Poetry · Chapter
Religion explained
A poor, ragged man named Hassan Bedreddin seeks entry to the great temple of God but is beaten and driven out by worshippers.
What happens
A poor, ragged man named Hassan Bedreddin seeks entry to the great temple of God but is beaten and driven out by worshippers. He cries out to Allah, who replies that the temple is the one place where He is not present.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The worshippers' violent rejection of a poor seeker from the temple highlights religious hypocrisy.
Deception and Self-Deception
The worshippers believe they serve God by guarding the temple, yet God declares He is absent there, revealing their self-deception.
Key passages
“Hassan Bedreddin, clad in rags, ill-shod, Sought the great temple of the living God. The worshippers arose and drove him forth, And one in power beat him with a rod.”
A poor, poorly dressed man named Hassan Bedreddin tried to enter the temple of God, but the worshippers expelled him and a powerful man struck him with a rod.
Describes the initial rejection and violence against the protagonist.
““Allah,” he cried, “thou seest what I got: Thy servants bar me from the sacred spot.” “Be comforted,” the Holy One replied; “It is the only place where I am not.””
Hassan cried out to Allah, pointing out that His own servants blocked him from the holy place. Allah comforted him, saying that temple is the one place where He is absent.
Reveals the central irony: God is not present in the temple where His supposed servants worship.