In the Name of the Beneficent

Once a person asked Sayyid  ibn- Tawoos,” How are you?”

Sayyid answered,” How do you think is a person who has an inanimate thing on his head and is carrying an inanimate clothing on his shoulders?

How is a person who is carrying by many expired parts?

Yet, some parts of his body are no longer alive!”

The person wondered,” What do you mean?”

He replied:

My turban is made of flax.”

Once the flax was a fresh and succulent plant.  But it now is inanimate.

My clothing is made of cotton. Now it is inanimate too.

My shoes are made of a dead animal leather, as well.

My hair and beard were black and healthy, but they also turned gray and unhealthy.

Woe to my other organs, if they don’t obey God.

Source: “Didar ba Abrar”.  p. 60