Muntakhab al-tawarikh 267.1

267.1

Saplak is a village in the Qandahār district. The vulgar in India call him Siplakī (Sipkalī) with a kasr to the which means 'a lizard,' and this greatly offended him, and he used to say, “What can I do, though they call me by the name of such a dirty carrion creature?” He was a devotee girt as to the loins and unfettered by conventions. On the day on which he saw Mulla Qasim Kahi he asked him his age. Qasim replied, “I am two years younger than God.” Sultan said, “My dear sir, I took you to be two years older. I fear you are deducting from your years.” Mulla Qasim laughed and said, “You are worthy to associate with us.” It may be noted that as Mulla Qasim Kahi was a great plagiarist he probably borrowed this speech from Shaikh Bayazid of Bustam who said, “I am younger than my Lord by two years.” This is one of the ravings of the Sufis, and some men of God have interpreted it to mean, “I am younger than God (may He be honoured and glorified!) by two years, i.e. in two qualities, that is to say self-existence and omnipotence”; for a creature may display all divine attributes and qualities except these two; for the brand of accidental existence and dependence can never be removed from the forehead of a created being. I ask forgiveness of God for this nonsense and these ravings!