Rumi's Masnavi - I beheld Him with a fire on His left, and on the right a stream (like) Kawthar:

I beheld Him with a fire on His left, and on the right a stream (like) Kawthar:

On His left an exceedingly world-consuming fire, on His right hand a sweet river.

One party put forth their hands towards the fire, (while) another party were rejoicing and intoxicated (with desire) for that Kawthar.

But ’twas a very topsy-turvy (mystifying) game in the path of every one doomed to perdition or blessed with salvation. 425

Whoever went into the fire and sparks was emerging from the midst of the water;

Whoever went from the middle towards the water, he was at once found to be in the fire;

Whoever went towards the right (hand) and the limpid water would put forth his head from the fire on the left;

And he who went towards the fiery left, would emerge on the right.

Few were they who hit upon (understood) the mystery of this occult (matter); consequently, seldom would any one go into the fire; 430

(None would go) except him upon whom felicity was shed, so that he abandoned the water and took refuge in the fire.

The people made the pleasure that was actually present their object of worship; consequently the people were swindled by this game.

Troop by troop and rank by rank, (they were) on their guard against the fire and fleeing greedily and in haste towards the water.

Of necessity, they lifted up their heads (emerged) from (amidst) the fire. Take warning, take warning, O heedless man!

The fire was crying, ‘O crazy fools, I am not fire, I am a delectable fountain. 435

A spell has been cast on thine eyes, O sightless one: come into me and never flee from the sparks.

O (thou who art as) Khalíl (Abraham), here are no sparks and smoke: ’tis naught but the sorcery and deceit of Nimrod.

If, like the Friend of God, thou art wise, the fire is thy water, and thou art the moth.’”

The soul of the moth is always crying, “Oh, alas, would that I had a hundred thousand wings,

That they might be consumed without mercy by the fire, to the blindness (confusion) of the eyes and hearts of the profane! 440

The ignorant man pities me from stupidity: I pity him from clairvoyance.

Especially this fire (of Love), which is the soul of (all) waters (delights); (but) the behaviour of the (ignorant) moth is contrary to ours.

It sees the light and goes into a Fire; the heart (of the mystic) sees the fire and goes into a Light.”

Such a (deceptive) game is played by the Glorious God in order that you may see who belongs to the kin of Khalíl (Abraham).

A fire has been given the semblance of water, and in the fire a fountain has been opened. 445

A magician by his art makes a dish of rice (appear to be) a dish full of (tiny) worms in the assembly;