye what ye are, 
 And knew ye while ye lay clots in the womb ; 
 
 Sin, and be sorry, and amend: 
 Who seeketh God shall find Him in the end." 
 
 Ever-indulgent Maker ! we 
 
 Praise for these words Thy clemency. 
 
 0? 
 
 [TJITIVBRSITTJ 
 
162 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 King of all kingdoms! only Thou art crowned, 
 
 Whose throne is heaven, and earth Thy footstool's round. 
 
 Ya Malik! Ta Kuddus! wa ya Saldm! 
 
 O King! O Holy One! O Peace-giver! 
 
 Ta Aziz ! Ya Muhaimin ! Ya Mumin ! 
 
 O Mighty! O Protector! Faithful ever! 
 
 Ya Jabbdr ! O Thou Sovereign, All-compelling! 
 
 Ya MutakalUr! O Thou Lord excelling! 
 Exalted art Thou over utmost praise ; 
 Accurst are those who graven idols raise 
 Beside Thee; unto them fall plagues and shames! 
 To Thee alone belong " the comely names." * 
 
 King of all kings ! we celebrate 
 
 With endless praise Thy glorious state. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, lix. chapter " Of the Emigration." 
 
SURA "OF THE MERCIFUL." 163 
 
 84 
 
 "Lord ofawfulness and honor!" we 
 Lack wit and words in fifty naming Thee. 
 
 things-shall die and decay, but the kingdom of 
 Allah endureth, 
 Changeless in honor and might, changeless in glory 
 
 and grace; 
 Blessed be He who is Lord, possessed of all beauty and 
 
 greatness ; 
 All things die and decay; only endureth His face.* 
 
 Dhu'ljaldl wa'l ikrdm! tht ever 
 
 Praise we Thy Throne which fadeth never. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, Iv. chapter " Of the Merciful," vv. 26, 78. 
 
164 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 85 
 
 Al-Muksit ! " Equitable /" make us know, 
 
 As men have wrought, they shall be wrought with j 
 
 THREE days before our Lord Muhammad passed, 
 They bore him to the mosque, where he uprose 
 Painfully leaning upon Omar's neck 
 The fever burning in his cheeks, his mouth 
 Dry with the wind of death, and that knit brow 
 Shadowed with Azrael's overhanging wings. 
 One thin hand on the mimbar-rail he laid, 
 Speaking sweet words of guidance, precious words, 
 The last which ever fell from those lit lips, 
 Teaching his Faithful. 
 
 Then he gazed around, 
 And said, " Ye men of Mecca, where I lived, 
 Going and coming, testifying God, 
 I shall die soon ; I pray ye answer me, 
 Is there among ye here one I have wronged ? 
 I have borne rule, judging in Allah's name, 
 That am a man and sinful ; have I judged 
 Unrighteously, or wrathfully, or pressed 
 Too hard in the amend? Let who saith ' Yea,' 
 Make his ' Yea ' good before my people here, 
 And I will bare my back that he may smite. 
 I have borne testimony for the truth, 
 Not sparing sinners ; speak, if there be here 
 One visited unjustly; let him shame 
 
THE LAST SERMON OF THE PROPHET. 165 
 
 His Prophet now, telling the sin I wrought 
 Before the assembly. I have gathered dues ; 
 Declare if I defrauded any here 
 Buying or selling." 
 
 And no answer came, 
 Except the sound of sobs and falling tears 
 From stern breasts and the eyes of bearded men, - 
 Because our Lord would pass. 
 
 But one arose, 
 
 A hamal, with his cord across his back 
 And porter's knot, who cried, ' ' Abdallah's son ! 
 Three drachms of silver owest thou to me 
 For wood I bore thee after ' Ramadhan! ' " 
 
 " Good friend, I thank thee," softly said our Lord, 
 ' * Because thou didst demand thy money here, 
 And not before the judgment seat of God : 
 111 is it if men thither carry debts!" 
 Therewith he paid his debt, kissing the hand 
 Wherein the dirhems dropped ; and so went home 
 To die upon the lap of Ayesha, 
 With glad face fixed on high, and holy lips 
 That murmured, " Allah! pardon me my sinsl" 
 
 O ye believers ! if our Lord did thus, 
 Consider well! leave no unrighted wrongs 
 Against the ill time when the Angels come, 
 Monker and Naklr, gliding through the dark, 
 And set ye up for question in the grave ; 
 When Israfil his dreadful trumpet blows, 
 Summoning to judgment; when the skies roll back 
 Like a scorched scroll, and o'er the gulf of hell 
 Al-Sira"t stretches, " thinner than a hair 
 
166 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 And sharper than a sword," and yet to cross! 
 Ah, then! what good one wrought, he hath of help 
 Even to a date-stone ; what of ill he wrought, 
 Of hindrance, to a date-stone; for your God 
 Is righteous, and the distribution just. 
 
 Ojust "Distributor!" incline 
 Our hearts to keep Thy laws divine. 
 
SURA "OF WOMEN." 167 
 
 Al-Jami'h! praise " the Gatherer," Who divides 
 Evil and good unto their proper sides. 
 
 YE who believe, stand ye steadfast in justice, 
 "Witnessing true though it be to displease; 
 
 Heed not your patrons, nor parents, nor kinsmen, 
 Allah is nearer and richer than these. 
 
 Sit ye not down in the seat of the scornful, 
 Hear not the tales which the hypocrites tell ; 
 
 On the day when His children are folded together 
 Al-Jami'h shall scatter the sinners to hell.* 
 
 We take Thee for our Shepherd; keep 
 Safe in the fold Thy foolish sheep. 
 
 * Of. Koran, iv. chapter "Of Women," v. 139. 
 
1G8 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 87 
 
 We praise Thee; but no need of praise Thou hast, 
 Al-Gham! in Thy glory bright and vast. 
 
