The Awakening of the Soul Part 7

_Hayy begins to teach and instruct Salaman's subjects._

Now the Sovereign and Prince of that Island was _Salaman_ the friend of _Asal_, of whom we have given an account above. He was the one who thought it best to join and apply himself to human society, and considered it unlawful to give himself over to solitude. Therefore _Hayy Ibn Yokdhan_ began to instruct them and to explain the mysteries of wisdom unto them. But when he began, and had proceeded a little beyond that which was plain and obvious to them, and began to inculcate that which was quite contrary to their notions deeply rooted in their minds, they began to withdraw themselves from him, and their minds abhorred from what he spoke. And inwardly in their hearts they were very angry with him, though in his presence they made a great show of kindness, both because he was a stranger and out of regard to his friend Asal.

_Hayy despairs of being able to reform the vulgar crowd._

_Hayy Ibn Yokdhan_, however, continued day and night to deal gently with them and manifest the truth both in private and public, which only increased their hatred towards him and made them avoid his company; though otherwise they were lovers of that which is good, and desirous of the truth. But from that defect in their nature, they did not search for it in the right manner nor apprehend it as they should do: but sought the knowledge of it after the common way, like the rest of the world, after the vulgar fas.h.i.+on: so in the end he despaired of reforming them, and lost all hope of bringing them unto a better condition which was less acceptable unto them, because he perceived they were not willing to accept what he taught them.

_Hayy's philosophical views on the value of this world._

And afterwards looking round about him and reviewing the several ranks and orders, degrees and conditions of men, he found that every sect and company of them rejoiced in those things which they had and possessed at present, and that their l.u.s.ts and appet.i.tes were their G.o.d, and that they destroyed and lost themselves by gathering together the trifles and vanities of the world, the eager desire of getting them into their hands still captivating and blinding them until they tottered to their graves; and that no good counsel prevailed upon them, and that disputing with them had only the effect of making them the more obstinate. As to wisdom, they had no way open to it or access thereto, nor did any portion thereof belong unto them. "For folly has wholly overwhelmed them, and what they eagerly sought after has corrupted their hearts as rust; G.o.d has sealed up their hearts and ears, a thick mist is before their eyes, and a sore punishment awaits them." (Koran.)

Thus he saw that they were encompa.s.sed within the cauldrons of punishment and covered over with the darkness of a veil, and that all of them--a few only excepted--minded their religion no otherwise than with respect to the world, and cast the observance of religious performances behind their backs, and made little or no account thereof, and that merchandise and trading took up their minds and diverted them from thinking upon G.o.d, so that they had "no fear of that day in which both their hearts and eyes shall be turned round" (Koran)--continually employed about their worldly affairs. When he saw all this, it was apparent to him, and he held it for certain, that it was impossible for him to speak unto them to any purpose, and that it was not expedient that any works should be enjoined unto them beyond this measure, and that the greatest benefit which accrued to the common sort of men by the law was wholly in relation to their life in this world, namely, that the course and manner of their life, whilst they continued here, should proceed on in good order, so that none of them should be injurious to another in the things which he may call his own; he saw that none of them attain unto the felicity of another world but some very few, viz.

those who prepare themselves to that world and rightly endeavour to attain to the same; that is, such as believe and follow the truth: but "to him that erred from the truth, and prefers the life of the present world before it, h.e.l.l shall be his place of habitation." (Koran.)

And what labour can be greater, and what misery more grievous, than his who works, if you well observe, from the time he awakes till he goes to sleep again; there will not be found so much as one amongst them who does anything but what tends to the attaining of some one or other of these vile sensible things that are of no value, to wit, either riches--to heap them up, or pleasure which he may take, or l.u.s.t whereby to satisfy his mind, or wrath and revenge whereby he may satisfy his mind, or power whereby to defend himself, or some outward work commanded by the law, whereof he may make a vain-glorious show or whereby he may care to save his neck? "Now all these are darkness upon darkness in the deep sea: nor is there any of you who doth not go in thither: for such is the unchangeable decree of the Lord." (Koran.)

When, therefore, he understood the state and condition of men to be such as this, and seeing that most of them might be justly ranked amongst unreasonable creatures--were, in fact, like brute beasts--he knew that all wisdom, discretion and success was grounded on and consisted in that which the messengers of G.o.d spoke and the law delivered, and that there was no other rule possible, and that there could be nothing added to it, and that these were men appointed to every work, and every one was mostly capable of that thing unto which he was ordained by nature: and that the law of G.o.d was the same unto those that had gone away before, neither was there any change in the law of G.o.d.

