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

Judgment Day as part of God’s decree ––
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
218

---

Though you deny your own deceit, my brother,
Your soul won’t be saved from the scales and mirror.
His fellow servants accuse Loqman of eating the fresh fruit
that they were supposed to bring home
Loqman used to be in his master’s eyes,
In outward form, the servant he’d despise;
The master sent some servants out one day
To gather fruit for him from far away.
The others thought Loqman embarrassing ––
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He was dark-skinned though mystically a king ––
And so they ate the fruit with such delight,
Led by their greed, although they had no right;
When they returned they gave Loqman the blame;
Their master cursed him with his eyes a
flame!
To make him check the cause he answered back,
Loqman turned to him after his attack:
‘Dear master, God has often made it clear
The faithless slave is not one He holds dear;
Examine who is faithful and who’s not:
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Make everyone drink water that is hot,
Then make us run out in the countryside
On foot, while you are riding at our side ––
You’ll witness who has acted wickedly,
This will reveal the hidden mystery.’
The master poured hot water in each cup
And made each servant drink his last drop up,
He sent them out then to the yard, where they
Were forced to run this way and then that way;
They vomited once they had run about:
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Hot water made them spew their food all out,
But when Loqman’s turn came, since he’d not lied,
Water is all he brought up from inside ––
He’d shown such wisdom though a simple man,
Imagine what 
the Lord of Being can:
That day when all the secrets are revealed
*
What you would like to hide can’t be concealed;
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
219

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Draughts of hot water that for each are poured
*
Will tear all veils away from what’s abhorred;
Vile in
fidels fire’s torture suits the best,
3615
Since for hard stones 
fire is the perfect test:
When to the stony-hearted we’ve been good
And gently talked, they’ve shunned our brotherhood;
A heavy wound needs treatment that is strong ––
To hungry dogs the donkey’s bones belong:
Bad women to the bad men
* now dictate––
An ugly woman is a vile man’s mate;
Whichever mate ful
fils your fantasies––
Become e
ffaced in that one’s qualities:
If you want light, re
flect it like a star,
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If distance, be self-centred and stray far;
If from this vile gaol you long to be free
Prostrate before him, move near constantly!
*
The remainder of the story of Zayd answering the
Messenger of God
‘Zayd, none can venture to its furthest reach ––
Now shackle the Boraq
* which brings your speech!
Such talk can tear apart the veil between
This world, with all its faults, and the unseen;
God’s wish is to stay hidden still today,
So drive the drummer o
ff and bar the way!
He’s best left veiled, so draw the reins, sit tight!
3625
In mental images let men delight.’
The Lord wants even those who’re in despair
To worship Him and never turn from there,
With just the hope that they may gain His grace
Their goal for several days these men will chase.
On all of us He wants his grace to shine:
The good and bad receive grace that’s divine;
God wants each prince and prisoner in his cell
To hope and fear and to beware as well;
This hope and fear are just component parts
3630
Of the thick veil that’s covering their hearts ––