Rumi's Masnavi - Say it forth, O royal falcon that dost catch the ‘Anqá, O thou that dost vanquish an army by thyself, not with (the aid of) an army.

Say it forth, O royal falcon that dost catch the ‘Anqá, O thou that dost vanquish an army by thyself, not with (the aid of) an army.

باز گو ای باز عنقا گیر شاه ** ای سپاه اشکن به خود نی با سپاه‌‌

Thou alone art the (whole) community, thou art one and a hundred thousand. Say it forth, O thou to whose falcon thy slave has fallen a prey. 3785

امت وحدی یکی و صد هزار ** باز گو ای بنده بازت را شکار

Wherefore this mercy in the place of vengeance? Whose way is it to give the hand to a dragon?”

در محل قهر این رحمت ز چیست ** اژدها را دست‌‌دادن راه کیست‌‌

How the Prince of the Faithful made answer (and explained) what was the reason of his dropping the sword from his hand on that occasion.

جواب گفتن امیر المؤمنین که سبب افکندن شمشیر از دست چه بود در آن حالت‌‌

He said, “I am wielding the sword for God's sake, I am the servant of God, I am not under the command of the body.

گفت من تیغ از پی حق می‌‌زنم ** بنده‌‌ی حقم نه مأمور تنم‌‌

I am the Lion of God, I am not the lion of passion: my deed bears witness to my religion.

شیر حقم نیستم شیر هوا ** فعل من بر دین من باشد گوا

In war I am (manifesting the truth of) thou didst not throw when thou threwest: I am (but) as the sword, and the wielder is the (Divine) Sun.

ما رمیت إذ رمیتم در حراب ** من چو تیغم و آن زننده آفتاب‌‌

I have removed the baggage of self out of the way, I have deemed (what is) other than God to be non-existence. 3790

رخت خود را من ز ره برداشتم ** غیر حق را من عدم انگاشتم‌‌

I am a shadow, the Sun is my lord; I am the chamberlain, I am not the curtain (which prevents approach) to Him.

سایه‌‌ام من کدخدایم آفتاب ** حاجبم من نیستم او را حجاب‌‌

I am filled with the pearls of union, like a (jewelled) sword: in battle I make (men) living, not slain.

من چو تیغم پر گهرهای وصال ** زنده گردانم نه کشته در قتال‌‌

Blood does not cover the sheen of my sword: how should the wind sweep away my clouds?

خون نپوشد گوهر تیغ مرا ** باد از جا کی برد میغ مرا

I am not a straw, I am a mountain of forbearance and patience and justice: how should the fierce wind carry off the mountain?”

که نیم کوهم ز حلم و صبر و داد ** کوه را کی در رباید تند باد

That which is removed from its place by a wind is rubbish, for indeed the contrary winds are many. 3795

آن که از بادی رود از جا خسی است ** ز آن که باد ناموافق خود بسی است‌‌

The wind of anger and the wind of lust and the wind of greed swept away him that performed not the (ritual) prayers.

باد خشم و باد شهوت باد آز ** برد او را که نبود اهل نماز

“I am a mountain, and my being is His building; and if I become like a straw, my wind (the wind that moves me) is recollection of Him.

کوهم و هستی من بنیاد اوست ** ور شود چون کاه بادم یاد اوست

My longing is not stirred save by His wind; my captain is naught but love of the One.

جز به باد او نجنبد میل من ** نیست جز عشق احد سر خیل من‌‌

Anger is king over kings, and to me it is a slave: even anger I have bound under the bridle.

خشم بر شاهان شه و ما را غلام ** خشم را هم بسته‌‌ام زیر لگام‌‌

The sword of my forbearance hath smitten the neck of my anger; the anger of God hath come on me like mercy. 3800

تیغ حلمم گردن خشمم زده ست ** خشم حق بر من چو رحمت آمده ست‌‌

I am plunged in light although my roof is ruined; I have become a garden although I am (styled) Bú Turáb (the father of dust).

غرق نورم گر چه سقفم شد خراب ** روضه گشتم گر چه هستم بو تراب‌‌

Since a motive (other than God) entered (my heart) in the (holy) war, I deemed it right to sheathe my sword,

چون در آمد علتی اندر غزا ** تیغ را دیدم نهان کردن سزا

That my name may be he loves for God's sake, that my desire may be he hates for God's sake,

تا احب لله آید نام من ** تا که ابغض لله آید کام من‌‌

That my generosity may be he gives for God's sake, that my being may be he withholds for God's sake.

تا که اعطا لله آید جود من ** تا که امسک لله آید بود من‌‌

My stinginess is for God's sake, my bounty is for God's sake alone: I belong entirely to God, I do not belong to any one (else); 3805

بخل من لله عطا لله و بس ** جمله لله‌‌ام نیم من آن کس‌‌

And that which I am doing for God's sake is not (done in) conformity, it is not fancy and opinion, it is naught but intuition.

و آن چه لله می‌‌کنم تقلید نیست ** نیست تخییل و گمان جز دید نیست‌‌

I have been freed from effort and search, I have tied my sleeve to the skirt of God.

ز اجتهاد و از تحری رسته‌‌ام ** آستین بر دامن حق بسته‌‌ام‌‌

If I am flying, I behold the place to which I soar; and if I am circling, I behold the axis on which I revolve;

گر همی‌‌پرم همی‌‌بینم مطار ** ور همی‌‌گردم همی‌‌بینم مدار