Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana, 1207-1273; Mevleviyeh; Sufi literature
[205] The parrot is known by the title “Sugar-eating.”
[206] A shade of an explanation to this very hazardous saying of the
Sūfī Gnostics is found in Qur’ān xvi. 108: “Whoever denieth God after
he hath believed, except him who shall be compelled against his will,
and whose heart continueth steadfast in the faith, shall be severely
chastised.”
[207] The dervish orders call their peculiar cap a “mitre” or “crown”
(_tāj_).
[208] The “four rivers” of Paradise, of water, milk, wine, and honey.
Qur’ān xlvii. 16.
[209] Qur’ān iii. 31; and numerous other places.
[210] This section purports to have been suggested by the following
couplet from ‘Attār:—
“O heedless child of lust, weep thou tears of blood.
If a saint eat poison, honey-like ’tis food.”
The original expression for “saint,” here, is: “a man of heart.”
[211] Canonical “responsibility” falls on all of sane mind and adult
age.
[212] See note to dist. No. 33 of the present poem.
[213] Qur’ān vii. 112, &c.
[214] By a “_perfect man_” a saint is intended; as by “imperfect,” here
and before, an ordinary mortal is depicted.
[215] Qur’ān vii. 203; xlvi. 28. By “ear” and “tongue” a learner and a
teacher are symbolised.
[216] A hazardous assertion. See Anecdotes, Chap, iii., Nos. 2, 5, 7,
&c.
[217] A proverbial expression, like: “All’s well that ends well.“
[218] Qur’ān ii. 100.
[219] Qur’ān xxiii. 112.
[220] Also Qur’ān xxiii. 112.
[221] The ”_pupil_“ of the eye; in Persian called ”_the manikin_;“ in
Arabic, ”_the man_.“These both allude to the small image of ourselves
seen reflected in the pupil.
[222] This rhapsody is mystical, like the Song of Solomon. A “tongue”
is a teacher, informant; a prophet; and, apparently, even God himself.
[223] Qur’ān xc. 1-4.
[224] “Other,” as opposed to self; also opposed to “we two” in the case
of lovers; it is a term much used in Eastern poetry and philosophy.
[225] The poet’s “_beloved_” appears, here, to be God.
[226] Allusion appears to be made to Qur’ān xxi. 107.
[227] This section is stated to be a gloss upon the following apostolic
tradition: “Verily, Sa’d is really jealous; but I am more jealous than
he, and God than I. Out of His jealousy hath He made all excesses
sinful; whether of outer or of the inner man.” This Sa’d, son of
‘Ubāda, was a disciple of Muhammed, and the most munificent man in
Madīna. He embraced the faith before the Hijra. See An-Nawāwī, p. 274,
l. 5.
[228] The “two worlds,” spiritual and material, future and present.
[229] The poet’s “love,” is still God. This section purports to be an
excursus on the following distich of the poet Sanā’ī, who died A.H. 576
(A.D. 1180):—
“Why leavest thou thy guild, its rules or faith or sin?
Why quittest thou thy mistress, be she plump or thin?”
[230] Reflections on God’s unity, and the plurality of created being.
[231] Qur’ān xix. 41, &c.
[232] Anecdotes, Chap. vi.
[233] “Life” and “coral,” in Persian “jān” and “merjān.”
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