Sol 6.1

  1. A disciple vowed a calf to his sheikh—

    a fat one—and sought to draw near to him through it.

  2. Whenever he offered it food, he cried,

    "God is greatest!"—rejoicing in it and showing respect.

  3. The thief struck in the darkness, but was met

    by the disciple's son; the thief turned back without attaining his aim.

  4. The ignorant father learned what had

    happened, and praised the saint at length,

  5. saying, "I saw my rescuer

    in my dream, astride a gray steed,

  6. guarding my house and repelling a raider

    with a sword victorious at every stroke."

  7. So he slighted his son by giving the credit

    to his distant sheikh, and angered him.

  8. So the son withdrew from him, leaving—indeed, laying open—

    his father's house, once he was gone, to anyone who would pounce.

  9. The thief came a second time and left with

    the calf, neither wary of a watchman nor afraid.

  10. Then the disciple rose and could not find the calf,

    and his son returned to him and rebuked him.

  11. So the disciple summoned his household and told them, "None

    but my beloved sheikh has taken the calf.

  12. For he feared the thief might take us by surprise,

    and would not have us humiliated and robbed.

  13. And he showed it to me as it ate in

    its pasture, in a true dream, and drank."

Sol 6.1