 MIGHTY is He and forgiving.* 
 One soul did He first create, 
 Then He made therefrom a mate: 
 And to help man in his living, 
 Gave him herds, each with the other, 
 Camels, oxen, goats and sheep. 
 Think how Allah wakes from sleep 
 The babe, close folded in its mother! 
 In three darknesses He shrouds it; 
 Wonder upon wonder clouds it. 
 He is Maker: can ye see 
 All these tokens and still be 
 Thankless? Yet, if so ye are, 
 Not beholden to your care 
 Is Al-Ghanl: self-sufficing 
 Lives high Allah, recognizing 
 Gladly all His creatures' love 
 In a changeless peace above. 
 Judge ye each for each ; with God 
 No man bears another's load. 
 Unto Him is your return, 
 Then shall every spirit learn 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xxxix. chapter " Of Troops." 
 
SURA " OF TROOPS." 169 
 
 What it wrought, and what is due; 
 For He knows the hearts of you. 
 
 Ah, Self-sufficing One ! we seek 
 
 To praise Thee well, but words are weak. 
 
170 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 88 
 
 He is sufficient, and He makes suffice; 
 Praise thus again thy Lord, mighty and wise. 
 
 
 
 GOD is enough! thou, who in hope and fear 
 Toilest through desert-sands of life, sore-tried, 
 
 Climb trustful over death's black ridge, for near 
 The bright wells shine : thou wilt be satisfied. 
 
 God doth suffice ! O thou, the patient one, 
 Who puttest faith in Him, and none beside, 
 
 Bear yet thy load; under the setting sun 
 The glad tents gleam: thou wilt be satisfied. 
 
 By God's gold Afternoon! * peace ye shall have: 
 Man is in loss except he live aright, 
 
 And help his fellow to be firm and brave, 
 Faithful and patient : then the restful night! 
 
 Al-Mughni ! best Rewarder ! we 
 Endure; putting our trust in Thee. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, ciii. chapter " Of the Afternoon." 
 
THE TWO GATEWAYS. 171 
 
 89,90 
 
 Mu'htt and Mdni'h ! Heav'n Thou mad?st, and Hell, 
 Providing and withholding and didst well. 
 
 WHEN God fashioned Paradise,* 
 
 Spake He unto Gabriel: 
 " See this place which We created, 
 
 Where the justified will dwell.''* 
 Gabriel said, "My Lord! I swear 
 
 By Thy glory, none of men 
 Ever of its joys shall hear 
 
 But will strive to enter in." 
 
 Round about His Paradise 
 
 God set sorrows and denials ; 
 Laid the pathway steep and strait, 
 
 Hard to find and full of trials. 
 "Look again!" God said; and he 
 
 Looked, and came, and sadly spake: 
 " By Thy glorious majesty, 
 
 Not one man will entrance make !" 
 
 Then the Lord created Hell, 
 Set ablaze its ache and grieving; 
 
 Saying unto Gabriel, 
 
 " This is for the unbelieving." 
 
 * Of. " The Miskat-al-Mas&bih." 
 
172 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Gabriel looked and said, "I swear, 
 By Thy splendor, not a mortal, v 
 
 When of hell-fire he shall hear, 
 Ever will approach its portal." 
 
 Round about those awful gates 
 
 Allah set soft sins and pleasures; 
 Made the pathway broad and plain, 
 
 Rich with joys and gifts and treasures. 
 " Look again," said God; and he 
 
 Saw; and spake, " Save by Thy blessing, 
 O my Lord! there will not be 
 
 One that must not love transgressing." 
 
 Lord of the two-fold roads, we pray 
 Lead us upon the rightful way. 
 
THE DOVE. 173 
 
 91 
 
 " Propitious" is He unto those that show 
 Compassion to His creatures; praise Him so. 
 
 11 No beast of earth, no fowl that flies with wings," 
 Saith the great Book, " but is a people, too; 
 
 From Allah sprang their life, and unto Him 
 They shall return: with such heed what ye do!" 
 
 There came before our Lord a certain one 
 Who said, " O Prophet! as I passed the wood, 
 
 I heard the voice of youngling doves which cried, 
 While near the nest their pearl-necked mother 
 cooed." 
 
 " Then in my cloth I tied those fledglings twain, 
 But all the way the mother fluttered nigh ; 
 
 See! she hath followed hither!" Spake our Lord: 
 "Open thy knotted cloth, and stand thou by." 
 
 But when she spied her nestlings, from the palm 
 Down flew the dove, of peril unafeared 
 
 So she might succor these. " Seest thou not," 
 Our Lord said, " how the heart of this poor bird 
 
 " Grows, by her love, greater than his who rides 
 Full-face against the spear-blades? thinkest thou 
 
 Such fire divine was kindled to be quenched? 
 I tell ye nay ! Put back upon the bough 
 
174 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 " The nest she claimeth thus. I tell ye nay! 
 
 From Allah's self cometh this wondrous love : 
 Yea! and I swear by Him who sent me here, 
 
 He is more tender than a nursing dove, 
 
 " More pitiful to men than she to these. 
 
 Therefore fear God in whatsoe'er ye deal 
 With the dumb peoples of the wing and hoof. 
 
 Yours are they ; yet whene'er ye lift the steel 
 
 ' ' To slay for meat, name first the name of God, 
 Saying ' Bi 'sm 'illah! God judge thee and me! 
 
 God give thee patience to endure to-day 
 The portion that He hath allotted thee/ 
 
 " So shall ye eat and sin not; else the blood 
 Crieth against you. " Thus our Prophet spake, 
 
 And Isliim doeth it, naming God's name 
 Before the slaughter, for that white dove's sake. 
 
 By those dumb mouths be ye forgiven, 
 Ere ye are heard pleading with Heaven. 
 
KINO SHEDDAD'S PARADISE. 175 
 
 Az-Zarr ! " Harmful " He is to them that sin 
 Mocking the truth; man ! fear Him herein. 
 
