Repartee of the Wise

An eleventh century sufi, Abu Sahid, was addressing an assembly. With a great deal of confidence, he proclaimed, “Today, I am going to speak to you about astrology and what is going to happen in due course.”

The assembled crowd listened to him with great intent, eager to know what he was about to say. The mystic revealed, “Oh ignorant ones, this year whatever God wishes shall happen; just as last year, everything that happened was exactly as God wanted. He is exalted. All his wishes are manifested just as he pleases.”

There was once a peasant girl who was passing through a field where a group of monks were offering prayers. The law in those days was that no one was allowed to cross the area where the prayers were being held. After a little while, the girl returned back using the same way and one of the monks called out to her, “Young lady, you have committed a grave sin by walking this route. We were praying and thinking of God.”

The young girl apologized profusely and turned immediately to leave, but before doing so, she said, “Sir, may I ask you something?” When the monk nodded his head, she said, “I was going to meet my young man and I was thinking of him so I didn’t see you. If you were thinking of God, how did you see me?”