_Hayy gives up his Preachings and Teachings._

Whereupon, returning to _Salaman_ and his companions, he craved pardon for those things that he had spoken amongst them and desired to be excused, and told them that he was of the same opinion with them, and went on in the same way and persuaded them to stick firmly to their resolution of respecting and following the customs of the law and the performance of the external rites without intruding themselves upon things that did not concern them or intermeddling therewith, that in doubtful things they should give credit and yield a ready a.s.sent to those rules that they had of old received: that they should be averse to novel opinions and to their appet.i.tes, and follow the examples of their good Forbears, and leave novelties severely alone.

He also commanded that they should shun and avoid that neglect of the laws that is seen in the vulgar sort of men, and the love of the world, and this he specially bade them to take heed of: for he and his friend _Asal_ well knew that there was no salvation to this weak, tractable, and defective sort of men but by this means; and that if they were forced away and raised above this to curious speculations, their condition would be much worse, so much so that it would be impossible for them to obtain the state and degree of the Blessed; but that they would be wavering in their motives, and tossed up and down, and at last meet with a bad end. But if they remained in that state of things in which they were till death overtook them, they should obtain salvation and should be placed amongst those that are on the right hand. But, on the other side, as for those who had gone before and outwent them, those came near unto them: yet these came next after and approached near to them.

_Asal and Hayy return to their Island._

Thus _Asal_ and _Hayy_, after this admonitory talk, having bid farewell to Prince Salaman and his people, took leave of them and waited for an opportunity of returning to their own Island, till at length it pleased G.o.d, the Almighty and Glorious, to afford them a commodious pa.s.sage thither. And _Hayy Ibn Yokdhan_ endeavoured to attain to his lofty state of speculation in the same manner as formerly, until he attained thereto: and _Asal_ followed his steps till he came near him or was not far therefrom. So they continued wors.h.i.+pping G.o.d in that Island until death seized upon them.

_Epilogue of the Author._

And this is that--G.o.d help thee and us by his spirit--which we have received of the history of _Hayy Ibn Yokdhan_ and _Asal_ and _Salaman_.

In its setting down we have made such choice of words as are not found in any other book nor accustomed to be heard in common and vulgar speech. And it is part of that hidden knowledge which no man receives but he who has the knowledge of G.o.d; nor is any man ignorant of it, but those that have not the right knowledge of G.o.d. We have indeed followed a method quite contrary to that of our good Forbears, as to their keeping secret these matters and their sparingness of divulging them.

But the reason that readily persuaded us to divulge this secret, and to break through this veil, was, these evil opinions which have risen up in this our time, the corrupt notions which are being devised by some pretenders to philosophy in this world, so that they are dispersed and diffused into various regions, and the mischief and evil arising therefrom has grown epidemical. So that we are solicitous on behalf of the weak--who have rejected what they received by tradition from the Prophets of blessed memory and make choice of that which is delivered them by foolish men--lest they should think those opinions to be a secret that ought to be kept from them who are not capable thereof, and this should increase their desire after them, and would awake a more eager appet.i.te after them.

Therefore, it seemed good to us to give them a glimpse of this secret of secrets, whereby we may lead them into the way of truth and divert them from that wrong path.

Nevertheless, we have not committed the secrets that are comprehended in these leaves as to leave them without a thin veil which will be easily unveiled by those who are capable of understanding them, but shall be so thick and gross to those who are unworthy to go further on and pa.s.s beyond it, that it will be impossible for him to pierce through it.

And now, I crave pardon of those of my brethren as shall read this treatise, that they would excuse me with regard to those things which I have so readily declared and so freely described. For I would not have done this, unless I had been carried and elevated to such heights as transcend the reach of human sight, which cannot attain thereunto. I endeavoured to render my discourse easy to be understood, by fitly placing and ordering its parts so that I might stir up in men a keen desire to enter into the right way. But I crave of the Lord pardon and forgiveness, and that He will please to bring us to the true and certain knowledge thereof. For he is bounteous and liberal of His favours. Peace be to thee, my brother, whose promotion is decreed, and the mercy and blessing of G.o.d come upon thee.

=Praise be unto G.o.d alone.=

THE END.