XVI. Ali’s Forbearance.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Into a pit he’s cast himself, for which my mind
Cannot imagine sounding-line, its depth to find.
“It’s useless to continue further in this strain.
Not hearts alone, but rocks, may weep at folly’s train.
If men’s hearts break not, ’tis that they are harder still,
Through carelessness, preoccupation, sloth, ill-will.
They’ll break and bleed one day, when tears will not avail.
Be contrite, then, before repentance’ sighs must fail.
Since slavish testimony’s not accepted there,
His word alone is valid who from lust is clear.105
The Lord’s Commissioned One’s a valid witness. See!
Because, from all eternity, from slavery’s stain he’s free.
I, too, am free. Wrath cannot bind my soul with chains.
God’s attributes, alone, have power to rule my brains.
“Come in, thou. Grace of God hath set thy spirit free.
A flint thou wert. Rich pearl henceforward shalt thou be.
Thou’rt plucked from blasphemy’s vast thorny desert sands.
A flowering shrub henceforth in faith’s rich garden lands.
Thou art become myself; I, thee; beloved friend!
Thou’rt Alī. Can I ‘Alī slay? May heaven forfend!110
Thy past transgression rank’s as highest virtue’s deed.
In twinkling of an eye heaven’s bounds thou mayest outspeed.
“How blest is the transgression pardoned of the Lord!
The rose, from thorny stem, He calls forth at a word!
Remember ‘Umer’s guilt,—his murderous design416
Against the Prophet! This brought him to faith benign.
Was’t not to practise magic Pharaoh called his priests?
The grace of God converted them to saints from beasts.
Had they not been magicians, he not obstinate,
They’d ne’er been made assemble, truth excogitate.115
How would they e’er have seen the staff, the miracles?
Your sin proved your conversion, reprehensibles!
“The Lord can far remove our state of deep despair,
Our sin can change to righteousness; foulness to fair.
God can our worst offences purge away, make clean;
Imputing virtue to us, spite of vice’s mien.
For this is Satan chased away with igneous bolts;417
His proud inflation bursts in twain, from envy’s jolts.
He strives to multiply the direful load of sin,
That, under its dead weight, he man in hell may pin.120