The Masnavi, Book One (Oxford World's Classics)

The Prophet asks Zayd, ‘How are you today, how have
you risen from bed?’ He answers, ‘I’ve woken up a
believer, Messenger of God’
*
One dawn the Prophet turned to Zayd to say,
‘
My friend, how have you woken up today?’
‘
Like a believing slave who knows what’s true.’
3515
‘Then where’s faith’s garden’s sign displayed on you?’
‘I thirst,’ said Zayd ‘And wander in the day,
At night I can’t sleep –– love burns me away:
I’ve passed beyond both day and nighttime’s sphere ––
They’re shields I’ve penetrated like a spear.’
Beyond there’s just one army with one name,
A thousand years and one hour are the same,
There pre- and post-eternity have merged,
The brain can’t reach there, it soon gets submerged.
The Prophet asked Zayd, ‘Where’s your souvenir?
3520
Present some knowledge suitable for here.’
Zayd said, ‘While other people see the sky,
I see God’s throne with those who live on high,
The seven hells and the eight heavens too
Are visible to me –– I swear it’s true!
I recognize each individual
Like wheat and barley piled up at the mill:
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
214

---

Who’s heaven-bound and who in hell will bake
I see just like a 
fish next to a snake.’
It has now been revealed like dawn’s
first light
3525
The day their faces will turn black or white.
*
However many faults the soul then had,
Inside its womb
* none knew that it was bad:
The damned are damned inside the womb, that’s why
Their states some outwardly identify.
*
The body’s pregnant with the soul till death,
When birth pains make her writhe and gasp for breath,
The souls of all the dead now watch and wait
To see the way it’s born and its new state:
The Africans will claim, ‘This soul is ours!’
3530
The Greeks, ‘No, he looks glorious, with great powers!’
It’s now born in the realm of souls and grace,
The blacks and whites are equal in this place;
If he’s been bad, by bad men he’ll be led,
If good, he’ll join the good up there instead;
Until it’s born it’s hidden from men’s eyes,
Unborn souls so few men can recognize ––
It’s
by the Light of God
* that such men see
Straight through a person’s skin so easily.
Sperm’s essence is pure goodness like the light,
3535
Beyond the realm of what is black or white;
Of
those of highest stature
* He’ll bestow
Colour to half, to banish them below.
This topic’s incomplete, but it’s now late,
If we’re not back the caravan won’t wait.
The day they will turn black or white we’ll learn,
The Turks from Indians then we can discern;
*
Inside the womb no man can separate
The two, but once they’re born one’s vile, one great.
‘As if it is already Judgment Day,
3540
I see through men and women here today ––
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
215

---

Shall I stay silent or share one more sign?’
The Prophet bit his lips, ‘This much is 
fine.’
‘O Messenger of God, shall I now mention
To all the secret of the Resurrection?
*
Let me tear open this last veil of mine
And like the sun let my true essence shine,
Such that the sun will be eclipsed by me,
Marking the date-palm from the fruitless tree,
For Resurrection’s secret I’ll disclose ––
3545
Real gold from false, so everybody knows.
With hands cut o
ff, the damned all men will see
Distant from our pure Muslim family,
I’ll make hypocrisy’s worst failings plain
In moonlight, which won’t be eclipsed or wane,
The ragged clothes of damned men I’ll display
And make the Prophet’s drums be heard today,
Heaven and hell, the realm between as well,
I’ll show so clearly to each in
fidel,
A turbulent Kawsar
* I’ll make appear
3550
To splash their faces and ring in each ear,
The thirsty who keep circling it I’ll show
This very moment, so all men will know;
Their shoulders rub against mine and their screams
Keep ringing in my ears, or so it seems,
While willingly in heaven 
filled with grace
They pull each other close in an embrace ––
They take each other’s hands with gentle grips
And snatch some kisses from each other’s lips;
This ear of mine’s been deafened by their sighs
3555
And all the damned ones’ bitter grieving cries ––
From hidden depths mere hints I now relate,
For fear, dear Prophet, you might grow irate.’
He spoke thus –– drunken, wasted, almost dead,
The Prophet curled his collar up and said,
‘Your horse has grown excited, pull the reins!