 SHEDDAD, the son of Ad, of Hadramaut, 
 Idolater, lord of the land and sea, 
 Hath it come to ye how he mocked at Heaven, 
 Saying the idols of the coast were best 
 Sakia that makes the rain, and Hafedha 
 The Thunderer, Razek who gives grain to men, 
 And Salema, lady of life and death? 
 And how he sware an oath by those four gods, 
 Drinking the palm- wine deep at Hadramaut, 
 That he would build a better Paradise 
 Than Allah's, and be Lord and God therein ; 
 With earthly Houris fairer than those maids 
 Wrought of the musk and ambergris, who have 
 The great immortal breasts and black- pearl eyes; 
 With sweeter streams than Salsabil,* and trees 
 Richer in fruit than Tooba : f this he sware, 
 Abiding not the judgment, nor the blasts 
 Of Israfil, nor weighing of the scales. 
 Wherefore he gave command that there be built 
 In Akhaf, on the hills, beyond the sand 
 Within a hollow vale walled by wild peaks 
 
 * A stream of Paradise. 
 
 t The Tree of Happiness, which grows from Muhammad's pa- 
 vilion in Paradise. 
 
176 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 A pleasure-house beautiful with white courts 
 Of levelled marble, and in every court 
 A fountain, sparkling from a tank inlaid 
 With amber, nacre, coral; and around, 
 In every court, cloisters of columns carved 
 With reeded shafts and frontals, wonderful 
 For beast and bird and fish and leaf and flower. 
 And round about this pleasure-house he bade 
 A lovely garden bloom, terraced by lanes 
 Bosky with blossoming trees and rose-thickets, 
 Where hidden streamlets murmured and gold fruit 
 Loaded the boughs, and all the air was balm. 
 He gave command, moreover, that there rise 
 Hard by, with streets and markets, a fair town 
 Peopled by ministers of pleasure, and walled 
 With ramparts of the rose and pomegranate ; 
 Wherethrough there led a double folding gate' 
 Fashioned of fragrant woods, and set with stars 
 Of silver, opening downwards to the vale, 
 Inscribed "The Paradise of King SheddM." 
 
 And when the house was made, and all the courts 
 Were girdled with the carven shafts, and cooled 
 With leaping fountains; and the roses, blown, 
 Filled the green vale with sweetness; and the town 
 Was heaped with grain and wine, and people moved 
 Busy and glad about its new fair streets, 
 Sheddad set forth. A shining line of spears, 
 League-long, wound first upon the mountain-path ; 
 And after them the camel -litters, decked 
 With silk and gold, and poles of silver, came 
 Bearing the Houris of his Paradise; 
 And next the Prince amid his lords: so clomb 
 The gay march up the sandy steeps, or streamed 
 
KING SHEDDAD'S PARADISE. 177 
 
 Down the gray wadis. At the head of all 
 Rode one who held a flag of yellow silk, 
 Which had for its device, " Amid Ms gods, 
 Shedddd, the son of Ad, of Hadramaut, 
 Unasked of Allah, wends to Paradise. " 
 
 That night they entered at the silver gate, 
 Making bold cheer; and sweet the garden was, 
 And green the groves, and bright the pleasure-house 
 Lit with a thousaud scented lamps, and loud 
 With dance and cymbal and the beat of drum. 
 But when the golden horse-shoe of the moon 
 Waned in the west, there came into the sky 
 Three clouds; and one was white and had the shape 
 Of a winged angel ; one was red and burned 
 Across the planets like a blazing sword; 
 And one, thick black, gathered around the head 
 Of a bare hollow mountain, seamed with gaps 
 And caverns, wherefrom full upon their feast 
 Brake, of a sudden, flame and cataracts 
 Of blood-red molten rock, with pitchy smoke 
 Veiling the heavens, and rain of blinding dust, 
 All pierced by livid lightning-spears, and driven 
 By fierce winds, hotter than the breath of hell ; 
 Which sucked the streams, and parched the trees, and 
 
 dried 
 
 Life from the body, as a furnace draws 
 The moisture from the potter's clay, while earth 
 Rocked, quaking; and the thunder's vengeful voice 
 Rolled horrible from crag to crag, and mocked 
 The death-cry of those choked idolaters: 
 Whereof, when the sun rose, there breathed not one; 
 Nor any green thing lingered in the vale; 
 Nor road nor gate appeared; nor might a man 
 
178 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Say where the garden of King Sheddad stood: 
 So were the ways uptorn, and that fair sin 
 Blotted from vision by the wrath of God. 
 
 Yet to this day there lurketh lost to view 
 Of all men, hardly found by wandering wolf, 
 Spied seldom by the vulture's hungry eye 
 The remnant of the garden of Iram. 
 Deep in the wilderness of Aden, hid 
 Behind wild peaks, and fenced with burning sands, 
 The perished relics of that pleasaunce lie 
 Which Sheddad made, mocking the power of God: 
 And one who tended camels in the land, 
 Abdallah-Ebn-Kela*bah, seeking there 
 A beast estrayed, followed her footmarks up 
 Into a gorge, which split a cliff in twain 
 From sky to sand, dark as the heart of night, 
 With thickets at its mouth and jutting rocks. 
 Therethrough he pushed, and when the light once more 
 Glimmered and grew, he spied a hollow, shut 
 In the gaunt barren peaks, with black dust strewn, 
 And piled with cindery crags and bladdered slag, 
 In midst of which lay plain to see the bones 
 Of Sheddad's city and his pleasure-house; 
 All with their withered gardens, and the gate 
 Rusted and ruined; and the cloistered courts 
 Swathed in the death-drift, and the marble tanks 
 Choked to their brims; the carven columns fall'n 
 Or thrust awry; the bright pavilions foul 
 With ashes, and with remnants of the dead : 
 For Ebn-Kelabah passed into the place, 
 And saw the valley thronged with carcases 
 Of men and women and the townspeople 
 Not mouldered, as is wont, to whitened bone, 
 
KING iSHADDADS PARADISE. 179 
 
 Bat dried, by the hot blasts of that dread night, 
 
 Unto a life in death; the skin and flesh 
 
 Yet clinging, and the robes of festival 
 
 Still gay of color; all those sinful ones 
 
 Slain in their sin even where the whirlwind struck : 
 
 So that he saw the dancers as they fell 
 
 With dancing-dress and timbrels; and the ring 
 
 Of watchers round them ; and the slaves who made 
 
 Their music; and the bearers bringing wine, 
 
 Each by his shrivelled wineskin, dead and dry. 
 
