Muntakhab al-tawarikh 111.1

111.1

He was one of the benefits of the age and the blessings of the epoch. In early youth he was learning a lesson from the Bustan, and came to this couplet : — “ In the way of purity it is impossible, O Sa'di, “ To travel, except by following the Chosen One,” (may God bless and save him !). He asked his teacher, “What is the meaning of this couplet ? Explain it to me in Hindi.” His teacher said “ What business have you with this story ? ”, He replied “ Until you thoroughly explain it to me I will not learn another lesson.” When the meaning of it had been explained he said “ Give me an account of Muhammad, “ the Chosen ” (may God bless and save him !) and tell me who he is.” The teacher described to him some of the noble qualities and wondrous works of his holiness (may God bless him and save him), and, as soon as he heard the description, the mystic attraction of the Lord seized on him, and, rending his shirt, he uttered the creed of Islam When his parents heard of this they recognized that he had declared himself free of them and renounced them, and could not properly return to their care, so that they, of necessity, relinquished all claim to him, and he, journeying from Samana, the home of his ancestors, employed himself in reading the Qur'an, in making himself acquainted with God's commands, and in the pursuit of knowledge.