The Ocean of Light — Page 136
136 these titles and are wroth with them, even though they themselves are not eloquent in Arabic and do not possess any literary tastes. I have called them out repeatedly and have tested them in every way possible. I have presented my poetry before them, showed them my beautiful verses and how beautifully they are laid out, and told them that it is a proof of my truthfulness, my argument and my sword, so if you deny my status then bring forth any example like this. But they ran away as a serpent runs away from the weapons of a warrior. They have inculcated feminine habits, such as applying kohl to the eyes, using perfume, combing the hair, and making subtle schemes to hoard wealth. Some of them curl their hair like women and make buns, so they oil their hair and keep curls. They run away from intellectual gatherings like a fugitive slave. Yet, you will not find even an iota of compassion in them. When a stranger enters their mosque who, for example dyes his hair and blackens it with something, they assault him like hounds or like the onslaught of