Rumi's Masnavi - Again, I beheld some mighty angels: their outward form was (composed) of bodies of snow;

Again, I beheld some mighty angels: their outward form was (composed) of bodies of snow;

And (I saw) another circle of angels asking help (of God): their outward form was wholly of fire.”

On this wise did the Jew tell (his dream): there is many a Jew whose end was praiseworthy. 2450

Do not regard any infidel with contempt, for there may be hope of his dying a Moslem.

What knowledge have you of the close of his life that you should once (and for all) avert your face from him?

Afterwards the Christian began to speak, saying, “The Messiah appeared to me in my dream.

I went with him to the Fourth Heaven, (which is) the centre and abode of the sun of this world.

Verily, the marvels of the citadels of Heaven have no relation (cannot be compared) to the wonders of the (lower) world. 2455

Every one knows, O pride of the sons (of Adam), that the artifice of the celestial sphere exceeds (that of) the earth.”

Story of the camel and the ox and the ram who found a bunch of grass on the road, and each said, “I will eat it.”

Whilst a camel, ox, and ram were going along, they found a bunch of grass in front of (them on) the road.

The ram said, “If we divide this, certainly none of us will get his fill of it;

But whichever of us has lived longest has the best right to this fodder: let him eat;

For (the injunction) to give the foremost place to the seniors has come from Mustafá (Mohammed) among the practices observed by him, 2460

Although, at this time when vile men hold sway, the vulgar put forward the elders on two occasions (only),

Either in (tasting) food that is burning hot, or on a bridge that is (damaged) by cracks (and) in a state of ruin.

The vulgar do not pay homage to a venerable Shaykh and leader without some mischievous idea associated (with their homage).

This is their good: what must their evil be? Distinguish their (inward) foulness from their (outward) fairness.”

Parable.

A king was going to the congregational mosque, and the marshals and mace-bearers were beating the people off. 2465

The wielder of the stick would break the head of one and tear to bits the shirt of another.

A poor wretch amidst the throng received ten blows with the stick without (having committed) any offence. “Begone,” they cried, “get out of the way!”

Dripping blood, he turned his face to the king and said, “Behold the manifest iniquity: why ask of that which is hidden?

This is thy good: (thou doest this whilst) thou art going to the mosque; what must thy evil and burden (of sin) be, O misguided one?”

The Pír (Elder) never hears a salaam from a base fellow without being exceedingly tormented by him in the end. 2470

(If) a wolf catch a saint, it is better than that the saint should be caught by the wicked carnal soul,

Because, though the wolf does great violence, yet it has not the same knowledge and craft and cunning;

Else how should it fall into the trap? Cunning is complete (attains to perfection) in man.

The ram said to the ox and the camel, “O comrades, since such a (lucky) chance has come to us,

Let each (of us) declare the date (antiquity) of his life: the oldest has the best right, let the others suffer (disappointment) in silence. 2475

In those times,” said the ram, “my pasturage was (shared) with the ram that was sacrificed for Ismá‘íl (Ishmael).”

The ox said, “I am the (most) advanced in years, (I was) coupled with the ox that Adam yoked.

I am the yoke-fellow of the ox with which Adam, the forefather of mankind, used to plough the earth in sowing.”

When the camel heard the ox and the ram (make these assertions) he was amazed: he lowered his head and picked up that (bunch of grass).

Promptly, without any palaver, the Bactrian camel raised the bunch of fresh barley in the air, 2480

Saying, “I, in sooth, need no (support from) chronology, since I have such a (stout) body and high neck.

Indeed every one knows, O father's darling, that I am not smaller than you.

Whoever is one of those possessed of intelligence knows this, that my nature is superior to yours.”

(The Christian said), “All know that this lofty heaven is a hundred times as great as this low earth.

How can the wide expanse of the celestial domains be compared with the (limited) character of the terrestrial regions?” 2485

How the Moslem in reply told his companions, the Jew and the Christian, what he had seen (in his dream), and how they were disappointed.

Then the Moslem said, “O my friends, to me came Mustafá (Mohammed), my sovereign,

And said to me, ‘That one (the Jew) has sped to Sinai with him (Moses) to whom God spake, and has played the game of love (with God);

And the other (the Christian) has been carried by Jesus, the Lord of happy star, to the zenith of the Fourth Heaven.

Arise, O thou who hast been left behind and hast suffered injury, at least eat up the sweetmeat and comfit!

Those (two) talented and accomplished men have pushed forward and have read the book of fortune and honour. 2490

Those two eminent men have attained to their (proper) eminence and because of their talents have mingled with the angels.

Hark, O foolish simpleton who hast been left behind, jump up and seat thyself beside the bowl of halwá!’”

Thereupon they said to him, “Then, you greedy fellow, have you made a meal of the halwá and khabís? Oh, (what) an astonishing thing!”

He replied, “When that sovereign who is obeyed (by all) gave the order, who was I that I should resist it?

Will you, Jew, rebel against the command of Moses if he summon you (either) in a fair cause or a foul? 2495

Can you, Christian, ever spurn the command of Christ (whether) for good or evil?

How, (then), should I rebel against the Glory of the prophets? I have eaten the halwá and now I am happy.”