1.
On the last day but one of the period of the greater pilgrimage at
Mekka, the eve of the Festival of Sacrifices, the ninth of the month of
Zū-’l-Hijja, A.H. 717 (11th February, A.D. 1318), the Emīr ‘Ārif, and
the historian Eflākī, his disciple, were together at Sultāniyya, in the
north of Persia, the new capital of the great western Mogul empire.
They were visiting at the convent of a certain Mevlevī dervish, named
Sheykh Suhrāb,[34] with sundry of the friends and saints, all of whom
were engaged in the study of different books, at about the hour of
midday, excepting ‘Ārif, who was enjoying a _siesta_.
Suddenly, ‘Ārif raised his head, and gave one of his loud,
awe-inspiring shouts, which caused all present to tremble. Without a
word, however, he again composed himself to sleep.
When he at length fully roused himself, and finally woke up from his
sleep, Sheykh Eflākī ventured to inquire what it was that had disturbed
him.
He answered: “I had gone in the spirit to pay a visit to the tomb of
my great-grandfather, when there I saw the two Mevlevī dervishes,
Nāsiru-’d-Dīn and Shujā’u-’d-Dīn Chanāqī, who had seized each other
by the collar, and were engaged in a violent dispute and struggle. I
called out to them to desist; and two men, with one pious woman, being
there present, saw me.”
Eflākī at once made a note of this narrative, putting down the date and
hour of the occurrence.
Some time afterwards, ‘Ārif returned to the land of Rome, and went to
the town of Lādik (_Laodicæa Combusta_, not far from Qonya); and there
they met the above-named Nāsiru-’d-Dīn. In the presence of all the
friends, ‘Ārif asked Nāsir to relate to them the circumstances of his
quarrel with Shujā‘.
Nāsir replied: “On the eve of the Festival of Sacrifices, I was
standing at the upper end of the mausoleum, when Shujā’ came there, and
committed an unseemly act, for which I reprehended him. He immediately
collared me, and I him; when suddenly, from the direction of the feet
of the holy Bahā Veled, the voice of ‘Ārif was heard shouting to us,
and made us tremble. In awe thereat, we immediately embraced each
other, and bowed in reverence. That is all I know of the matter.”
‘Ārif then addressed Eflākī, and said: “Pray relate to our friends what
thou knowest thereof, that they may be edified.”
Eflākī now produced his memorandum-book, and showed the entry he had
made, with the date. The friends marvelled at this, and rejoiced
exceedingly, their spirits being refreshed with an influence from the
invisible world.
‘Ārif then said: “By the soul of my ancestor, I dislike exceedingly
to make a display of any miraculous power. But, now and then, for the
edification of my disciples, such scenes will slip out. Then Eflākī
takes note thereof.”
Such miracles are known by the names of “manifestations,” and “ekstasis
of the spirit.”
When Qonya was reached, three friends, one a lady, bore testimony to
having seen ‘Ārif at the tomb on that day, and to their having heard
him shout.