A literary history of Persia

426 THE $tfFJ MYSTICISMSayings of Sufyan alh-Thawri. "Whenthe dervish frequents therich, know that he is a hypocrite ;but when he frequents kings,know that he is a thief." (Attar.)" Glory be to that God who slays our children, and takes awayour wealth, and whom withal we love." (Attdr.)" If thou art better 'pleased when one saith unto thee, Thou arta fine 'fellow,' than when one saith unto thee, Thou art a rascal,'then know that thou art still a bad man." ('Altar.)Sayings of Rdbi'a al-'Adawiyya. "The fruit of Wisdom is to turnone's face towards God." ('Atldr.)"O God ! Give to Thine enemies whatever Thou hast assigned tome of this world's goods, and to Thy friends whatever Thou hastassigned to me in the Life of the Hereafter, for Thou Thyself artsufficient for me." (Atfdr.)" I ask God's forgiveness for my lack of faithfulness in asking Hisforgiveness."(Jdmi.)"O God ! If Iworship Thee for fear of Hell, send me to Hell ;and if Iworship Thee in hopes of Paradise, withhold Paradise fromme ;but if Iworship Thee for Thine own sake, then withhold notfrom me the Eternal Beauty." (Atldr.)" I worship God in love, because ISayings of Fudayl b. 'lydd.cannot refrain from worshipping Him." (Jdmi.)" I would that I were ill, so that I need not attend congregationalprayers, for 'there is safety in solitude.'" ('Atldr.)" Whoever fears to be alone and craves for men's society is farfrom salvation."('Attdr.)" All things fear him who fears God, while he who fears aughtelse but God is in fear of all things."('Atldr.)It would be easy to multiply these aphorisms of the earlySufis a hundredfold, but they are sufficient to illustrate themain characteristics of Muhammadan mysticism in its earlieststage to : wit, asceticism, quietism, intimate and personal loveof God, and disparagement of mere lip-service or formalworship. This ascetic Sufiism isregarded by von Kremeras the early Arabian type, which,if influenced at all fromwithout, was influenced rather by Christian monasticism thanby Persian, Greek or Indian ideas.It is with Suffs like Abu Yazfd (Bayazfd) of Bisram, aPersian, and the great-grandson of a Magian (his grandfather