Rumi's Masnavi - So he sits down because of that heavy burden. (Then) the Lord says to him, “Speak plainly!

So he sits down because of that heavy burden. (Then) the Lord says to him, “Speak plainly!

I gave thee bounty: tell (Me), what were thy thanks? I gave thee capital: come, show (Me) the interest.”

(Then) he (the worshipper) turns his face to the right hand in the salutation—towards the spirits of the prophets and those of the noble (saints), 2165

Meaning to say, “O kings, (vouchsafe) intercession, for this vile one's feet and mantle are stuck fast in the mire.”

Explaining that the salutation (in prayer) towards the right hand at the Resurrection indicates (the worshipper's) dread of being examined by God and (his) seeking help and intercession from the prophets.

The prophets say, “The day for remedy is past; the remedy and the strong implement (for tilling the soil of good works) were there.

Thou art an untimely bird. Begone, O miserable one, take leave of us, do not wade in our blood.”

(Then) he turns his face to the left hand towards his family and kinsfolk: they say to him, “Be silent!

Hark, answer for thyself to the Creator. Who are we? Sire, keep thy hands off us!” 2170

No succour comes either from this side or from that: the soul of this desperate man is (torn into) a hundred pieces.

The wretched personage loses hope of all; then he lifts up both hands in supplication,

Crying, “O God, I have lost hope of all: Thou art the First and the Last and the ultimate Bourn.”

Behold in the ritual prayer these goodly indications, in order that you may know these will certainly come to pass.

From the ritual prayer, which is (as) the egg, hatch the chick; do not peck like a bird without reverence or propriety. 2175

How during the ritual prayer Daqúqí heard cries of distress from a ship that was about to sink.

Daqúqí made ready to act as Imám: he began to perform the ritual prayer on the shore,

While that company stood up behind him. Look you, a goodly company, and an elect Imám!

Of a sudden his eye turned towards the sea, because he heard (cries of) “Help! Help!” (coming) from the direction of the sea.

He saw amidst the waves a ship in (the hour of its) fate, and in tribulation and an evil plight.

(There were) both night and clouds and huge waves: these three darknesses, and (also) fear of (being drowned in) the whirlpool. 2180

A fierce wind, like ‘Azrá’íl, arose; the waves tossed on left and right.

The people in the ship were faint with terror: cries of woe had arisen,

And in lamentation they were beating their heads with their hands: infidel and deist—they all had become sincere (in devotion to God),

Making heartfelt promises and vows to God with a hundred humble entreaties in that hour.

Bare-headed in the prostrate attitude (of Divine worship) were those whose faces, because of (their) perversity, had never seen the qibla at all. 2185

They (formerly) said, “This worship of God is useless”; (but) in that hour (of despair) they saw a hundred lives (precious advantages) therein.

They had entirely abandoned hope of all—of friends and maternal and paternal uncles and father and mother.

At that moment ascetic and reprobate (alike) had become God-fearing as a wicked man at the time of the death-agony.

Neither on the left nor on the right was there any help for them: when (all) expedients are dead, (then) is the time to invoke God.

They were (engaged) in invocation and lament and moaning: a black smoke went up from them to heaven. 2190

Then the Devil cried in enmity, “Avaunt! Avaunt! O dog-worshippers, (ye shall be afflicted with) two maladies.

Death and woe (to you)! O unbelievers and hypocrites, this will befall (you) in the end,

(That) after deliverance ye will rejoice to become peculiar devils for the sake of (gratifying) your lust,

And will not remember that in the day of peril God took your hands (to save you) from His decree.”

This cry was coming from the Devil; but these words are unheard except by a good ear. 2195

Mustafá (Mohammed), the Pole and the Emperor and the Sea of Purity, has told us truly,

That what the ignorant will see in the end the wise see from the first step.

If matters are hidden and secret at the beginning, the wise man sees at first, while that obstinate one (sees) at last.

The beginning thereof is concealed, and both the wise man and the ignorant will see the end in (the moment of its) manifestation;

(But) if you, O contumacious one, do not see the hidden event (before it comes to pass)—when did the torrent sweep away your prudence? 2200

What is prudence? To think ill of the world. He (the prudent man) at every moment will (expect to) see a sudden calamity.

The ideas of the prudent man.

’Tis as when a lion has suddenly come up and seized a man and dragged him into the jungle.

At (the moment of) that carrying off, what will he think of? Consider (this), and think of the same thing, O thou who art learned in the (Mohammedan) Religion.

The lion, Destiny, is dragging into the jungles (of death) our souls which are preoccupied with (worldly) business and trades.

That (case) is like (the fact) that the people (of this world) have fear of poverty, plunged (as they are) up to their throats in the briny water. 2205

If they should fear the Creator of poverty, treasures would be opened to them on the earth.

Through fear of affliction they all are in the very essence of affliction: in their quest for (material) existence they have fallen into non-existence.

Daqúqí's entreaty and intercession for the deliverance of the ship.

When Daqúqí beheld that turmoil, his pity was stirred and his tears flowed fast.

He said, “O Lord, do not look at their deeds! Take their hands (to succour them), O auspicious King!

Bring them back well and safe to the shore, O Thou whose hand (power) reaches (both) sea and land! 2210

O Gracious One, O Merciful and Everlasting One, pass over this wickedness committed by devisers of evil!

O Thou who hast given, free of cost, a hundred eyes and ears, and, without bribe, hast dispensed intellect and understanding;