 Also within the courts, lay corpses slim, 
 
 Rich-clad and delicate, with jewelled necks, 
 
 The Houris of that ruined Paradise. 
 
 The sunken eyes stared, and the drawn lips grinned 
 
 Under dead rose-crowns, and the shapely limbs 
 
 Were grown too lean for the loose tarnished gold 
 
 Of armlet and of anklet ; dusty lay 
 
 Strings of dulled jewels on their shrunken breasts; 
 
 And brimmed with dust the cups were which they clasped 
 
 In stiff discolored fingers, In their midst 
 
 Sate, all a-gape, King Sheddad, for a throne 
 
 Propped his dead form, and round the waist of it 
 
 A sword hung, in a belt of gold and silk, 
 
 Hilted with pearls and rubies. This he took 
 
 The camel-man and glided, terrified, 
 
 Back from that City of the Dead; and found 
 
 The night-black gorge, and groped his way, and 
 
 brought 
 
 The sword and sword-hilt into Hadramaut, 
 Telling the dread things seen of Allah's wrath 
 Wrought on the misbelievers; and their streets 
 Wrecked, and their painted courts, peopled with dead. 
 Such awful end came on the men of Ad, 
 Who made the House of Iram; and their lord. 
 
180 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 But no foot since liath found that road again, 
 Nor shall; till Israfil sets to his lips 
 The trumpet, and Az-Zarr will bid him blow. 
 
 Harmful unto mockers f we 
 Know and adore Thy majesty. 
 
SURA " OF LIGHT." 181 
 
 93 
 
 An-Noor ! " The Light" that lightens all who ttvef 
 By this great name to Allah glory give. 
 
 OF earth and heaven God is the Light.* 
 
 As when a lamp upon a height 
 
 Is set within a niche, and gleams 
 
 From forth the glittering glass, and seems 
 
 A star, wide fall the rays of it: 
 
 So shines His glory, and 'tis lit 
 
 With holy oil was never pressed 
 
 From olive tree in east or west. 
 
 It burneth without touch of flame, 
 
 A light beyond all light: the same 
 
 Guideth the feet of men, and still 
 
 He leadeth by it whom He will. 
 
 Light of the world! An-Noor! illume 
 OUT da/riding pathway to the tomb. 
 
 * Of. Koran, xxiv. chapter " Of Light." 
 
182 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Al-Hddi ! Lord ! the way is "hard, and we, 
 
 Thy creatures, have none other " Guide" than TJiee. 
 
 BY many names and guides doth God 
 Lead men along the upward road ; 
 He, unto each land under Heaven, 
 A prophet of its own hath given : 
 Hftd, Idris, Eyoob, Moses, all 
 Upon the self -same Lord did call ; 
 Seeing there is no way besides 
 His way, the Guider of the guides; 
 Nor any light to mortals known 
 Except Al-Hadt His alone. 
 
 'Tis told, nigh to a city-gate 
 Four fellow-travellers hungry sate, 
 An Arab, Persian, Turk, and Greek; 
 And one was chosen forth, to seek 
 Their evening meal, with dirhems thrown 
 Into a common scrip ; but none 
 Could with his fellows there agree 
 What meat therewith should purchased be. 
 "Buy mum," quoth the Turk, " which food 
 Is cheaper, sweeter, or so good?" 
 " Not so," the Arab cried, " I say 
 Buy aneb, and the most ye may." 
 " Name not thy trash!" the Persian said, 
 ' ' Who knoweth uzum or aneb ? 
 
THE FOUR TRAVELLERS. 183 
 
 Bring anghur, for the country's store 
 Is ripe and rich." The Greek, who bore 
 Their dirhems, clamored, " What ill thing 
 Is anghur ? Surely I will bring 
 StapJiylion green, stapJiylion black, 
 And a fair meal we shall not lack." 
 Thus wrangled they, and set to try 
 With blows what pro vend he should buy, 
 When, lo! before their eyes did pass, 
 Laden with grapes, a gardener's ass. 
 Sprang to his feet each man, and showed 
 With eager hand, that purple load. 
 " See uzum!" said the Turk; and " See 
 Anghur f" the Persian; " what should be 
 Better ? " ' ' Nay, aneb ! aneb 'tis !" 
 The Arab cried. The Greek said, " This 
 Is my staphylion!" Then they bought 
 Their grapes in peace. 
 
 Hence be ye taught ! 
 
 But unto us Thy changeless name 
 Is Allah praised be the same. 
 
184 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 95, 96 
 
 Al-Azali! AI-B6M ! praise to Thee 
 Who wast before Beginning, and will be 
 After the Ending. Fi'om Thy mercy came 
 Marts breath, and unto Thee returns the same. 
 
 AL AARAF* saith the seventh of "the Book:" 
 
 In the Beginning God from Adam took 
 
 All who should be his seed, and bade them bear 
 
 Witness upon themselves, putting His fear 
 
 And knowledge in the hearts of all to be, 
 
 As salt is set in all the waves of the sea. 
 
 A countless, nameless, throng there gathered they, 
 
 That unborn multitude ; and God did say, 
 
 " Testify! Am I not your Lord?" And those 
 
 Replied, "Yea, Lord! we testify!" Propose 
 
 Never, then, Man! to say, "we did not have 
 
 Guidance;" it shall be answered, " Allah gave 
 
 With life that light which leadeth to the grave." 
 
 And in the chapter of " Ya Sin" f it saith 
 Read in the Muslim's ear at hour of death : \ 
 A blast! and then another blast! and, lo! 
 At summons of the trumpet, all shall go 
 
 * Cf. Koran, chapter vii. verse 172. 
 
 t Koran, chapter xxxvi. 
 
 t This Sura is recited at the death-beds of Muhammedans, 
 
SURA "OF TA SIN." 185 
 
 Forth from their grave-beds, thronging once again 
 Unto their Lord ; and some, in fear and pain, 
 Shall cry, " Woe, woe! what waketh us? Is this 
 God's word come true?" and some, in joy and bliss, 
 Shall say, " Now, praise to God! His prophets spake 
 Truth unto us." For all mankind shall wake 
 Together, at the trumpet ; and shall wend 
 Together, to the Judgment, in the end. 
 
