Khawaja and the Hindi Parrot
“I went in the destruction of (that) animal. “Is this one, perhaps, a relative of that little parrot? (Or) was this, perhaps, (a case of) two bodies and one spirit? “Why did I do this? Why did I deliver the message (and) burn up the helpless (creature) using this rude speech?”
Tongue is like stone, and mouth an iron lire
Whatever it may pass is often a leaping fire
I wonder! Why do they both ever make a toast
Sometimes to imitate and sometimes to boast
Because everywhere it was dark and cotton laid
A little spark would have everything inflamed (1)
The cruel are they who have shut eyes
Have burnt this world with unholy lies
One statement ruins the world it doth hold
Cause dead foxes to become lions’ bold
The spirit, in essence, is like Jesus Christ (2)
In a moment, wounded in the next light
If the truth of the spirit is but ever unveiled
Discern! Spirit doth attributes of Jesus hailed (3)
If you want to say sweet things, talk sweet
Withdraw! Don’t greed avoid sweet meat (4)
The wise appreciate patience’s attire
Yearning for a sweet is a baby’s desire
Acquire patience; rise above in heaven
Those taking sweets meet a sad return
All sweetness is but bitter and uncouth
Because it leaves such a taste in the mouth
Why, all the Saints and Sages who discussed Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust Like foolish prophets forth; their Words to Scorn Are scattered, and their Mouths are stuffed with Dust.
A window to Mathnavi Maulvi Ma’nvi
Translation and Commentary Seema Arif
Further Links for Rumi
(1) All is never green and never good. Those who have closed their eyes to evil around and say all is good are at fault. They are just trying to sustain their comfort. But weaknesses can’t be spared, and a spark may burn the whole stack of cotton. So, it’s better to be proactive and plan for the future. Fight the present incapacity, avoid flattery, and listen to sincere friends who speak the truth, which is bitter but guides you on the right path.
(2) Jesus Christ is one of the most celebrated prophets in human history. He is cherished and respected for his compassion, humility, and Divine desire to do ‘good’ to others. Christ himself had suffered but was all softness and affection for the poor and the afflicted.
See more on Christ in the Qur’an at:
(3) The bitterness and roughness are worldly attributes. Allah has not awarded them to a human soul. Human beings acquire them. Rumi has said that the human spirit is as noble and humble as that of Jesus Christ, who had never fired back, neither in tongue nor deed. So humanity should follow him in pursuit of truth and must learn to bear the hardship and bitterness as he did.
(4) The heaven teaches us to avoid forbidden fruits, or you will have to leave heaven, and man did it on sweet convincing of Satan. Sweet words misguide; they approach pride in you and blind the reason. It also robs you of humility by crowning you with insolence and pride.
(4) Taking too much sweets makes your body lazy and your spirit lofty. The result in this world is dysfunction and disorder of the human body, resulting in Diabetes mellitus, the mother of all ailments – known as the killer disease. Know more about oriental view of disease:
The taste for knowledge really matters, referred to as “dhawq /zawq” in oriental literature. The knowledge, which is easily absorbed, makes the faculty of reason lazy and the spirit lofty, just as sweet food does to the body. One must aspire higher and set difficult targets for oneself to escape pride, vanity, and self-conceit on The Way.
The world of ignorance enjoys listening to people who can lull the questing spirits off to quiet sleep by telling them sweet stories. People do not listen to those bold enough to mirror reality and talk the truth. Right knowledge is but speaking of truth, and Omar Khayyam speaks against those who disgrace scholars:
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