The Truth Revealed — Page 10
to your ineffable virtues. I cannot summon the words to praise you, to pray for you, to speak of my longing to meet you. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. This letter is a token of love from one whose heart is pure. A flame was once kindled in my heart that ignit- ed an insatiable passion for travel and adventure, so I left my native land and destiny brought me here and the Will of God decreed that I meet with my kindly brother Ha fi z Maulaw i Muhammad Ya‘q u b. May the Lord protect him from all that is impure and from the innumerable vices prevalent in the town of Dehra Dun. We spoke of recent events and indulged in tales and stories of the past, and then your name was men- tioned. I inquired about you at length and he told me of your unequalled etiquette and civility. After hearing of the beauty of your character, I was drawn towards you and desired to see you for myself; after all, the vir- tues of the speaker are reflected by his words. To meet someone face to face has its own benefits, hence Moses’ prayer [to see God for himself]. But my path to you is thwarted by the rigours of travel, the extremity of the summer heat, my pennilessness and a lack of conveyance. Could I take to the air I would soar to you in all haste Alas, my wings have been cut And a bird without wings cannot fly. Nonetheless, if I cannot come to you in person I can at