 And no soul shall be wronged in that dread place 
 For aught not wrought; nor any soul find grace 
 Except for what it wrought; and there shall fall 
 Endless delight in Paradise on all 
 Who kept tlrat witness! happy they shall be 
 Reclining with sweet consorts, 'neath the Tree 
 Which bears all fruits, and groweth by the Throne. 
 And they shall hear the Lord say to His own, 
 " PEACE!" they shall hear the Merciful say so. 
 
 But to the sinners shall be thundered, ''Go! 
 Divide herefrom! did not ye testify ?'* 
 " Yea, dreadful Lord!" thus shall they make reply, 
 Descending into Hell. 
 
 Thy mercy send, 
 Thou, tlie Beginning and the End ! 
 
186 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 97 
 
 Inheritor ! all things proceed from Thee, 
 And re-committed to Thy hands shall be. 
 
 THE chapter of Al-Hajar:* There is nought 
 But from the treasury of God was brought; 
 
 Such and so much He lends them ; winds and waters ; 
 Have ye the store of these things, or of aught? 
 
 Did ye set in the sky the starry band, 
 
 Or pile the mountain peaks upon the land? 
 
 Yerily He hath made and will unmake them, 
 And all these shall return into His hand. 
 
 "O Rose!" the Dewdrop said, "whence didst thou 
 
 spring, 
 That art so sweet and proud and fair a thing?" 
 
 " From dust I sprang," she said, " and ere to-morrow 
 Back to the dust I shall be mouldering." 
 
 " O Dewdrop!" said the Rose, " where didst thou gain 
 This light, that like a gem on me hath lain?" 
 
 " A cloud," he said, " uplifted me from ocean, 
 And I must trickle to the deep again." 
 
 The Bulbul heard; " O Allah's rose!" it said, 
 " The air is fragrant with thee, being dead; 
 
 O Allah's Dewdrop! ere the sea did suck thee, 
 She was the fairer; be thou comforted!" 
 
 * Cf. Koran, chapter xv. verse 21. 
 
TEE ROSE AND THE DEWDROP. J87 
 
 For saith the chapter of Al-Hajar: " Tell 
 My servants I have made the heavens well, 
 
 And the earth well, and with a steadfast purpose; 
 And Paradise is Mine, and Mine is Hell."* 
 
 Inheritor ! all things are Thine ; 
 Al- Warith I Thou might Divine ! 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xv. w. 49, 85. 
 
188 PEARLS OF THE FAITH. 
 
 Earth knows, heaven shows ; the holy scriptures say, 
 How righteous and " unerring" is Thy way. 
 
 " WE sent it down upon the ' Night of Power,' * 
 
 The Book which ' doth declare* 
 In all the year that night is best : one hour 
 
 Thereof, in praise and prayer, 
 
 "Is worth a thousand days of joy; for then 
 
 The Angels bear commands, 
 Bringing the will of Al-Raschid to men ; 
 
 Descending on all lands. 
 
 " Peace ruleth till the rising of that dawn, 
 
 While Allah doth ordain 
 How many souls those twelve moons shall be born, 
 
 How many shall attain. 
 
 " His mercy; for the books are brought of these, 
 
 And each account is cast; 
 And Allah maketh 'the allowances,' 
 
 Accepting souls at last." 
 
 Thus spake our Lord, and Ayesha replied, f 
 
 " O Prophet! are there none 
 Accepted, save by mercy?" "None!" he cried, 
 
 By God! I say not one!" 
 
 * Cf. Koran, xcvii. chapter " Of Power. 71 
 t Cf . the Mishkat-el-Masabih. 
 
THE PROPHETS OATH. 189 
 
 " Not thou! not even thou! thou not to go, 
 
 Unquestioned, into heaven, 
 Who walked with Allah's Angels, and below 
 
 Taught us the message given?" 
 
 He drew his cloth across his bended face 
 
 And thrice he spake to her: 
 " Except God's mercy cover me with grace, 
 
 I shall not enter there!" 
 
 Al-Rasclwd ! and if not he, 
 Increase to us Thy clemency. 
 
190 ISLAM. 
 
 loving-kind, " long suffering" Lord ! once more 
 We praise Ihee, magnifying Az-Zaboor. 
 
 PATIENT is Allah, and He loveth well 
 
 The patient, saith " the Book," * and such as dwell 
 
 In kindness, "asking pardon of their sins 
 Each dawn, and pardoning the blamable. 
 
 Islam! this is the Faith! thyself resign, 
 Soul, mind, and body, to the will divine: 
 
 The kingdom and the glory and the power 
 Are God's, and God's the government, not thine! 
 
 THERE is NO GOD BUT GOD! and He is All; 
 And whatso doth befall ye doth befall 
 
 By His decree : therefore, with fear and love 
 Upon His glorious names devoutly call. 
 
 Allah ! His holy will be done ! 
 Islam ! we bow before His throne. 
 
 * Cf. Koran, iii. v. 15, chapter " Of Imran's Family." 
 
NOTES. 
 
 Page 15, line 17. One version of this legend says that 
 Soharah (or Zoharah) herself, the spirit of the planet 
 Venus, descended to tempt the two Angels. Harut and 
 Mai'iit are fabled to be confined still in the vicinity of 
 Babel, where a man may go to learn sorcery of them, 
 hearing their voices, but never seeing their forms. 
 
 Page 17, line 20. Gabriel, or Jibrail, is called in Ara- 
 bian theology Ru'h-el-Amm, "the Faithful Spirit," or 
 liu'h-el-Kuddus, "the Holy Spirit." It was he who de- 
 livered the Kor&n to Muhammad. 
 
