Aslam

(39) Hazrat Jafar-b-Mohammad said: The great saint Otbatul Colam used to raise three cries, with songs at each cry. After night prayer, he used to meditate placing his head between his two knees and when one third of the night passed away he used to raise a cry. Then again he placed his forehead between his knees and meditate. When two third of the night passed, he used to raise another cry. Thereafter he took his former position and meditate. At Sehri time, he used to raise another cry. I asked some learned man of Basra about this and he said: Don't look to his cries, but look to his condition between his two cries.

(40) Qasam Rashed Shriani said: The saint Jam'a came to us with Mashab. He had his wife and daughter with him. He prayed long at night, and when the Sehri time came, he said very loudly: O people engrossed in happiness, are you overtaken by sleep during the whole night? Will you not rise up and start? At this, they woke up. Some wept, some sought invocation, some recited the Quran and some made prostration.

(41) A certain sage said: There are servants of Allah upon whom He showered His blessings and He expanded their breasts. They obeyed Him and believed in Him. They surrendered to Him their affairs of the world and the next world.

. Their hearts were mines of transparent sure faith, fountains of wisdom, reservoirs of glory and treasure houses of power. They were advanced among the people. Their hearts used to roam in heaven ancl take refuge in the screen of the unseen. When they returned from that place, they had with them immediate benefit and grace which none could describe. They lived in internal grandeur like gold and lived outwardly life like used handkerchief. They used to talk with modesty with everyone.

(42) A certain sage said: I was roaming in a certain place of Jerusalem. When I was never a valley. I suddenly heard a sound. The valley responded to that sound which was high. 1 ran up following the sound and came to a garden where there were many trees. Suddenly I came to a man who was reciting the Quranic verse repeatedly:

The day when everybody will see his good deeds presented. He said: I sat behind him hearing his recitation. Then he suddenly raised a shriek and fell senseless. I said: Alas! it has occurred owing to my misfortune. I then waited for his recovery. After sometime he

356 THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES Vol-IV

regained consciousness and I heard him say: I seek refuge to You from the stage of the liars. I seek refuge to You from the complaint of the heedless. Then he said: The hearts of God- fearing men are afraid of you, the sinners then become afraid of you, the hearts of the Arefeen become modest to Your glory.