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Four Stories by:
Sheikh Muslih-uddin Sa'di Shirazi

Persian (Iranian)13th Century Poet
Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)

The Morals of Dervishes - Story 1

One of the great devotees having been asked about his opinion concerning a hermit whom others had censured in their conversation, he replied: 'I do not see any external blemishes on him and do not know of internal ones.'

Whomsoever thou seest in a religious habit 
Consider him to be a religious and good man 
And, if thou knowest not his internal condition, 
What business has the muhtasib inside the house? 



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