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

The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
222

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The blind can’t bear a single solar ray,
So stars serve as the lamps to show the way.
The Prophet tells Zayd, ‘Don’t divulge this secret further
than this –– be sure to comply!’
‘
My followers are stars,’
* the Prophet said,
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‘Lamps for the faithful, stones for Satan’s head.’
If everyone possessed such powerful sight
That sees directly heaven’s sun’s pure light,
What need would men have for the stars should they
Be guided by the sun along the way?
He told the earth and clouds what had transpired:
‘I’m just a man, but 
I have been inspired.’
*
I used to be in nature like the rest
Till revelation’s light 
filled up my breast;
I’m dark still when compared with the Supreme
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Though next to men’s souls like pure light I seem:
My light is faint, so you can cope with it,
Since to behold the sun’s rays you’re un
fit;
I’m honey mixed with vinegar, to heal
Your heart of the a
ffliction that you feel––
When you’re completely healthy once again
Throw out the vinegar –– eat honey then!
When your heart’s passion-free for God alone,
Witness 
The Merciful sits on the throne,
*
Once the heart gains this link, then God’s decree
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Rules him without an intermediary;
This discourse could go on, but there’s no space ––
I must advise Zayd not to seek disgrace.
Resumption of the story about Zayd
You won’t
find Zayd now, for this man has fled
Like horses from the shoeing-line they dread,
Who’re you? Zayd cannot 
find himself––he’s gone
Just like a star on which the sun has shone!
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
223

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You won’t
find hide nor hair of him today,
Not even one star, nor the Milky Way!
The speech and senses of our fathers are
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E
ffaced in this king’s knowledge like a star,
Their senses and their reasoning in turn,
Like waves to 
stand before us
* will return.
The dawn brings back the burdens of all men,
Stars which were hidden go to work again:
God gives the witless back their wits at dawn,
Group after group with slavery’s earrings on,
*
Stamping their feet and waving arms in praise,
‘O Lord, you have revived us!’
* each now says.
That crumpled skin and bones is now a knight
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Who raises dust on racing out of sight:
The grateful and ungrateful non-existents
At Resurrection thus change to existents.
Why turn your face and not look? Didn’t you
Do that at 
first in non-existence too?
Later you dug your heels deep in the sand,
Saying, ‘Who can remove me from my land?’
Do you not see God’s actions are so clear:
He dragged you by your ears all the way here
To various di
fferent states that lay in store
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Which you had not believed were real before;
That non-existence is his slave, so strive
To work hard, devil! Solomon’s alive!
A demon makes 
large bowls like troughs
* for him
Scared to rebu
ff him or refuse his whim.
Look at yourself now, trembling fearfully
Like non-existence, which shakes constantly,
If you are holding on to status here,
That too is from your soul-consuming fear,
For everything will hurt and wound your heart
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Though it tastes sweet, the love of God apart.
Approaching death gives such heart-wrenching strife
If you lack Water of Eternal Life:
*
People just think of death when they’re on earth,
And doubt the Water of Life’s actual worth ––
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
224

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Try to reduce these doubts of yours, my friend,
Go! If you sleep the night will quickly end!
Seek out that day within the depths of night,
The dark’s consumed by that pure wisdom’s light;
There is much gloom in its gloom, though it’s stark ––
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Water of Life is found close to the dark.
From slumber how can one lift up his head
While sowing seeds of heedlessness in bed?
Eating what’s dead supports a sleep death-deep,
The burglar breaks in when the guard’s asleep,
You don’t know who your foes are in this instance,
Those made of 
fire are foes of your existence;
For water and its family 
fire’s the foe,
Even though it can put it out, it’s so:
Water can end 
fire’s life if necessary
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Because it’s water’s children’s enemy;
Also, there is the 
fire of lust, wherein
You’ll
find the root of error and all sin––
The outward 
fire though water deals with well,
The
fire of lust can take you straight to hell––
This
fire of lust is not controlled by water
Because it shares its nature with hell’s torture.
The light of faith is lust’s
fire’s only cure,
It puts out in
fidels’ fires, that’s for sure;
Who puts them out? God’s Light, for it’s superior,
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So make the Light of Abraham your teacher,
That from your Nimrod-like self ’s
fire there may
Be for your incense-form a route away;
Indulging it won’t cool your 
fiery lust,
Denial works –– in this now put your trust!
How can the 
fire go out once it is lit
And you keep placing planks of wood on it?
This
fire dies out if you deny it wood,
For water’s poured on it through being good ––
How can 
fire blacken faces that now shine
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Rosy with rouge from 
fear of the Divine?
*
The Prophet Mohammad and Zayd
225

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