Fariha’s Reviews > The Story of Layla & Majnun > Status Update

The sleeper awoke.Already the roseate fingers of the new day had touched the seam of the horizon. The treasured dream vanished.Still, Majnun's whole being was flooded by a feeling of happiness such as he had not experienced for a long time. Did the bird of his soul take wing? Did not his body feel light, as if it could fly? Thus a dream may bring fulfilment at night to those who must live out their days without love.

He had a strange dream:
A tree grew out of the ground in front of him; quickly it reached great height and extended its crown towards the centre of the sky. Following its growth with his eyes, Majnun suddenly noticed a bird fluttering fearlessly through the leaves towards him from the farthest branch. Something glittered in its beak, like a drop of light. Just over Majnun's head, the bird let it drop.

When Majnun had ended his prayer, a deep calm overcame him. His eye no longer roamed over the night sky. His heart felt at home and when sleep gently touched his shoulder, he did not notice it.

Where there are ruled, there is a ruler. He who is not heard by creation, may be heard by the creator, and so Majnun prayed to him who has created everything on earth and is without need:
'Where is my refuge, if not with you? Venus and Jupiter are your slaves and your name is the well-spring of all names. Your knowledge towers above all knowledge and your bounty is beyond all price.
[...]

Thus Majnun,in the darkness of night,cried out to the stars from the depths of his tortured heart;but there was no response.The heavens remained silent& the human soul froze in the ice-cold glow of the stars.Seeing them go on their way unconcerned,he suddenly understood.They could not show him the way out of his despair.They were blind & deaf,their glittering splendour was mute.What did human agony mean to the stars?

'Venus, lighting up the night, beacon for all those who are searching for happiness in the world. Mistress of singers and dancers. Your hand holds the key to success, your wine sparkles in every goblet. You are the seal in the king's signet ring, the queen in the palace of prosperity, the star of noble men and intimate friends. Your gift is the pleasantry on sensitive lips and those who belong to your circle [...]

In the heat of anger, Mars was seeking to blind the eye of his enemy, while Jupiter carried the salvation of the world in his sleeve. Hanging from Saturn's belt was the steel rod which he uses secretly in the darkness to sharpen the sword of the morning.
But it was still night. Lonely, Majnun stood under the sky, his eyes wandering from star to star. Which of them would come to his aid?

Like a great shah, the full moon was riding through it, draped in golden brocade. Mercury was his arrow, shot from the royal bow. Venus, the dancer, adorned the border of his saddle as a lovely ornament, while the sword of the sun which during the day scorches the world, remained hidden in its scabbard.

The air was impregnated with scent and the jewel of the moon was spreading a garment of silver rays over mountains and valleys. Truly, the royal tent of this night was a matchless miracle, full of wonders.

The night was as light as day and the face of the sky, a garden of flowers, hung resplendent high above the earth. Sparkling like a golden ornament, the firmament kept turning. The seven planets, their hands linked, trod out the dance of fate on the carpet of the horizon. Meteors hurtled through the dome of heaven like spears of light thrown against demons.