 Page 18, line 3. A commentator on this legend writes : 
 " Some say that Solomon brought these horses, being 
 a thousand in number, from Damascus and Nisibis, 
 which cities he had taken; others say that they were left 
 him by his father, who took them from the Amalekites ; 
 while others, who prefer the marvellous, pretend that 
 they came up out of the sea, and had wings. However, 
 Solomon, having one day a mind to view the horses, 
 ordered them to be brought before him, and was so 
 taken up with them that he spent the remainder of the 
 day, till after sunset, in looking on them; by which 
 means he almost neglected the prayer, which ought to 
 have been said at that time, till it was too late: but 
 when he perceived his omission, he was so greatly con- 
 cerned at it, that ordering the horses to be brought back, 
 
192 NOTES. 
 
 he killed them all as an offering to God, except only a 
 hundred of the best of them. But God made him ample 
 amends for the loss, by giving him dominion over the 
 winds." 
 
 Page 18, line 17. Arafat is a mountain near Mecca, so 
 named from the tradition that Adam, upon his repent' 
 ance, was reunited there to Eve, after a separation of 
 two hundred years. 
 
 Page 22, line 1. Israfil is one of the Archangels, who 
 will sound the last trumpet at the resurrection. He has 
 " the sweetest voice of all God's creatures." 
 
 Page 22, line 13. Iblis, "He who despairs," is Shait&n, 
 or Satan, who fell from Heaven on account of arro- 
 gantly refusing to pay reverence to Adam at the creation, 
 when all the other Angels worshipped the first man. 
 
 Page 23, line 1. Wuzu l h, or washing (either with 
 actual water, or by imitating the process with sand, 
 etc.), must precede all those prayers, which are fare, or 
 " incumbent." These are commenced in a standing at- 
 titude, Kiydm, the thumbs touching the lobes of the 
 ears and the face turning towards Mecca. 
 
 Page 24, line 9. The " Companions of the right hand " 
 are so called because they will have the book of their 
 good deeds put into their right hands in token of salva- 
 tion ; while evil-doers will have their scroll of condem- 
 nation, at the last day, thrust into their left hands. 
 
 Page 24, line 13." Such, moreover, as of old time," 
 etc. These are the early prophets and holy teachers in 
 all nations. The text of the Koran calls them "the 
 leaders, the leaders!" that emphatic repetition denoting 
 their dignity, and the assurance of their prominence in 
 the final reward. 
 
NOTES. 193 
 
 Page 25, line 23. " Mawz-trees." The original word 
 talk' may mean either the plantain, or that acacia which 
 has small round golden blossoms. 
 
 Page 26, line 1. Sale has a citation upon these privi- 
 leged attributes of the Houris. "Allah has created 
 them purposely of finer materials than the females of 
 this world, and subject to none of those inconveniences 
 which are natural to the sex. Some understand this 
 passage of the beautiful women ; who, though they died 
 old and ill-favored, shall yet all be restored to their 
 youth and beauty in Paradise." 
 
 Page 27, line 8. "At Azan." The time of the call 
 to prayer, and especially after the sun has begun to 
 decline. 
 
 Page 31, line 13.' ' And spider." One of the Sftras of 
 the Korn, the 29th, is named after this insect. 
 
 Page 32." The Verse of the Throne." This (which 
 is often engraved on seal rings in the East) is so called 
 from the word Koorsty, the "chair or throne" of Allah, 
 which occurs in the sublime passage cited. In the 
 judgment of Muhammedans the "Throne-Verse" is one 
 of the noblest portions of the Koriin, surpassing in 
 majesty of diction all other human compositions. It is 
 taken from the 2d Siira, verse 256, and is rendered very 
 exactly, as below, by Mr. Redhouse (to whose most 
 learned and laborious article in the ' * Journal of the 
 Royal Asiatic Society," January, 1880, my indebtedness 
 has been extremely great) : 
 
 " God, save whom there is no God, is the Living, the 
 Self-existing One. Drowsiness overcometh Him not, 
 nor sleep. Unto Him belongeth whatever is in the 
 heavens, and whatever is in the earth. Who is he that 
 
194 NOTES. 
 
 shall make intercession with Him, save by His per- 
 mission? He knoweth whatever is before them, and 
 whatever is behind them; and they comprehend not a 
 single matter of His knowledge, save only that which 
 He hath willed. His firmament spans the heavens and 
 the earth, the preservation whereof doth not distress 
 Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Supreme." 
 
 N.B. Each chapter of the Kor&n is called a Sura, a 
 term signifying a course of bricks in a wall; and the 
 Suras are divided into 'aydt, verses, or more literally 
 " signs." 
 
 Page 33. This Sura, 59, is known as the chapter " Of 
 the Emigration." 
 
 Page 34, line 1. The Muslim doctors call the scriptu- 
 ral Terah, the father of Abraham, by the name of Azar. 
 This was also the title of the god of the planet Mars. 
 Abraham's father is moreover styled Zarah in the Tal- 
 mud, and Athar also, by Eusebius. 
 
 Page 34, line 25. " Friend of Allah." The Muslims 
 so denominate Abraham, Al-Khatil. 
 
 Page 37. This is suggested from Sura 35, the chapter 
 " Of the Angels," or " Of the Originator." The Arch- 
 angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Muhammad, 
 on the night of his journey to Heaven, having no less 
 than three hundred pairs of wings ! 
 
 Page 38, line 15. " Michael," or Mikft'll. The Arch- 
 angel here named was especially the guardian of the 
 Jews. The Israelites of Mecca told Muhammad that 
 they would have received his Kor&n, if Michael instead 
 of Gabriel had revealed it. 
 
 Page 39, line 15. " AzraW The Archangel of 
 Death. 
 
NOTES. 195 
 
 Page 40, line 1. " God's Friend." Vide note on page 
 35, line 15. 
 
 Page 44, Zm0 16. " People of the bench." This was 
 the name given to the poor persons whom the Prophet 
 sustained by alms every day, and who used to wait for 
 his gifts, sitting upon the bench outside Muhammad's 
 house at Medina. 
 
 Page 49. The very remarkable Sftra quoted here, en- 
 titled sometimes " The Brightness," came to the prophet 
 thus: "It is related that no revelation having been 
 vouchsafed to Muhammad for several days, in answer 
 to some questions put to him by the Koreish, because he 
 had confidently promised to resolve them the next day, 
 without adding the exception, if it please God, or be- 
 cause he had repulsed an importunate beggar, or else 
 because a dead puppy lay under his seat, or for some 
 other reason ; his enemies said that God had left him : 
 whereupon this chapter was sent down for his consola- 
 tion." 
 
