Chapter IV: Lawful and Unlawful
Once Caliph Hesham-b-Abdul Malek went to Mecca for pilgrimage. When he entered the sanctuary of the KaT>a he called for the sage Taus Yemeni. When he came to him, he took off his shoes and kept them by the side of the royal carpet. He said : O Hisham, peace be on you. He then sat by the side of the Caliph and asked him : O Hesham, how are you ? At this conduct of the sage, he was about to kill him but as he was in the sanctuary, he was not killed. The Caliph asked Taus : Why have you treated me like this ? (1) you have placed your shoes by my carpet, (2) you have not kissed my hand, (3) you have not addressed me 'O Commander of the Faithful, (4) you have taken your seat by me without my permission, (5) you have asked me by my name :
How are you ? The sage Taus replied : Regarding the placing of my shoes by your carpet, I put off my shoes daily five times when I go to my Lord for prayer. He does not punish me for it.
Regarding the kissing of your hand. I heard Hazrat Ali say : Let nobody kiss the hand of anyone except his kissing his wife's hand out of passion and his kissing of his parents hand out of reverence, Regarding addressing you as Commander of the Faithful, the people are not satisfied with your rule and I don't wish to tell lies. Regarding my addressing you by your name, God even addressed His dear friend.s and Prophets by their names. Regarding my sitting by your side, I heard Hazrat Ali say : If you wish to see anyone of the inmates of Hell, look to one who keeps himself seated with the people standing around him. Then Taus went away from him.
Hazrat Suhan said: I went once to Caliph Mansure. I said to the Caliph : You have reached to this honour by the help of Muhajirs and Ansars but their descendants are dying of
84 The Book of Wordly Usages Vol-II
starvation at present . So fear God and give them what they are entitled to.
The sage Ibn Abi Shamilah went once to the Darbar of Caliph Abdul Malek who said to him : Give me some instruction. He said :
The people will not get salvation from the severe chastisement of the Resurrection Day. Only those will get salvation who incur the pleasure of God causing displeasure to their baser selves. Abdul Malek wept and said : I will keep this advice before my eyes until my death.