They complained to Jelāl; but he confirmed what Husām had said, and
remarked to them: “God looks only to man’s heart. Those seemingly lewd
fellows are really God-loving saints, while those outwardly pious
livers are merely inward hypocrites.”
8.
One day Husām was lecturing. Suddenly he beckoned to one of the
disciples, and told him to go with all speed to the royal palace, ask
to see the queen, give her his greeting, and say to her: “Instantly
quit this apartment thou art in, if thou wouldest avoid impending
destruction, the result of God’s decree.”
The queen believed his word, and at once removed to another part of
the palace. The apartment was speedily stripped of its furniture; and
scarcely had the last loads been removed, when, with a loud crash, the
building fell in. Her faith in his miraculous power was thenceforward
increased a hundredfold.
9.
A certain Sheykh died at Qonya, who was rector of two different
colleges. The prince who was the trustee of both, elected to nominate
Husāmu-’d-Dīn as rector of one of them; and a great entertainment was
prepared by the prince for the occasion.
Jelāl was informed of the arrangement, and he expressed the intention
to bear himself Husām’s carpet to his new college, and himself
spreading it for Husām in his new seat.
A certain brawler, a kinsman of Husām’s, Akhī Ahmed by name, was of
the company; and he had felt nettled at Husām’s appointment. He came
forward, snatched away Husām’s carpet, gave it to one of his companions
to cast out of the building, and exclaimed: “We will not suffer this
fellow to be installed here as Sheykh.”
Great confusion ensued. Several nobles of the Akhī clan, who were
present, drew their swords and knives, a scene of blood appearing to be
about to commence.
Jelāl now addressed the crowd, reproaching them for such behaviour. He
told them that their family and college would not prosper, but that the
Mevlevī order, founded by himself, and his lineal posterity would go on
ever steadily increasing. He then related the following anecdote:—
“A certain Sheykh from Samarqand, Abū-’l-Lays by name, went on his
travels for about twenty years, with a view to study, partly at Mekka.
At length he set out on his return home, whither his reputation, as
well as numerous disciples, had preceded him.
“Arrived at the outskirts of his native place, he went to the riverside
to perform an ablution. There he found a number of women, occupied
with laundry work. From among these, one old woman advanced, looked at
him attentively, and then exclaimed: ‘Why, if here isn’t our little
Abū-’l-Lays come back again! Go quickly, girls, and carry the news to
our family.’