I bid you fear God openly and in secret, guard against excess in eating, drinking and speech; keep aloof from evil companionship; be diligent in fasts and self-renunciation and bear wrongs patiently. The best man is he who helps his fellow-men, and the best speech is a brief one which leads to knowledge. Praise be to God alone!
He is buried at Iconium, and his tomb, like those of all Mohammedan saints, in a greater or lesser degree, is a centre of pilgrimage. The reverence with which he is regarded is expressed in the saying current among Moslems:—
Paigumbar nest, wali darad Kitab
(He is not a prophet, but he has a book)
[55] The mountain which encircles the world.
[56] The Eastern Ph[oe]nix.
[57] All Mohammedans pray towards the Kaaba.
[58] Koran, c. 18.