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

O Jewish people!” in the book God said,
“For the sincere there’s gain in being dead:
While pro
fit can make men desire to kill
Desire for one’s own death is better still;
Let this desire be on your tongues now, Jews,
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And thus among men honour you won’t lose.”
Not one Jew had the bravery to try
And face Mohammad’s challenge; this is why
He said, “If they’d accepted this, then none
Would have continued to be Jews –– not one!”
Instead they o
ffered tax on properties,
Begging: “Don’t put us all to shame now, please!”
*
This discourse looks like it can’t reach its end,
Give me your hand, since you have seen the Friend!’
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
241

---

The Commander of the Faithful Ali says to his own foe,
‘When you spat in my face my carnal soul was aroused
and I lost the power to act sincerely, for God alone –– that
was what prevented me from killing you’
The Leader of the Faithful told his foe:
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‘During that battle fought a while ago
When you spat in my face, my self was moved:
I lost my temper though that’s disapproved,
Thus both God and my passions had their shares
But sharing’s not allowed in God’s a
ffairs.
You were created by the Lord’s own hand ––
You’re His, not made by me, please understand!
Smash up forms made by God when He condones,
Break the beloved’s glass with just His stones!’
The Magian heard this, found light in his heart,
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His Magian girdle then he tore apart,
Saying, ‘I sowed the seed of wrong; just now
I thought you would be di
fferent somehow.
The balance of the nature of the One,
You are the pivot all scales hang upon;
You are my tribe and you’re my origin,
The light of my sect’s candle, and my kin!’
‘I’m the Eye-seeking Lamp’s
* most humble slave,
The one which to your lamp its radiance gave,
The slave of that wave of the sea’s light too
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Which has just brought a gorgeous pearl to view.
To witness your conversion is my dream,
For like the great ones of the age you seem.’
Then nearly 
fifty of his family,
Like lovers sought the faith of certainty;
His clemency’s sword had redeemed this way
So many souls in bodies made of clay;
Sharper than iron’s sword is mercy’s blade,
Much more successful than an army’s raid.
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
242

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Alas, for those two mouthfuls Adam chose,
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The fervour of pure thought in this way froze:
Wheat thus eclipsed his sun which had shone bright
Just like a full moon that’s eclipsed at night ––
One
fistful thus made grace from Adam’s heart
Scatter just like the stars so far apart.
*
When spiritual then food was bene
ficial,
But when it was mere form it caused dismissal,
Like the green thistles that the camels eat
And from it bene
fit as though it’s wheat;
But when they have all dried up and turned brown
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The desert camels swallow them still down ––
They tear this camel’s palate up, O Lord,
A nourishing rose thus becomes a sword!
When food was spiritual it then was green
But once mere form it turned stale, as we’ve seen:
In the same way you were accustomed to
Pure, wholesome food –– a gracious soul like you
Now eats this ghastly dry stu
ff every day,
Since spirit has become mixed with mere clay;
Once mixed with clay it’s dry and it cuts 
flesh––
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Abstain from it now, camel, it’s not fresh!
This speech 
flows earth-soiled, it has lost its force,
The water’s turbid –– block it at its source!
God will transform it to a pure stream then ––
He made it dark, He’ll make it clear again.
Patience will bring ful
filment in the end,
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Have patience ––