| IMBUE thine heart With the tincture of Allah, |
|
| Give honour and glory to Love! |
1320 |
| The Muslim's nature prevails by means of love: |
| The Muslim, if he be not loving, is an infidel. |
| Upon God depends his seeing and not seeing, |
| His eating, drinking, and sleeping. |
| In his will that which God wills becomes lost— |
1325 |
| "How small a man believe this saying?97 |
| He encamps in the, field of "There is no god but Allah"; |
| In the world he is a witness to mankind.98 |
| His high estate is attested by the Prophet who was sent to men and Jinn— |
| The most truthful of witnesses. |
1330 |
| Leave words and seek that spiritual state, |
| Shed the light of God o'er the darkness of thy deeds! |
| Albeit clad in kingly robe, live as a dervish, |
| Live wakeful and meditating on God! |
| Whatever thou dost, let it be thine aim therein to draw nigh to God, |
1335 |
| That his glory may be made manifest by thee |
| Peace becomes an evil, if its object aught else; |
| War is good if its object is God. |
| If God be not exalted by our swords |
| War dishonours the people. |
1340 |
| The holy Sheikh Miyan Mir Wali,99 |
| By the light of whose soul every hidden thing was revealed |
| His feet were firmly planted on the path of Muhammad, |
| He was a flute for the impassioned music of love. |
| His tomb keeps our city safe from harm |
1345 |
| And causes the beams of true religion to shine on us. |
| Heaven stooped its brow to his threshold, |
| The Emperor of Indian was one of his disciples.100 |
| Now, this monarch had sown the seed of ambition in his heart |
| And was resolved on conquest. |
1350 |
| The flames of vain desire were alight in him, |
| He was teaching his sword to ask, "Is there any more?"101 |
| In the Deccan was a great noise of war |
| His army stood on the battle field. |
| He went to the Sheikh of heaven-high dignity |
1355 |
| That he might receive his blessing: |
| The Muslim turns from this world to God |
| And strengthens policy with prayer. |
| The Sheikh made no answer to the Emperor's speech, |
| The assembly of dervishes was all ears, |
1360 |
| Until a disciple, in his hand a silver coin, |
| Opened his lips and broke the silence-, |
| Saying, "Accept this poor offering from me, |
| O guide of them that have lost the way to God! |
| My limbs were bathed in sweat of labour |
1365 |
| Before I put away a dirhem in my skirt." |
| The Sheikh said: "This money ought to be given to our Sultan, |
| Who is a beggar wearing the raiment of a king. |
| Though he holds sway over sun, moon. and stars, |
| Our Emperor is the most penniless of mankind. |
1370 |
| His eye is fixed on the table of strangers, |
| The fire of his hunger hath consumed a whole world. |
| His sword is followed by famine and plague, |
| His building lays wide and waste. |
| The folk are crying out because of his indigence; |
1375 |
| His empty handedness causes him to plunder the weak. |
| His power is an enemy to all: |
| Humankind are the caravan and he the brigand. |
| In his self-delusion and ignorance |
| He calls pillage by the name of empire |
1380 |
| Both the royal troops and those of the enemy |
| Are cloven in twain by the sword of his hunger. |
| The beggar's hunger consumes his own soul, |
| But the Sultan's hunger destroys state and religion. |
| Whoso shall draw the sword for anything except Allah, |
1385 |
| His sword is sheathed in his own breast." |
