346 The Lover went forth, crying: ‘Oh, how vain are all they who follow after lust of knowledge and presumption! For through lust of knowledge do they fall into the greatest depths of impiety, insulting the Name of God and with curses and incantations invoking evil spirits as good angels, inventing them with the names of God and of good angels, and profaning holy things with figures and images and by writings. And through presumption all errors are implanted in the world.’ And the Lover wept bitterly, for all the insults which are offered to his Beloved by ignorant men.
347 At the Day of Judgment the Beloved will cause all that men have given Him in this world to be placed on one side, and on the other side all that they have given to the world. Thus it shall be clearly seen to what extent they have loved Him, and which of their two gifts is the greater and nobler.
348 The Lover’s will was enamoured of itself and the understanding asked: ‘Is it more like the Beloved to love oneself or to love the Beloved? For the Beloved is to be loved more than anything beside.’ With what answer, think you, could the will make reply to the understanding most truly?
349 ‘Say, O Fool, what is the greatest and noblest love to be found in the creature?’ He answered: ‘That which is one with the Creator.’ ‘And why so?’ ‘Because there is nothing with which the Creator can make nobler a creature.’
350 One day the Lover was at prayer, and he perceived that he wept not; and in order that he might weep he bade his thoughts to think upon wealth, and women, and sons, and meats, and vainglory. And his understanding found that more men have each of the things aforesaid to their servants than has his Beloved. And thereupon were his eyes wet with tears, and his soul was in sorrow and pain.
351 One day the Lover was looking towards the east, and towards the west, towards the south and towards the north, and he espied the Sign of his Beloved. And therefore he caused that Sign to be engraven, and at each of its four extremities he had a precious jewel set, as bright as the sun. That Sign he wore ever upon him, and it brought the Truth to his remembrance.
352 The Lover was walking pensively, thinking on his Beloved, and he found on the way many people and great multitudes who asked him for news. And the Lover, who was rejoicing in his Beloved, gave them not that which they asked of him, and said that he could not reply to their words without departing far from his Beloved.
353 Behind and before was the Lover vested in love, and he went seeking his Beloved. Love said to him: ‘Where goest thou, O Lover?’ He answered: ‘I go to my Beloved, that thou mayest be increased.’
354 ‘Say, O Fool, what is Religion?’ He answered: ‘Purity of thought, and longing for death by which the Beloved may be honoured, and renouncing the world, that nothing may hinder one from contemplating Him and speaking truth of His Name.’
355 ‘Say, O Fool, what are trials, sighs, laments, afflictions, perils, tears?’ He answered: ‘The joys of the Beloved.’ ‘And why are they so?’ ‘That He may be the more deeply loved by reason of them, and the Lover be the more bounteously rewarded.’