Twenty-Eighth Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

During the breaking of the fast a discussion arose about some people to the effect that, when they have acquired know- ledge, they feel ashamed of their fathers and, out of shame, are unwilling to mention their fathers' names openly. The Venerable Master said: Malik-e-Dinar¹ was such an out- standing Sufi as to be the head of an order. He was not ashamed of his father. He called himself, 'Malik-e-Dinar'. He had so many disciples and followers as to know no limit. It is related that, one day, Malik-e-Dinar was walking along the road. A Syed came forward and greeted him. He caught hold of the hand of Malik-e-Dinar and said: 'You must be the son of a slave. You enjoy such pomp and state while I am a descendant of the daughter of the Apostle of God yet look at my condition!' Malik-e-Dinar replied: 'I have carried out the command of your ancestor and been blessed with this wealth. You, however, did not do so and have been reduced to this condition.' Afterwards, when nightfall came, it so happened that Malik-e-Dinar saw the Apostle in a dream. He was chiding him: 'O Malik-e-Dinar, you have found fault with my descendant.' Afterwards Malik-e-Dinar repented of having done so.

When the Venerable Master reached these words, he said: Wherever there is excellence in lineage-as, for example, the descendants of the Apostle and those of the sheikhs-out- standing knowledge is not a necessary condition for praise so that one praises only the person who possesses it. If such a person possesses knowledge, then that would be one excellence heaped upon another.

The Helpless One enquired: Would this dream of Malik-e-Dinar serve as a proof of the correctness of the following tradition: 'Honour my children who are good for God's sake, but not the evil, for my sake, He replied: Yes, but God knows best.

During the breaking of the fast a discussion arose about some people to the effect that, when they have acquired know- ledge, they feel ashamed of their fathers and, out of shame, are unwilling to mention their fathers' names openly. The Venerable Master said: Malik-e-Dinar¹ was such an out- standing Sufi as to be the head of an order. He was not ashamed of his father. He called himself, 'Malik-e-Dinar'. He had so many disciples and followers as to know no limit. It is related that, one day, Malik-e-Dinar was walking along the road. A Syed came forward and greeted him. He caught hold of the hand of Malik-e-Dinar and said: 'You must be the son of a slave. You enjoy such pomp and state while I am a descendant of the daughter of the Apostle of God yet look at my condition!' Malik-e-Dinar replied: 'I have carried out the command of your ancestor and been blessed with this wealth. You, however, did not do so and have been reduced to this condition.' Afterwards, when nightfall came, it so happened that Malik-e-Dinar saw the Apostle in a dream. He was chiding him: 'O Malik-e-Dinar, you have found fault with my descendant.' Afterwards Malik-e-Dinar repented of having done so.

When the Venerable Master reached these words, he said: Wherever there is excellence in lineage-as, for example, the descendants of the Apostle and those of the sheikhs-out- standing knowledge is not a necessary condition for praise so that one praises only the person who possesses it. If such a person possesses knowledge, then that would be one excellence heaped upon another.

The Helpless One enquired: Would this dream of Malik-e-Dinar serve as a proof of the correctness of the following tradition: 'Honour my children who are good for God's sake, but not the evil, for my sake, He replied: Yes, but God knows best.