brings him into presence upon the Carpet and grants him companionship, witnessing, speech, evening conversation, communication, retreat, and dealings in accordance with what is within the Real’s self in the places of unveiled manifestation. This and its like constitute courtesy.
(Mercy and Modesty)
Eighth is mercy, directed by him toward every weak person and every tyrant. Through his mercy and gentleness he brings the latter down from his tyranny, pride, and grandeur with the least exertion, in tenderness, sympathy, and affection.
Ninth is modesty: he feels shame before the liar, on the liar’s behalf, and appears to him as someone who believes what he says. He does not appear as someone who has merely overlooked it, so that the liar believes his story has succeeded with him and that he is ignorant of his condition and of what he has brought; thus the liar grows bold in his business.
Then, before his Lord, he is nothing but an intermediary for good on the liar’s behalf, praying that what lies between him and God be overlooked at the standing and questioning on the Day of Resurrection.
It has been related in a report that on the Day of Resurrection God summons an old man and says to him, ‘What did you do?’ He mentions whatever acts of drawing near God wills, though God knows he is lying in what he says; then He orders him to the Garden.
The angels say, ‘Our Lord, he lied in what he claimed.’ The Real says, ‘I knew that, but I felt ashamed before him to give the lie to his gray hair.’
The Messenger of God, God’s blessings and peace be upon him, conveyed this report to us
