Prevod

Then the fourth maiden stepped back and the fifth came forward, saying, “Now I shall recount some of the tales of the pious forebears that come to mind. Maslama ibn Dinar used to say, ‘When hearts are set right, sins both great and small are forgiven; and when a servant resolves to forsake sin, blessings are opened to him.’ He also said, ‘Every blessing that does not bring you nearer to God is an affliction. A little of this world distracts you from much of the world to come, while an abundance of it makes you forget even the little you have of the next.’ Abu Hazim was asked, ‘Who is the most prosperous of men?’ He replied, ‘A man who has spent his life in obedience to God.’ ‘And who is the most foolish?’ ‘A man who has sold his hereafter for another man’s worldly gain.’ It is related that when Moses—peace be upon him—came to the waters of Midian, he said, ‘My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You may send down to me.’ Thus Moses asked his Lord, not his fellow men. The two maidens came, and he watered their flocks for them before the shepherds had driven theirs away. When they returned, they told their father Shu‘ayb, who said, ‘Perhaps he is hungry.’ Then he said to one of them, ‘Go back to him and invite him here.’ When she reached him, she covered her face and said, ‘My father invites you, that he may reward you for watering our flocks.’ Moses disliked this and was reluctant to follow her. She was a woman of ample hips, and the wind blew her garment against her, revealing their shape to Moses, who lowered his gaze. Then he said to her, ‘Walk behind me.’ So she walked behind him until he entered Shu‘ayb’s house, where supper lay ready.” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When the eighty-third night came

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate king, that the vizier Dandan said to Daw’ al-Makan: The fifth maiden said to your father, ‘Moses—peace be upon him—entered Shu‘ayb’s house, where supper lay ready. Shu‘ayb said to him, “O Moses, I wish to pay you for watering their flocks.” Moses replied, “I come of a household that will not sell any deed done for the hereafter for all the gold and silver on earth.” Shu‘ayb said, “Young man, you are my guest, and to honour a guest by giving him food is my custom and the custom of my forefathers.” So Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu‘ayb hired Moses for eight pilgrimage seasons—that is, eight years—and his wages were to be marriage to one of Shu‘ayb’s two daughters. Moses’ service to Shu‘ayb was her bridal due, as the Almighty relates in Shu‘ayb’s words: “I wish to marry you to one of these two daughters of mine, on condition that you serve me for eight years. If you complete ten, that will be of your own accord; I do not wish to make things hard for you.” A man once said to a friend whom he had not seen for some time, “I have missed you, for it is a long while since I last saw you.” The friend replied, “I have been kept from you by Ibn Shihab. Do you know him?” “Yes,” said the man. “He has been my neighbour for thirty years, but I have never spoken to him.” His friend said, “You have forgotten God, and so you have forgotten your neighbour. Had you loved God, you would have loved your neighbour. Do you not know that a neighbour has a claim upon his neighbour like that of a kinsman?” Hudhayfa said, “We entered Mecca with Ibrahim ibn Adham. Shaqiq al-Balkhi had made the pilgrimage that year, and we met while circling the Kaaba. Ibrahim asked Shaqiq, ‘How do you conduct yourselves in your country?’ Shaqiq replied, ‘When we are given sustenance, we eat; and when we go hungry, we are patient.’ Ibrahim said, ‘So do the dogs of Balkh. But when we are given sustenance, we give others preference over ourselves; and when we go hungry, we give thanks.’ Then Shaqiq sat before Ibrahim and said, ‘You are my master.’” Muhammad ibn ‘Imran said, “A man asked Hatim al-Asamm, ‘What is the basis of your trust in God Most High?’ He replied, ‘Two things: I knew that no one else could consume the sustenance allotted to me, and so my soul was at peace; and I knew that I had not been created without God’s knowledge, and so I felt shame before Him.’”