 Page 50. "The Journey of the Night." "It is a 
 dispute," writes Sale, "among the Muhammedan di- 
 vines, whether their Prophet's night-journey was really 
 performed by him corporally, or whether it was only a 
 dream or vision. Some think the whole was no more than 
 a vision; and allege an express tradition of Mo&wiyah, 
 one of Muhammad's successors, to that purpose. Others 
 suppose he was carried bodily to Jerusalem, but no far- 
 ther; and that he ascended thence to Heaven in spirit 
 only. But the received opinion is, that it was no vision, 
 but that he was actually transported in the body to his 
 journey's end; and if any impossibility be objected, 
 they think it a sufficient answer to say, that it might 
 easily be effected by an omnipotent agent." 
 
196 NOTES. 
 
 Page 51, line 25. " One Fdtffiah." The name of the 
 opening prayer of Muhammedans. 
 
 Page 52, line 22. " Monker and Naktr" are the two 
 Angels who conduct "the examination of the Tomb." 
 They come to a man directly he is laid in his grave, and 
 catechise him as to his faith. If he repeats quickly and 
 gladly the formula of Islam, they cause him to repose 
 in peace; but if he is uncertain or heterodox, they be- 
 labor him with iron clubs, till his cries are so bitter that 
 they are heard all through the earth, except by men and 
 Djins. Then the two black Ministers press the clay 
 down upon the corpse, and leave it to be wasted and 
 consumed till the time of resurrection. 
 
 Page 59, line 15. " 'Hadith." The traditional sayings 
 which supplement the Kor^n. 
 
 Page 60, line 2." Zem-Zem." This is the holy well 
 at Mecca, within the sacred precincts, believed to be 
 that very spring which was revealed to Hagar when she 
 fled with Ishmael. 
 
 Page 62. This legend of Nimrud is alluded to in 
 Sura 21 of the Koran, entitled the " Chapter of 
 Prophets." 
 
 Page 63, line 19. "Black Halimah." The Prophet 
 was suckled by a Bedouin foster-nurse. 
 
 Page 64, line 6." Hira. " A wild and solitary moun- 
 tain near Mecca. 
 
 Page 68, line 5. " Mikdt." These are the last six 
 stages on the journey to Mecca. The i'hrdm, or "garb 
 of sanctity," consists of two wrappers without seams, 
 one bound round the waist, the other passed over the 
 shoulders. The tawdf is the seven-fold circuit of the 
 
NOTES. 197 
 
 Kaabah, made three times quickly, and four times 
 slowly, by all pilgrims. 
 
 Page 73, line 4. "Ye let stray your she- camels." 
 Nothing is held more valuable among the goods of an 
 Arab than a she camel near to foaling. 
 
 Page 73, line 13. "Who killed thee, little maid?" 
 This alludes to the ancient practice of infanticide among 
 the Arabs, which Muhammad strenuously denounced. 
 
 Page 74, line 7. " He saw it and he heard." Allud- 
 ing to the Prophet and his journey to Heaven. 
 
 Page 79, line 7. " Al-AkMf" is the plural of Hekf, 
 and signifies "lands which lie in a winding or narrow 
 boundary," specially applied to a district in the province 
 of Hadramaut. 
 
 Page 82, line 14. "Al-Kdutliar" This word signi- 
 fies abundance, especially of good, and thence the gift of 
 wisdom and prophecy. Or it may mean abundance of 
 wealth, followers, and the like. It is here used of a river 
 in Paradise, whence the water is derived into Muham- 
 mad's pond, of which the blessed are to drink before 
 their admission. According to a tradition of the 
 Prophet, this river, wherein his Lord promised him 
 abundant good, is sweeter than honej^, whiter than 
 milk, cooler than snow, and smoother than cream ; its 
 banks are of chrysolites, and those who drink of it shall 
 never thirst. 
 
 Page 87, line 2. "Al-Tdrek" is the "star that ap- 
 pears" by night, i.e., the morning star. 
 
 Page 89, line 1. "When the soul comes to the 
 neck." A Koranic phrase for the last gasp of death. 
 
198 NOTES. 
 
 Page 92, line 20. "The roses on that tree." In the 
 mystic language of the East, the rose is the symbol of 
 that Divine beauty which is the object of the soul's love. 
 
 Page 94, line 16. "Hilliyun." This means literally 
 "exalted places." 
 
 Page 95, line 4. "Tasmin." A. stream in Paradise, 
 so called because it waterd the highest regions there. 
 
 Page 96, line 12. " Al-Fdtikah." This is the 1st 
 chapter of the Kor&n, which is also a prayer, and held 
 in great veneration by the Muhammedans, who give 
 it many honorable titles; as the chapter of prayer, of 
 praise, of thanksgiving, of treasure, etc. They regard 
 it as the quintessence of the whole Koran, and often re- 
 peat it in their devotions both public and private, as 
 Christians do the Lord's Prayer. 
 
 Page 96, line 24. "The morning mills." At day- 
 break in Eastern countries almost the first sound of 
 awaking domestic life is the noise of the stones used to 
 grind meal. 
 
 Page 98, line 6. "The time for prayer," says Pro- 
 fessor Palmer, "is called from the minarets of the 
 mosques by Muezzins or criers, in the following words : 
 'God is great' (4 times); 'I bear witness that there is 
 no God but God ' (twice); * I bear witness that Muham- 
 mad is the apostle of God' (twice); 'Come hither to 
 prayers' (twice); 'Come hither to salvation' (twice); 
 ' God is just ! ' ' There is no other God than God ! ' In 
 the early morning the Muezzin adds, ' Prayer is better 
 than sleep!'" 
 
 Page 101 (note). " The Mishkdt-al-Mdsdbih." The 
 book of the conversations of the Prophet. 
 
NOTES. 199 
 
 Page 106, line lLailat-al-Kadr, "The Night of 
 Power," was that on which the Koran was declared to 
 have been revealed. 
 
