Masnavi i Ma'navi — trans. E. H. Whinfield (abridged) (1898)

Even so Moses made a small gate in Jerusalem, 7 To make the Israelites bow the head in entering it. The discussion is continued and illustrated by anecdotes of the Sufi who preferred a table with no food upon it, because he ever sought "not-being," of Jacob's vision of Joseph, and of a devout slave who obtained leave of his master to say his prayers in a mosque, but tarried there so long that the doors were shut, and he could not get out, nor his master in. The prophets at last despaired of making any impression upon the unbelievers, but called to mind the text "When at last the Apostles lost all hope, and deemed that they were reckoned as liars, our aid reached them, and we delivered whom we would, but our vengeance was not averted from the wicked." 8 The despair of the prophets. The prophets said, "How long, in our benevolence, Shall we give to this and that one good advice? How long shall we hammer cold iron in vain? How long waste breath in blowing into a lattice? Men are moved by God's decree and fixed ordinance, 9 As sharp-set teeth are caused by heat of belly. 'Tis Primal Soul that dominates the Second Soul,10 Fish begins to stink at the head, not the tail. Yet be advised and keep your steed straight as an arrow, When God says 'Proclaim' we must obey. 11 O men, ye know not to which party ye belong, 12 Exert yourselves then, till ye see which ye are. When you place goods upon a ship, You do it in trust that the voyage will be prosperous; You know not which of the two events will befall you, Whether you will be drowned or come safe to land. If you say, 'Till I know which will be my fate I will not set foot upon the ship; Shall I be drowned on the voyage or a survivor? Reveal to me in which class I shall be. I shall not undertake the voyage on the chance

On the bare hope of reaching land, as the rest do.' In that case no trade at all will be undertaken by you, As the secret of these two events is always hidden. The lamp of the heart, that is a timid trader, Acquires neither loss nor gain by its ventures.13 Nay, it acquires loss, for it is precluded from gain; 'Tis the lamp that takes fire that acquires light. Since all things are dependent on probability, Religion is so first of all, for thereby you find release. In this world no knocking at the door is possible Save hope, and God knows what is best." Probability the guide of life in religion as well as in common matters. "Religion dependent an hope and fear." 14 The final cause of trading is hope or probability, When traders work themselves lean as spindles. 15 When the merchant goes to his shop in the morning, He does so in hope and probability of gaining bread. If you have no hope of getting bread, why go? There is the fear of loss, since you are not strong. But does not this fear of utter loss in your trade Become weakened in the course of your exertions? You say, "Although the fear of loss is before me, Yet I feel greater fear in remaining idle. I have a better hope through exerting myself; My fear is increased by remaining idle." Why then, O faint-hearted one, in the matter of religion Are you paralysed by the fear of loss? See you not how the traders in this market of ours Make large profits, both apostles and saints? What a mine of wealth awaits them on leaving it, Seeing they make such profits while still here! Fire is soft to them as cotton raiment, The ocean bears them gently like a porter; Iron in their hands is soft as wax, The winds are their obedient slaves.

NOTES:

• 1. Koran xxxiv. 14.
• 2. Anvar i Suhaili, chap. iv. Story IV.
• 3. Koran xxxvi. 6.
• 4. Koran lxi. 5: "God led their hearts astray."
• 5. God said, "Come ye either in obedience, or in spite of your wishes" (Koran xli. 10).
• 6. Koran li. 56.
• 7. See Koran ii. 55, with Sale's note.
• 8. Koran xii. 11.
• 9. "All things have we created after a fixed decree, every action great and small is written." Koran liv. 49.
• 10. The Logos or first Emanation produced the second or "Universal Soul."
• 11. "O Apostle! proclaim all that hath been sent down" (Koran v. 71).
• 12. "Which party," i.e., those doomed to be saved or those doomed to destruction.
• 13. "Nothing shall be reckoned to a man save that for which he hath made effort" (Koran liii. 40).
• 14. So Sa'di Bostan Book I. Cp. Butler's Analogy, Conclusion.
• 15. i.e., exert themselves much.

STORY XIV. Miracles performed by the Prophet Muhammad.