The expression 'sair-o soluk' is employed quite often in Persian, both in speech and in writing. Few, however, have understood its true meaning in Sufism.
Literally, the term 'sair-o soluk' is composed of two words where each word can be explained separately in the following manner: First, `sair' (traveling) signifies the purification of the Sufi's inward being on the Path towards spiritual perfection. It refers to the Sufi's relationship with God, to the Sufi's struggle to be ever more conscious of God through constant remembrance of Him and to forget himself, so as to advance farther and farther along the Path. This is an inward matter, particular to the individual.
On the other hand, `soluk' (social conduct) refers to a fundamental principle relating to the society of Sufis as a community. That is, soluk pertains to how Sufis should conduct themselves with respect to society as a whole. This is a vitally important aspect of Sufism, and it is imperative for Sufis to pay attention to it. In general, someone who is identified as a Sufi from the point of view of society must act as a model human being, and if such a person, who others associate with Sufism, behaves improperly in relationships with others or does things that are contrary to human considerations, that person does harm to the school of Sufism and to Sufis as a whole.
In order to instruct and correct their disciples, Sufi masters in the past have resorted to various tales and anecdotes, sometimes using animals to illustrate their points. As an example, it is related that Abu Sa'id 'Abo'l-Khayr was walking down the street one day with a group of disciples when a dog bit at the garment of one of the darvishes. The darvish raised his walking stick and hit the dog. The dog then went to the master, Abu Sa'id, complaining about his treatment at the hands of the darvish, that it should be beaten for having bitten at his clothes. The master, Abu Said, replied, "Why don't you bite me in return?" The dog protested, "But I am complaining about something else! I don't want revenge. He was dressed as a Sufi and hence deceived me. I assumed that since he was a Sufi, I could bite him freely without him hurting me!"
This story illustrates the importance of Sufi conduct and indicates that sair and soluk, although considered separate aspects of Sufism, are in fact complementary. That is, one who does not observe the conduct of a Sufi has not attained perfection in the work of spiritual traveling, while, at the same time, one who has advanced spiritually has the conduct towards others of a perfected human being. As a result, masters of the Path are able to identify the progress of Sufis in reaching more advanced spiritual stations and the extent of their traveling towards God by means of their conduct.
Fundamentally, then, traveling and social conduct are a pair of wings with which a human being takes flight towards perfection, for no one can fly with only one wing!
