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Masnavi I, 1603-1614
It does
not harm the spiritualist (saint) though he drink
deadly poison for all to see,
Because he has attained to
(spiritual) health and has been
set free from (the need for) abstinence, (while) the poor seeker
(of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
The Prophet said, "O bold
seeker, beware! Do not contend
with any one who is sought."
In thee is a Nimrod: do not
go into the fire. If thou wish to
go in, first become Abraham!
When thou art neither a
swimmer nor a seaman, do not cast
thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
He (the saint) fetches
pearls from the bottom of the sea, from
losses he brings gain to the surface.
If a perfect man (saint)
take earth, it becomes gold; if an
imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
Since the righteous man is
accepted of God, his hand in
(all) things is the hand of God.
The hand of the imperfect
man is the hand of Devil and
demon, because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
If ignorance come to him
(the perfect man), it becomes
knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the imperfect
man becomes ignorance.
Whatever an ill man takes
becomes illness, (but) if a perfect
man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.
O thou who, being on foot,
has contended with a horseman,
thou wilt not save thy head. Not hold thy foot (desist)!
"The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi"
Edited and translated by Reynold A. Nicholson
Volume I, verses 1603-1614
Published by "E.J.W.Gibb Memorial",
Cambridge, England.
First published 1926, Reprinted 1990.
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