 Page 123, line 18." Al-Barsakh." The KorSn says, 
 " Behind them shall be a bar, until the day of resurrec- 
 tion." Upon this Sale writes: " The original word 
 barsakh, here translated 'bar/ primarily signifies any 
 partition, or interstice, which divides one thing from 
 another; but is used by the Arabs not always in the 
 same, and sometimes in an obscure sense. They seem 
 generally to express by it what the Greeks did by the 
 word Hades; one while using it for the place of the 
 dead, another while for the time of their continuance in 
 that state, and another while for the state itself. It is 
 defined by their critics to be the interval or space be- 
 tween this world and the next, or between death and 
 the resurrection; every person who dies being said to 
 enter into Al-Barzakh. The commentators on this pas- 
 sage expound it as a barrier, or invincible obstacle, cut- 
 ting off all possibility of return into the world, after 
 death." 
 
 Page 123, line 22.. "Birds." If the departed person 
 was a believer, the Muslims say two Angels meet his 
 soul, and convey it to Heaven, that its place there may 
 be assigned, according to its merit and degree. They 
 distinguish the souls of the Faithful into three classes: 
 the first of prophets, whose souls are admitted into Par- 
 adise immediately ; the second of martyrs, whose spirits, 
 according to a tradition of Muhammad, rest in the crops 
 of green birds which eat of the fruits and drink of the 
 rivers of Paradise; and the third of other believers, con- 
 cerning the state of whose souls before the resurrection 
 there are various opinions. Some say they stay near 
 
200 NOTES. 
 
 the sepulchres, with liberty, however, of going wherever 
 they please; which they confirm from Muhammad's 
 manner of saluting the dead, alluded to elsewhere. 
 
 Page 131, line 1. The " ten holy eves" are the first 
 ten nights of the sacred month of Dhu'l Hejjeh. 
 
 Page 131, line 7. " Iram" was the name of the pal- 
 ace and pleasure-garden built by Sheddad, son of Ad, 
 in the desert of Aden. The story is related on another 
 page. 
 
 Page 131, line 9. The Thamudites of the Hadramaut- 
 having killed their prophet, were utterly destroyed by 
 tempests, and their city depopulated. 
 
 Page 146, line 11." Al-Hudhud." The Arab histori- 
 ans, Sale says, tell us that Solomon, having finished the 
 temple of Jerusalem, went in pilgrimage to Mecca, 
 where, having stayed as long as he pleased, he pro- 
 ceeded towards Yaman; and leaving Mecca in the 
 morning, he arrived by noon at Sanaa, and being ex- 
 tremely delighted with the country, rested there; but 
 wanting water to make the ablution, he looked among 
 the birds for the lapwing, called by the Arabs Al-Hud- 
 hud, whose business it was to find it; for it is pretended 
 she was sagacious or sharp-sighted enough to discover 
 water underground, which the devils used to draw, af- 
 ter she had marked the place by digging with her bill : 
 they add, that this bird was then taking a tour in the 
 air, whence, seeing one of her companions alighting, 
 she descended also, and having had a description given 
 her by the other of the city of Saba, whence she was 
 just arrived, they both went together to take a view of 
 the place, and returned soon after Solomon had made 
 the inquiry which occasioned what follows. 
 
WOTES. 201 
 
 " It may be proper to mention here what the Eastern 
 writers fable of the manner of Solomon's travelling. 
 They say that he had a carpet of green silk, on which 
 his throne was placed, being of a prodigious length and 
 breadth, and sufficient for all his forces to stand on, the 
 men placing themselves on his right hand, and the spir- 
 its on his left; and that when all were in order, the 
 wind, at his command, took up the carpet, and trans- 
 ported it, with all that were upon it, wherever he 
 pleased ; the army of birds at the same time flying over 
 their heads, and forming a kind of canopy, to shade 
 them from the sun." 
 
 Page 147, lines 17-20. "The sea-worm and the ant." 
 The legend is that Solomon used the teredo to bore his 
 topaz, and, by filling the winding hole of the ruby with 
 sugar and water, tempted an ant to draw a silk thread 
 through it. 
 
 Page 165, line 26. "Monker and Nakir." These are 
 the two Angels who visit the dead immediately after 
 burial, and having set them upright in the grave, ques- 
 tion them as to their faith and actions, as before de- 
 scribed. 
 
 Page 165, line 31. "Al-SiraV The narrow bridge 
 which all must cross from this to the next world, " finer 
 than a hair and sharper than a razor." 
 
 " This bridge, " it is written, "is beset on each side 
 with briers and hooked thorns; which will, however, 
 be no impediment to the good, for they shall pass with 
 wonderful ease and swiftness, like lightning or the wind, 
 Muhammad and his Muslims leading the way; whereas 
 the wicked, what with the slipperiness and extreme 
 narrowness of the path, the entangling of the thorns, 
 and the extinction of the light, which directed the for- 
 
202 NOTES. 
 
 mer to Paradise, will soon miss their footing, and fall 
 down headlong into hell, which is gaping beneath 
 them. " 
 
 "Muhammad seems to have borrowed this from the 
 Magians, who teach that on the last day all mankind 
 will be obliged to pass a bridge called Pfil Chlnavad, 
 that is, the strait bridge, leading directly into the other 
 world ; on the midst of which the Angels appointed by 
 God will stand, who will require of every one a strict 
 account of his actions. The Jews speak likewise of the 
 bridge of hell, which they say is no broader than a 
 thread. " 
 
 Page 168, line 9. "Three darknesses." The body, 
 the womb, and the amnion. 
 
 Page 174, line 15. This is the origin of the Hallal, a 
 custom of Muslim hunters and butchers, who pronounce 
 the formula of excuse and pity before slaying any ani- 
 mal. 
 
 Page 184, line 1. " Al-Aara"f." The partition be- 
 tween Heaven and Hell. The chapter quoted says, 
 "And betwixt the two there is a wall, and they shall 
 cry out to the companions of Paradise, ' Peace be upon 
 you/ but they cannot enter it, although they so desire." 
 
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