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

Now they’re still living’
* was revealed!
Kill me, my trusty friends! I will live on:
Eternal life awaits once I have gone;
There’s life in my death, so please understand,
3950
How long must I stay exiled in this land!
If I were not in exile here today,
‘We will return to God’
* why would He say?
Returners go back to their home again,
To unity from separation’s pain.
Ali’s stirrup-holder falls before him, saying, ‘Commander of the
Faithful, kill me and release me from this fate!’
He said, ‘Ali, please kill me straight away
So I won’t live to see that awful day!
Please shed my blood –– it will be lawfully ––
So that the 
final hour my eyes won’t see!’
‘Should every atom be a murderer
3955
And aim their daggers at your jugular,
They couldn’t harm a hair or make you bleed
Because that isn’t what the Lord’s decreed.
So don’t you grieve! I’ll be your intercessor,
Not body’s bondsman, I’m the spirit’s master:
The body has no worth for me, it’s clear
Without one I’m a noble chevalier ––
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
239

---

The killing sword’s sweet basil now instead,
My death a banquet and narcissus-bed!’
The one who breaks his body in this way
3960
Desire for leadership can never sway;
Though he may strive for power outwardly
That’s just to show how rulers ought to be ––
To breathe life into leadership anew,
Grow fresh fruit on the caliphate’s tree too.
*
In explanation of how the Prophet’s e
fforts to conquer Mecca and
other towns was not out of love for power, for he has said: ‘The
world is a carcass.’ Rather it was by God’s command
The Prophet strove to conquer Mecca, though
Power was not his aim –– still some don’t know;
He whose pure breast ignored the treasure-chest
Of all the heavens when put to the test
(When they were 
filled with treasure to the brim
3965
And houris
* and the spirits looked at him,
Having adorned themselves just for his sake)
Has no desire but God –– make no mistake!
God’s glory 
filled him so much it was clear
Even those close to God could not come near.
No prophet can 
fit in that place, my friend,
Nor angels even –– try to comprehend!
*
‘We’re not distracted and we’re not like carrion,’
He said, ‘We’re drunk with God and not His garden.’
The treasures of the heavens though he saw
3970
The Prophet judged it worthless just like straw ––
What then are Mecca, Syria, and Iraq
For him to covet and wish to attack!
If you think this you must be sick indeed,
Comparing him with your own stupid greed!
Put yellow glass up right in front of you
And everything will then look yellow too ––
To smash such coloured lenses is a must
In order to distinguish Man from dust.
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
240

---

Dust rose behind his horse as that knight sped,
3975
You thought the dust a man of God instead!
Satan saw dust and said, ‘Things made of clay
Cannot be better than my 
fire, can they?’
If God’s dear friends as evil you should see,
That thought of yours is Satan’s legacy;
If you are not a child of Satan too,
How did the dog’s inheritance reach you?
‘I’m no dog but God’s lionheart instead,
The cage of form God’s lionheart has 
fled!
The worldly lion seeks prey, loves to hoard,
3980
Death’s freedom draws the lion of the lord:
A hundred lives he sees in death –– his aim
Becomes to burn moth-like within death’s
flame!
Desire for death’s a necklace for the best
While for the Jews it was a major test:
“