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Masnavi III, 1895-1916
The perfect speaker is like one who distributes trays of viands,
and on whose table is every sort of food,
So that no guest remains without provisions, (but) each one gets
his (proper) nourishment separately:
Such a speaker is) like the Qur'an which is sevenfold in meaning,
and in which there is food for the elect and for the vulgar.
He (the dervish) said, "This at least is evident to the vulgar,
that the world is subject to the command of God.
No leaf drops from a tree1 without the predestination and ordainment
of that Ruler of Fortune.
No morsel goes from the mouth towards the gullet till God says
to that morsel, 'Enter!'2
The inclination and desire which is Man's nose-rein--its movement
is subject to the command of that Self-sufficient One.
In (all) the earths and heavens not an atom moves a wing,
not a straw turns,
Save by His eternal and effectual command. To expound (this) is
impossible, and presumption is not good.
Who may number all the leaves of the trees? How may the Infinite
become amenable to speech?
Hear this much, (however): since all action (in the universe)
only comes to pass by the command of the Maker,
When the predestination of God becomes the pleasure of His servant,
he (the servant) becomes a willing slave to His decree,
Without tasking himself, and not on account of the (future) reward
and recompense; nay, his nature has become so goodly.
He does not desire his life for himself nor to the end that he
may enjoy the life that is found sweet (by others.
Wheresoever the Eternal Command takes its course, living and
dying are one to him.
He lives for God's sake, not for riches; he dies for God's sake,3
not from fear of pain.
His faith is (held) for the sake of (doing) His will, not for the
sake of Paradise and its trees and streams.
His abandonment of infidelity is also for God's sake, not for fear
lest he go into the Fire.
That disposition of his is like this originally: it is not
(acquired by) discipline or by his effort and endeavour.
He laughs at the moment when he sees (the Divine) pleasure:
to him Destiny is even as sugared sweetmeat."
The servant (of God) whose disposition and character is (like)
this--does not the world move according to his command and
behest?
Then why should he make entreaty and cry in prayer, "0 God, avert
this destiny"?
The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi
Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson
Published and Distributed by
The Trustees of The "E.J.W. Gibb Memorial"
Qur'anic references courtesy of Ibrahim Gamard
1reference to Qur'an 6:59
2'Enter!'-- a Quranic term
3reference to Qur'an 6:162
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