Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
The Fate of Scientific Arrogance (Part 11)
The Alchemist:
The king was very interested in alchemy, and as is known, whoever gets caught up in alchemy does not have the proper intellect and intelligence, like chess players. I have seen many of my friends who were fascinated by chess, sometimes I would walk with them and notice that they paid special attention to their behavior; sometimes they would run this way and sometimes that way, and wherever a doubt or something occurred to them, they would stop and smell the flowers and bushes. The king was also constantly preoccupied, and he had upset all the ministers in this regard.
One day the minister said to the king, “Why are you so upset? There is a water carrier (Saqa) in your realm who is very skilled in the art of alchemy.” The king was surprised and said, “Someone in our country is skilled in this art, and we are so upset? Send some officers to bring him.”
The water carrier appeared in worn and tattered clothes. The king asked him about alchemy. He replied, “If I knew alchemy, would I be in this state? I too would build a palace like you.” His words were logical, so the king released him and reproached the minister. The minister swore that he had accurate information that he knew the art well. The king entrusted the affairs of the country to his crown prince and, in disguise, went with the minister to the water carrier’s house. When they approached his house, the minister turned and said, “حُبُّكَ الشَّيْءَ يُعْمِي وَيُصِمٌ” which means “Love of something makes a person deaf and blind.” [1]
The king sat in front of the water carrier’s house, and every time the water carrier came out of his house, he saw the king there. At night, when the water carrier went to deliver water, the king would follow him. The king said, “You are old and tired. I am unemployed, and if you allow, I will do the job of delivering water.” The water carrier replied, “Go about your business. My livelihood is in this.” The king said, “I like you and I want to stay with you. I do not want anything from you.”
One night, when they brought dinner for the water carrier, he offered some to the king as well, but the king initially refused. With much insistence, the king ate two or three bites. Here, I repeat again that the zeal of a water carrier did not allow someone else to do his work and not eat his sustenance! But we are not sure that we can do God’s work sincerely and He will leave us hungry. Of course, the difference is that the water carrier was not the knower of the unseen and was deceived, but our Master is the knower of the unseen, and the truth is known to Him as to who does His work sincerely and who is deceitful.
The point is that the king served a lot and filled his containers completely with water every day. When he went to bed at night, he would massage his feet. For a few days, the water carrier benefited from the young man’s presence. For two or three months, the water carrier tested the king and insisted that he allocate a salary for his expenses. The king said, “There was a lot of work for me, and I like to serve you. I only liked your face along the way.”
The point was that the king showed so much love that the water carrier also wondered where such a lover had come from at this old age. Sometimes he would say, “Oh dear father, let me wash your clothes.” He would remove his lice and clean the washboard. He had some money with him and secretly found something to eat from here and there, but in the eyes of the poor old man, he showed the ultimate asceticism and piety.
After four or five months, the old man said, “Oh young man, I know alchemy. The king asked me, but I refused, but I will teach you.” The king feigned renewed interest but verbally denied it, “What need do I have for something like alchemy? I am captivated by your affection!” For seven or eight days, the water carrier insisted, but the king refused. One day, the old man said, “I have grown old, and this knowledge will die with me, and I will not teach it to anyone else, but I will teach it to you! Affection begets affection. I love you, even though you have not introduced yourself to me.” The king said, “I am nobody, I have no home or family. If you would accept me as a son, I would be grateful!”
One early morning, the water carrier took the king to the forest and showed him 20 or 30 bushes. He separated some of them, brought them home, and made alchemy from them. The king, eager to learn, watched carefully, and that very night, he ran away. The next day, the water carrier was left empty-handed and realized that this person was a deceiver who claimed to love him and had not introduced himself.
The king returned to his throne and sent his soldiers to bring the water carrier. When they brought the water carrier, the king said, “Oh water carrier, do you know alchemy?” The water carrier replied, “Dear king, you have asked me this before. If I knew alchemy, would I be wandering around this way and that?” But how could someone who had massaged his feet for six months remain silent? The water carrier looked at him carefully. The king asked, “Do you recognize me?” The water carrier said, “Yes, I recognize you well.”
The water carrier said, “Dear king, the truth is that alchemy is attained through humility and modesty, not through kingship. To achieve alchemy, it is essential to become a water carrier.” The water carrier spoke the truth: “That which is gained through humility and modesty is not gained through greatness and arrogance. I have heard such truths from many wise men.”
Do not think, dear of father, that anyone can reach a place without effort.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: «مَنْ تَوَاضَعَ لِلّهِ رَفَعَهُ اللهُ» Translation: “Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah will raise him.” [2] In this instance, the humility was not for Allah but to achieve a goal; however, the outward humility and service (massage) taught alchemy. [3]
Continues…
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[1] Musnad Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 1, p. 75, Musnad Khuzaymah ibn Thabit, Narrated by Abu al-Darda…, no.: 49.
[2] Shu’ab al-Iman Bayhaqi, Hadith No.: 7790.
[3] Jawahir al-‘Ilm, p. 189.
