Читать книгу The Mesnevi - Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi - Страница 53

Jelāl one day was going from his college into the town, when by chance he met a Christian monk, who made him an obeisance. Jelāl asked him which was the elder, himself or his beard. The monk replied: “I am twenty years older than my beard. It came forth that number of years later.” Jelāl answered him: “Then I pity thee. Thy young beard has attained to maturity, whereas thou hast remained immature, as thou wast. Thou art as black, and as weak, and as untutored as ever. Alas for thee, if thou change not, and ripen not!”

The poor monk at once renounced his rope girdle, threw it away, professed the faith of Islām, and became a believer.