Page 96 - The Book of Rumi

Shaykh on the Boat

here was once a shaykh who looked nothing like a high Sufi ; his clothes
Twere in tatters and he appeared gaunt and undernourished. One year, he
was obliged to go to a city that lay beyond the sea, and therefore he had no
choice but to travel by boat. As he was generally destitute, he boarded a luxury
boat but took refuge among the cargo. As the boat pulled away from the har-
bor, the gentle rocking soon lulled the shaykh into a deep slumber.
Not long after the boat began to sail, a man on board began to holler
and curse, for his pouch of gold coins had disappeared. The captain ordered
every passenger to be searched and searched again. Soon it was the turn of the
shaykh, who was still sound asleep resting among the passengers’ luggage. The
sailors reluctantly woke up the poor man and informed him of the situation,
ordering him to remove all his clothes so they could make sure he was not the
culprit.
The shaykh was embarrassed and deeply hurt.
“My Lord,” he turned to the heavens and begged his Master. “These mis-
chievous infi dels are accusing Your humble servant of robbery. I beg of You to
order them to release me and take back their baseless allegations.”
The shaykh’s heart had been broken by the callousness of his fellow pas-
sengers and nothing could appease him, until he saw a miracle appear in the
broad sea that surrounded them. Millions of glittering fi sh poked their heads
out of the water, flapping their tails vigorously to hold themselves upright,

each holding a precious pearl in her mouth worth the entire treasury of a
wealthy kingdom! The shaykh leaned over the side of the boat and collected
a few pearls from some nearby fi sh, nonchalantly tossing the pearls onto the
deck.
Then, like a crowned king seated on his throne, he levitated in air above
the moving boat. He turned his face toward the passengers and announced:
“You can have your boat with all its luxury, but I prefer the company of my
God instead. I’ll leave you now so that you don’t have to travel alongside a
thief. We shall soon see who benefi ts the most from this separation. I choose

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