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

The
fire in the city of Medina under Omar
Omar’s reign saw a 
fire blaze up that could
Consume huge rocks as if they were dry wood,
It spread to buildings, then soared heavenwards
And reached the highest nests of all the birds;
Half of Medina was in days burnt down,
Water, afraid of this, then 
fled the town!
Some clever men tried putting out the 
fire
With vinegar and water –– it rose higher:
The
flames spread further still in spite of this––
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They gained support straight from the Limitless.
The people hurried to Omar to cry:
‘Water can’t put it out –– we’re bound to die!’
He said ‘This is a sign from God no less,
It’s due to your own 
flame-filled stinginess.
What use is water now –– distribute bread!
Stop being stingy, if by me you’re led!’
The people said, ‘We’ve opened every door,
We’re generous to a fault –– does He want more?’
He said, ‘You gave bread then because of rules
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And out of habit, not for God, you fools,
Just to show o
ff about your piety,
Not out of fear and inner poverty!’
Don’t sow the seed of wealth on rotten land,
Don’t place a dagger in a robber’s hand,
Discern the faithful from the enemy ––
With those who know the Lord keep company:
All men put 
first their own kind––that’s a fact,
Just fools think a good deed is their own act.
Extinguishing Fire in Medina under Omar
226

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An enemy spits in the face of the Commander of the
Faithful
* Ali, who drops his sword
Learn how to act sincerely from Ali,
3735
God’s lion, free from all impurity:
During a battle, he subdued a foe
Then drew his sword to deal the 
final blow.
That man spat in Ali’s pure face, the pride
Of every saint and prophet far and wide:
The moon prostrates itself before this face
At which he spat –– this act was a disgrace!
Ali put down his sabre straight away
And, though he was on top, he stopped the fray.
The
fighter was astonished by this act,
3740
That he showed mercy though he’d been attacked:
‘You pointed your sharp blade at me before,
But then you simply dropped it on the 
floor––
Greater than 
fighting me what did you see
That you eased up in your attack on me?
What did you see to end your vehemence,
For lightning to 
flash bright then dim at once?
What did you see that was re
flected here
Deep in my heart, and made a 
flame appear?
What did you see beyond both being and place
3745
That you spared me though I spat in your face?
You are God’s lion through your bravery
And who knows your high rank in chivalry!
You’re Moses’s cloud in the desert heat
Which brought a feast beyond compare to eat.’
The clouds bring wheat which men can grind and bake
To make some sweet and wholesome bread and cake:
The wings of mercy Moses’s cloud spread
To give him ready-made hot cakes and bread;
For those who ate this bounty he unfurled,
3750
Through such kind grace, their banner in the world,
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
227

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For forty years that wonderful largesse
Fed those with hope without becoming less,
Until they asked, because they’d grown so base,
Why herbs and onions weren’t sent in its place!
*
Mohammad’s people, noble men, can see
Such food from God will last eternally:
He said, ‘
I was with God the night before,
*
Who fed me’ –– this was not a metaphor!
Accept this reading, make no argument,
3755
Such milk and honey you too might be sent;
Interpreting throws back what you’ve received,
Due to a fault in it that you’ve perceived.
Seeing faults shows your mind is weak as well,
Wisdom’s the kernel, reason’s just the shell.
Judge critically your own vile self instead,
Don’t criticize the rose bush but your head!
‘You are completely intellect and sight,
Ali, what did you see to stop the 
fight?
Our soul’s been split by your most gentle sword,
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Our earth’s been washed by knowledge you have poured.
I know these are His secrets, but tell me!
Slaying without a sword’s His mystery.’
That Craftsman with no tools or hands still knows
How to create the gifts that He bestows:
He’ll make you taste a hundred wines and more
Which ears and eyes have never known before.
‘O heaven’s hunting falcon, please tell me,
Through the Creator what did you just see?
Your eyes have learned to see the hidden sphere
3765
Unlike those stitched-up eyes of others here;
One sees the moon above as clear as day,
“The whole world’s dark,” another man will say;
Another sees three moons in the same space,
Though each observes the sky from the same place ––
Their outward eyes are sharp, their ears are too,
And yet they 
flee me but hold on to you!
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
228

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Is this illusion or His marvellous grace ––
You looking wolf-like, while I’ve Joseph’s face?
If there were eighteen thousand worlds, not all
3770
Would 
find each one of them perceptible––
The secret, great Ali, won’t you relate,
You who 
brought good fate after evil fate?
Either tell what your mind’s seen candidly
Or I’ll divulge what trickled down to me:
It shone on me through you, but still was bright.
Thus, like the moon, you silently spread light;
But if the moon should speak to us one day
It would lead men more quickly on their way ––
They’re safe from errors of neglectful fools
3775
Because the moon subdues the shrieks of ghouls,
Though silently the moon can serve as guide
A talking moon’s light would be multiplied.
Since you’re “the gate to where God’s knowledge is”
*
A ray from the bright sun of grace that’s His,
Open up gate! To seekers you’re eternal,
And, through you, every husk can reach its kernel,
So open up forever, mercy’s gate
To 
There is none like Him
*––don’t make us wait!’
Each atom is a place where He’ll appear
3780
But if it’s closed who’ll say: ‘the door is here!’
Unless the guard should swing it open wide
Belief in this will not be roused inside,
But when it’s opened it can vivify
Your bird of hope, which then will start to 
fly.
If treasure’s found in ruins by a man
He’ll then search every ruin that he can;
If from a dervish pearls you fail to 
find
Why should you try the others of his kind?
Opinion, if for years itself runs on,
3785
It can’t pass its own nose, where it was born ––
If you’ve not caught a scent from the unseen,
Can you claim that beyond your nose you’ve seen?
Why Ali Dropped his Sword in Battle
229

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