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your brother. This is one of the wonders of learning. And what you
would desire for yourself desire also for your brother.”
My heart became at ease and was enlarged by these words. As I
put my hand over it, I felt it no longer tight and sorrowful. “Surely,
you will find on this way a withdrawing from the abode of the illusory
and will come back in thoughts to the abode of the Gardens”
[A Haadith].
Then, silently, he drove me away from the castle. We walked again
a long time side by side, each one engrossed in his proper thoughts,
then we passed the groves, then the fields, then we took leave of
each other at the place we had first met.
The tour was finished, and I was tired. I sat under the shade of an
olive tree and massaged my feet and my aching legs. Before my
eyes laid multitudes of colors and forms like a richly tainted rug made
of plantations of bananas, apricots, and gigs.
Alongside the fields, straw hats were moving to and fro, lively,
unceasingly. Unstained dresses seemed to be wild flowers inside the
bouquets of vegetables and fruits set in the stalks. All appeared
animated only by a blur of colors as in a life painting. In the distance,
I could also hear the voices of children reciting the Qur’an:
“By the fig, and the olive.
By Mount Sinai.
And by this city of security.
Verily, we created man of the best stature.
Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low,
save those who believe and do righteous deeds,
then they shall have a reward without end”
(Qur'an).
Thus I said to myself: Does it take as long for these children as it
took me to understand the head of learning? Maybe we always
know it is there before our eyes but we do not see it. Maybe it is
the same for everybody.
Then I heard again:
“Verily, we have created man in toil,” "he will get only what he
thrives for" (Qur'an).
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