Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 18.6.2

18.6.2

and what might entitle me to your remembrance." After saying this, he got into his boat, and rowing all night, he rejoined his master before day-break. And really what he had done is no more than what ought to have been expected from a man of honour ; for such ought to be the actions of gentlemen. As to those men who style themselves Mussulmen, and have laid their hands upon the properties and honour of other people, their actions are no better than so many suggestions of the Demon of Concupiscence, and so many illusions of the Devil, their prototype and master; and they are such indubitably, although their rulers should pretend to derive their pedigree from the successors and heirs of the Prince of Prophets, and should fancy that they are actually armed and fighting in the cause of God. Vain are those pretensions of theirs ! For their actions prove indubitably that they are attached solely to this world ; there being an evident difference betwixt the works of the just, and those of such worldly-minded men as we whose only scope and aim is this world, and only this world. The difference is indeed indisputable and amazing. Verses : " Do not measure the works of the Virtuous after your ownself ; ' " Nor so far mistake, as to find no difference betwixt shir and shir."