|
|
|
|
71-3 - The
Sayings of Haykar the Sage:
Haykar is Alive
After
all this Haykar's wife Shagatinee brought some food and drink for her
husband; and every Friday she brought his ration for the whole next week.
Presently the report was spread through Assyria and Nineveh, that how
Haykar the Sage was slain by his King; and hearing it all said - "We
are very sorry for you, O Haykar, and for the loss of your knowledge.
Where will we find one like you?" The king also regretted for Haykar,
so he summoned Naadaan and said to him - "Go, and take all your
friends and make a ceremonious wailing for your uncle and mourn according
to custom in his honor and memory."
But
Naadaan, the fool, the ignorant, the stone-hearted went from there but he
would neither weep, nor mourn for his uncle. Rather he fell for feasting.
After this he took the slaves and concubines of his uncle to himself, and
even his aunt who had brought him up like her son, without any shame. On
the other hand Haykar thanked Allaah to save his life. Sometimes the
executioner also called upon Haykar. As all other kings heard about
Haykar's killing, they rejoiced on the distress of the King, and the King
repented hearing all this.
Presently,
the King of Assyria and Nineveh, seeing the appropriate opportunity, wrote
a letter of this matter - "After the Salaam and congratulations to
the King Sankhareeb, I would like you to know that I am building a cottage
in the air, and I wish you to send me a wise and experienced man who can
help me in carrying out my project; also he should be able to answer my
all questions. Otherwise you deposit the taxes to Assyria and Nineveh for
three years." He sealed it with his signet ring and sent it to
Sankhareeb.
When
this letter reached to the King, he got perplexed and worried. He
immediately called his ministers, Shekh, elders, doctors of law,
astrologers etc for consultation on this matter. He asked them "Who
will go to the court of Pharaoh, the King of Mishra and reply to his
questions?" They said - "O Lord, You know that nobody among us
can do this except Haykar; and now none can do his except Naadaan.
Therefore call him and send him there and he will answer for you."
So the
King called for Naadaan and when he came, he showed him the letter and
asked his opinion. Naadaan said - "Ignore him for he is asking for
impossible. Who can build a hut between the earth and the Heavens."
Hearing this the King cried out loudly and then stepping down of the throne
he sat down on the floor and wept for his Vazeer - "Where can I find
you now, O Haykar? Where should I go look for you? Fie on me that I slew you at the
word of a silly boy. Whoever brings Haykar alive, I will give him half of
my goods. I am sorry to have you killed. I did not consider properly
before ordering to slay you." Thus he wept for him night and day.
When
the executioner saw the King weeping like this for Haykar, he came to him,
prostrated himself in front of him and said - "O Lord, Ask your
people to strike my head." The King asked him - "What is your
fault?" The executioner said - "Whoever slave does not obey, he
should be slain, and I have disobeyed you." The King said - "Fie
upon you, O Aboo, When have you disobeyed me?" Aboo said - "You
asked me to slay Haykar, but I thought that you will soon regret his
death, so I hid him at a place where he is safe and well. I slew one of
his slaves instead. If you ask me, I can bring him here, you may put me to
death, otherwise grant me immunity." The King again cried with
surprise - "Fie on you Aboo, How do you dare to make mock of
me?" Aboo said - "By your head Lord, I swear that Haykar is
alive and well."
The
King got very happy to hear this and asked him to bring him and told him
that he would make him rich. Aboo immediately went to the Minister's house
and told him the whole story including Pharaoh's letter. He then took him
to the King. When the King saw him he knew that he was in need to fulfill
his needs. He went to him, kissed him, embraced, and wept over him saying
- "Oh thank to Allaah who has restored your life." He asked his
pardon and gave Aboo his half the kingdom and many riches.
Then
Haykar said - "May you live long, but this was the work of some evil
man. I brought a palm tree so that I could lean against it, but it brought
me down to earth. Now do not be angry with me and let me go." The
King said - "You first get in good shape, then sit at home or 40 days
to restore your good condition, then come to me." Then the King gave
him rich clothes and Haykar went away to his house giving him many thanks. All
his friends, and people in his household were happy to see him alive. He
took rest for 40 days and then appeared before the King. Seeing Haykar
alive, Naadaan got perplexed and did not know what to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now
when Haykar went to the King and greeted him with Salaam, the King seated
him by his side and showed him the letter the Pharaoh sent to him hearing
his execution. Haykar said - "O Lord, Do not worry. I myself will go
to Egypt and reply him in full to Pharaoh, and I will bring all the tax
tribute back he demands from you. And I will restore all your wealth gone from
this country by the blessing of Allaah and yours." The Minister asked
40 days to work out his plan, the King readily granted him.
He
came back to his house and asked his huntsmen to bring two vigorous young
vultures. Then he asked the cord-maker to make two cotton twisted ropes
measuring 2,000 ells (90,000" = 250 yards). He asked a carpenter to
make two boxes of large size, and as soon as all this was done, he chose
two lads - one Beenoohal and the other Tabshaleem. Then everyday he would
slaughter a pair of lambs and feed the children and vultures and he would
ride upon them binding them together and their legs too. He would allow
the birds to rise little by little prolonging the flight everyday to the
extent of 10 cubits (5 yards) - the better to teach and train them. Then
he taught the lads to utter loud shouts at their full length of the cords,
"Send us stone and mud and slaked lime that we may build a cottage
for King Pharaoh."
He
left them there, and went to Sankhareeb and asked him to come with him
to see what he had done. They all came to a wide open space out side the
city where he sent for the vultures and the lads. After binding the cords,
he allowed them to soar as high as they could go and then they fell on
the ground as he taught them. Then he comforted them. The King got
very surprised to see this. He kissed him between his eyes, robed him in
an honorable robe and wished him well on his journey.
Haykar
took his troops, and guards etc together with lads and vultures and
proceeded towards Egypt. As he reached there, he went to the palace. When
the people in the palace knew that Sankhareeb has assigned a man to come
there, they took him to Pharaoh. Haykar greeted Pharaoh and said -
"The King Sankhareeb has sent you his greetings and me,
single-handed, to answer any questions you have and to fulfill your needs.
You sent a request to my master to send you a a man who can build a
cottage in the sky; and I, by the good grace of Allaah, can build it the
way you desire and require. But this shall be on the condition concerning
the tax-tribute of Mishra for three years. If you defeat me and I fail to
answer you, then my Lord will give you the taxes. But if I did my job,
then you will not ask for the tribute."
Pharaoh
was perplexed to hear his eloquent language and sweet speech, he exclaimed
- "O man, What is your name?" Haykar said - "I am Abeekam
and I am one of the smallest slave of the King." Pharaoh asked -
"Was there nobody else more dignified than you to answer me and talk
to me?" Haykar replied - "I humbly hope that I may satisfy all
which is in your mind." At this Pharaoh assigned him a separate
apartment, guards, food, odder etc necessary things.
|
