The Dabistan

502

" Dost thou not know that, when I went to the friend,
" As soon as I arrived before him, I said: ' It is he.' " l

Sabjani appears a (divine) revelation in his ac-
tions, steps, attributes, and nature, and to have
attained the summit of perfection. He said that,
with respect to the other world, there are several
classes of men. The one denies the absolute being;
another interprets it in an abstract manner of rea-
soning, inasmuch as they have sufficient intelligence
to be modest and conciliating. 'The distinguished
Sufis, without interpreting the different systems of
nations, which, in their separate creeds of various
kinds and religions, differ about the beforesaid ob-
ject, view in the bodies the agreeableness of imagery.
Khiz'er, EHas, Brahma, Ganesa, and all the gods
of India, these and the like representations, which
in this world have no reality, all are distinct objects
of imagination. Essential is what was said by Abu
Nazer Farabi (may God illume his grave!) that the
common people view their creeds under the form of
their imagination. The author of this book heard
also from the lord, the pious Sabjani: The contem-
plative man sees every one whom he loves and
esteems, frequently in dreams in a beautiful shape,
and in an exalted state, although to other people he
may appear iniquitous; and the person whom he

1 See page 292-293, note i.