Hallmarks of the Saints — Page 14
H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 14 Among their signs is that they inspire the hearts of seekers after truth with their knowledge, and nourish them as birds feed their young and are affectionate to them, and safeguard them against all that is inappropriate for them, and listen to their cries with loving kindness, never becoming indifferent to them. Indeed, they are like shepherds in the land and when they see a wolf, they cry out. They never rely on their selves; rather, they keep glorifying and praising their Lord. They do not lead a life of a bulky animal; rather, as misfortunes befall them one after the other, they become more tender-hearted. They are purified by their Lord in such a way that all of their carnal desires vanish one by one, leaving behind only the soul, and thus they become peerless. Then they are sent to the people and invite them to vir- tue and success. That is the station of Abd a l [Saints], who chose the paths whereby they do not have to suffer remorse in the end, nor grieve. ّم يـُلْقون علومَهم يف قلوب قوم ٍ يطلبون، ويربّوهنم كما هن ومن عالماهتم أ ا ال يرصُف هبم، ويسمعون م يـُزْغِل ُ الطائر فـَرْخَه وعليهم يُشفقون، وحيفظوهنم بتحنّن ٍ صَرْخ َهم، وال يغفلون. وإهنم رعاة ٌ يف األرض إذا رأوا سِرْحان ً فبِشائِهم كّلون على أنفسهم ويُسَبْحِلون. وال يعيشون كَسَبَحْلَلٍ، بل ُ ينعِقون. وال يتو ّم، فتتساتل هب كَّى أنفسُهم من ر تتواىل عليهم األحزان ُ فهم فيها يذوبون. وتُز جذابهتم حىت يبقى الروح فقط ويـُفْرَدون، مث يُرس َلون إىل الناس، فيدعون الناس َُيْعِلون. ذلك مقام أبدَال ٍ الذين اختاروا سُبال ً ال يعتقبون منه حي إىل الصالح و