Rumi's Masnavi - This immediate retaliation (which is exacted in the present world) is (only) a makeshift: in comparison with the blow of that (future) retaliation this is a (mere) play.

This immediate retaliation (which is exacted in the present world) is (only) a makeshift: in comparison with the blow of that (future) retaliation this is a (mere) play. 3665

God hath called the present world a play because this penalty is a play in comparison with that penalty.

This penalty is a means of allaying war and civil strife: that one is like a castration, while this one resembles a circumcision.

Explaining that the people of Hell are hungry and make lamentable entreaty to God, saying, "Cause our portions to be fat and let the provender reach us quickly, for we can endure no more."

This discourse hath no end. (God said), “Hark, O Moses, let those asses go to the grass,

That they may all be fattened by that goodly fodder. Hark, (let them in), for We have wrathful wolves.

We surely know the plaintive cry of Our wolves: We make these asses a means of livelihood for them. 3670

The gracious alchemy breathed from thy lips wished to make these asses human.

Much kindness and favour didst thou show in calling them (to God), (but) ’twas not the fortune and provision allotted to those asses.

Therefore let the quilt of bounty cover them, that the slumber of forgetfulness may overtake them speedily,

So that, when this troop (of asses) shall start up from suchlike slumber, the candle will have been extinguished and the cup-bearer will have gone.