The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 561
560 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS eagerly. I put on some arms and, following the way of the righteous, mounted my horse trusting in Allah. Then, I felt that I had received intelligence about some mounted people who were armed and had come to my home for the purpose of destroying me. I was alone and I had no helmet or other safeguarding armour except those arms which Allah had bestowed upon me for my defence. However, I disliked with- drawing from the contest and sitting inside in fear and so I started in one direction rapidly with full vigour and effort for the achievement of the purpose that I had in mind, which was to produce the best results from the point of view of the world and the Faith. Suddenly, I saw thousands of people, all mounted on horses, advancing rapidly towards me. On seeing them, I felt as joyful as if I had won great spoils. I felt a great upsurge in my heart for opposing them and began to pursue them as a hunter stalks his quarry. Then, I galloped up to them to ascertain their condition and was certain in my mind that I would be victorious against them. As I came up to them, I discovered that their clothes were worn and torn. Their features were repulsive; they looked like pagans and were dressed like the rebellious. I noticed that they were manoeuvring their horses for the purpose of plunder and I was watching them carefully while I advanced rapidly towards them like a brave champion. My horse went forward so fast as if it was being urged by some invisible power, as camels are urged by the chanting of their drivers. I was also delighted by the charm and beauty of its paces. Then they turned suddenly to obstruct my power and my plan, to destroy the fruits of my garden, to uproot my trees and to plunder them. They advanced towards my garden and entered into it, which made me anxious and much perturbed as I gathered that they wanted to destroy the fruit of my garden and to cut its branches. I advanced towards them rapidly and realized that it was a time of great danger and my enemies had made their homes in my land. I began to entertain fear in my heart like one weak and afraid, but I advanced towards my gar- den so that I could assess the situation. When I entered my garden and