CHAPTER V.

Sheykh Salāhu-d-Din1 Feridun, surnamed Zer-Kub (Goldbeater).

I.

SHEYKH SALAHU-'D-DIN was originally a fellow-disciple with Jelal, as pupils to Seyyid Burhānu-'d-Dīn. He afterwards became a goldbeater, as his parents were poor.

After a while, when Jelal's reputation became great, Salah went and paid him his respects. Jelal knew how highly Burhan had esteemed Salah, when his pupil. He therefore received him in a very friendly manner, and their intercourse became warmly renewed.

One day, after the murder of. Shemsu-'d-Din, and the return of Jelāl from Damascus, he sent for Salāh, and appointed him his own assistant in the government and instruction of the disciples, presenting him also to the king in that capacity.

2.

Jelal's first royal protector, 'Ala'u-'d-Din Keyqubad, was now dead, and his son, Gayāsu-'d-Din Key-Khusrev, reigned in his stead.

The monarch one day made a feast in the vineyards, and went forth into the fields for a walk, alone. He picked up a young snake, carried it indoors, placed it in a gold box, sealed this up, and then rejoined his courtiers.

To those attendants the king exhibited the sealed packet, as having just then been privately received from the Qaysar?

1 Saladin of European writings. The words mean: the Fitness of the Religion (of Islām).

2 The Muslim world knows but one

Qaysar (Cæsar), the Emperor of Rome (Old or New), which title is now borne by the Emperor of Austria.

of Constantinople with a message to this effect: "If your religion of Islam be the true faith, some one of your wise men will be able to see into this packet without breaking its seals, and to tell what it contains."

The king then called upon his ministers to prove their loyalty to him, and their faithfulness to their religion, by solving this riddle. None of them was able.

The packet was now sent round in succession to all the eminent teachers and theologians of the city; but none could unravel the enigma.

At last it was brought to Jelal, as Sheykh Feridun and he were sitting together. Jelal invited Feridun to tell them the contents of the packet; and he immediately replied: "It is not a dignified act in the king to imprison a young snake in a gold box, sealing this up as a packet, and then tempting his courtiers, ministers, and learned men with a false pretence. A saint, however, knows not only the solution of so paltry a trick as this, but is also aware of every thought in the king's heart, and every secret of earth and heaven."

When this answer was reported to the king, he came to the college, and professed himself a disciple, remarking: "If the disciples of Shemsu-'d-Din possess such power, and work such miracles, how great must have been the sanctity of the murdered martyr."

Feridun acted for ten years as assistant to Jelal.

3.

Fatima, the daughter of Sheykh Salāhu-'d-Din Ferīdūn, was married to Sultan Veled, Jelal's son. Jelal used to

teach her to read the Qur'an and other books.

Jelal used to call Fatima his right eye; her sister Hediyya, his left eye; and their mother, Latifa Khātūn, the personification of God's grace.

When Fatima's marriage was solemnised, all the angels of heaven were present, and wished the young couple all happiness.

She was a saint, and continually worked miracles. She fasted by day and watched by night, tasting food only once in three days. She was very charitable to the poor, the orphans, and the widows, distributing to them food

and raiment.

Sheykh Feridun died on New Year's Day, AH. 637 (28th December, A.D. 1258).

CHAPTER VI.

Chelebi Husāmu-'l-Haqqi-wa-'d-Din, Hasan, son of Muhammed, son of Hasan, son of Akhi-Turk,1 related to Esh-Sheykhu-lMukerrem.2

I.

ON the death of Sheykh Feridun, Chelebi Husāmu-'d-Din was appointed by Jelal his assistant in place of the deceased saint. For another ten years these two spiritual friends worked together in perfect unity as Superior and Assistant. Husām was surnamed "the Juneyd and the Bayezid of the age," " the Key of the Treasuries of God's throne," "the Trustee of the Treasures on earth," and 'God's next Friend in the World."

3

2.

Husam once made his obeisance to Jelal, and related to him that, when the disciples recited the poetry of the Mesnevī, and became entranced, he had himself seen a company of invisible ones, armed with clubs and scimitars, keeping guard over them. If any one did not listen to those sacred words with reverence and believing, the clubs and swords were brought into play, and he was hurled into the pit of hell-fire. Jelal confirmed, as being a fact, all Husam had related.

1 I have not met with any notice of Akhi-Turk.

2 The Honoured Elder; by which Abu-Bekr is probably intended; but see a note to the Preface of the Mesnevī,

3 Juneyd and Bayezid of Bestām were two great doctors of mysticism; the latter died in A.H. 234 or 261 (A.D. 848 or 874), and the former in A.H. 297-8 (A.D. 909-10).

H

3.

Husāmu-'d-Din was very eloquent, pious, and Godfearing. He would never use the water, even, of the college, for drink or for ablutions; but always brought his water from his own home for those purposes. He distributed, to the very last farthing, the whole of the revenues of the college among the disciples.

4.

Sultan Veled and his friends went one day to Husam's garden. Some of the disciples felt a desire to eat of some honey, but had said nothing on the subject. Husām read their thoughts. He therefore ordered his gardener to bring some new honeycomb from a certain hive. More, and more, and still more comb was brought, until all were satisfied; still, the hive was yet full. When they left his garden, Husam sent the hive with them; and for a long time it supplied all their wants.

5.

A severe drought afflicted Qonya and its environs. Prayers for rain were publicly offered without avail.

Recourse was now had to Husāmu-'d-Din, who was begged to intercede for the people, and to pray for rain.

He first went to Jelal's tomb, there performed his devotions to God, and then put up the prayer for rain, his disciples weeping as they chanted "Amen."

Clouds now began to collect and lower; shortly after which an abundance of rain was vouchsafed.

6.

Not only were all the revenues of the college, arising from its endowments, committed by Jelal to the sole administration of Husām, but, whatever gifts and contributions were offered by princes and friends, in money or in kind, they were all consigned to his care, to augment the