BETTER TO SLEEP

I remember that once, when a child went through
a holy phase. I fasted, and I used to get up in the
night to pray. Once, I sat up all night with my father.
I held the sered Koran in my lap and never once closed
my eyes.

All around the rest of the household snored in sleep.

'Just listen to them' I remarked to my father,
'Not one of them think of saying prayer. They are sleeping
like the dead.'

'My beloved son,' he replied, 'you would be much better
asleep yourself if all you can do in your wakefulness
is disparage others.'

                                                       SAA'DI