How an enemy spat in the face of the Prince of the Faithful, ‘Alí, may God honour his person, and how ‘Alí dropped the sword from his hand.

3721. Learn how to act sincerely from ‘Alí: know that the Lion of God (‘Alí) was purged of (all) deceit.

3722. In fighting against the infidels he got the upper hand of (vanquished) a certain knight, and quickly drew a sword and made haste (to slay him).

3723. He spat on the face of ‘Alí, the pride of every prophet and every saint;

3724. He spat on the countenance before which the face of the moon bows low in the place of worship.

3725. Alí at once threw his sword away and relaxed (his efforts) in fighting him.

3726. That champion was astounded by this act and by his showing forgiveness and mercy without occasion.

3727. He said, “You lifted your keen sword against me: why have you flung it aside and spared me?

3728. What did you see that was better than combat with me, so that you have become slack in hunting me down?

3729. What did you see, so that such anger as yours abated, and so that such a lightning flashed and (then) recoiled?

3730. What did you see, that from seeing (only) the reflexion thereof a flame appeared in my heart and soul?

3731. What did you see, beyond (material) existence and space, that was better than life?— and (so) you gave me life.

3732. In bravery you are the Lion of the Lord: in generosity who indeed knows who (what) you are?

3733. In generosity you are (like) Moses' cloud in the desert, whence came the dishes of food and bread incomparable.”

3734. The clouds give wheat which man with toil makes cooked (easy to digest) and sweet as honey.

3735. (But) Moses' cloud spread the wings of mercy and gave cooked and sweet food that was (ready to be eaten) without trouble.

3737. During forty years that ration and largesse did not fail the hopeful people (of Israel) for a single day.

3738. Until they too, because of their vileness, arose and demanded leeks and green herbs and lettuce.

3739. O people of Ahmad (Mohammed), who are of the noble, (for you) that food is continuing till the Resurrection.

3740. When (the Prophet's saying), “I pass the night with my Lord,” was uttered, (the words) “He gives (me) food” and “He gives (me) drink” referred metaphorically to (spiritual) food (and drink).

3741. Accept this (saying) without any (perverse) interpretation, that it may come into your throat (as agreeably) as honey and milk.

3742. Because interpretation (alteration of the meaning) is a rejection of the gift, since he (the interpreter) regards that real (original) meaning as faulty.

3743. The view that it is faulty arises from the weakness of his understanding: Universal Reason is the kernel, and our reason is like the rind.

3744. Alter yourself, not the Traditions (of the Prophet): abuse your (dull) brain, not the rose garden (the true sense which you cannot apprehend).

3745. “O ‘Alí, thou who art all mind and eye, relate a little of that which thou hast seen!

3746. The sword of thy forbearance hath rent my soul, the water of thy knowledge hath purified my earth.

3747. Tell it forth! I know that these are His (God's) mysteries, because ’tis His work (way) to kill without sword. 3748. He that works without tools and without limbs, He that bestows these profitable gifts.

3749. Causes the intelligence to taste myriads of wines in such wise that eyes and ears are unaware.

3750. Tell it forth, O falcon of the empyrean that findest goodly prey, that (I may know) what thou hast seen at this time from the Maker.

3763. Since thou art the gate of the city of Knowledge, since thou art the beams of the sun of Clemency.

3764. Be open, O Gate, to him that seeks the gate, so that by means of thee the husks may reach the core.

3765. Be open unto everlasting, O Gate of Mercy, O Entrance-hall to None is like unto Him.”

3766. Every air and mote is indeed a place for vision (of God), (but so long as it is) unopened, who says “Yonder is a door”?

3767. Unless the Watcher open a door, this idea never stirs within.

3803. That my name may be he loves for God's sake, that my desire may be he hates for God's sake.

3804. That my generosity may be he gives for God's sake, that my being may be he withholds for God's sake. 3805. My stinginess is for God's sake, my bounty is for God's sake alone: I belong entirely to God, I do not belong to any one (else);

3826. Come in, for the grace of God hath made thee free, because His mercy had the precedence over His wrath.

3827. Come in now, for thou hast escaped from the peril: thou wert a (common) stone, the Elixir hath made thee a jewel.

3828. Thou hast been delivered from unbelief and its thorn-thicket: blossom like a rose in the cypress-garden of Hú (God).

3829. Thou art I and I am thou, O illustrious one: thou wert ‘Alí— how should I kill ‘Alí?

3830. Thou hast committed a sin better than any act of piety, thou hast traversed Heaven in a single moment.”

3831. Very fortunate (was) the sin which the man committed: do not rose-leaves spring from a thorn?

How the Prophet, on whom be peace, said in the ear of the stirrup-holder of the Prince of the Faithful (‘Alí), may God honour his person, “I tell thee, ‘Alí will be slain by thy hand.”

3944. (Hazrat Ali) I am such a man that the honey of my kindness did not become poison in wrath (even) against my murderer.

3845. The Prophet said in the ear of my servant that one day he would sever this head of mine from my neck.

3846. The Prophet by (Divine) inspiration informed my friend that in the end my destruction would be (wrought) by his hand.

3847. He (my friend) says, ‘Kill me first, in order that this hateful crime may not proceed from me.’

3848. I say, ‘Since my death is (to come) from thee, how can I seek to evade the destiny (of God)?’

3849. He falls before me, saying, ‘O generous man, for God's sake cleave me in twain.

3850. That this evil end may not come upon me, and that my soul may not burn (with grief) for (thee who art) its (very) life.’

3851. I say, ‘Go: the Pen (of Divine ordainment) is dry; by that Pen many a (lofty) landmark is overthrown.

3852. There is no hatred of thee in my soul, because I do not regard this (act) as (proceeding) from thee.

3853. Thou art God's instrument, God's hand is the (real) agent: how should I assail and oppose God's instrument?’”

3854. He (the knight) said, “For what reason, then, is retaliation (sanctioned)?” “’Tis from God, too,” said ‘Alí, “and that is a hidden mystery.

3855. If He takes offence at His own act, (yet) He causes gardens (of good) to grow from that taking offence.

3856. It beseems Him to take offence at His own act, inasmuch as in vengeance and mercy He is One.

3857. In this city of phenomena He is the Prince; in (all) the realms (of the world) He is the Ruler.

3958. If He breaks His own instrument, He mends that which has become broken.”

3859. Recognise, O noble sir, the indication of (the text), (Whatever) verse We shall cancel or cause to be forgotten, followed by We shall bring a better.

3860. Every (religious) law that He (God) has cancelled—He has taken away grass and brought roses in exchange.

3861. Night cancels the business of day: behold an inanimateness (inertia) that enlightens the intellect!

Returning to the story of the Prince of the Faithful, ‘Alí—may God honour his person!and how generously he behaved to his murderer.

3924. Go back to ‘Alí and his murderer, and the kindness he showed to the murderer, and his superiority (moral and spiritual excellence).

3925. He said, “Day and night I see the murderer with my eyes, (but) I have no anger against him.

3926. Because death has become sweet as manna to me: my death has laid fast hold of resurrection.”

3927. The death of deathlessness is lawful to us, the provision of unprovidedness is a bounty to us.

3934. Slay me, my trusty friends, slay me, vile as I am: verily, in my being slain is my life for evermore.

3935. Verily, in my death is my life, O youth—how long shall I be parted from my home? Until when?

3936. If there were not in my staying (in this world) my separation (from God), He would not have said, ‘Verily, we are returning to Him.’”

3937. The returning one is he that comes back to his (native) city, and (fleeing) from the revolution of Time approaches the Unity.

3964. The lion of God is he, that has escaped from (phenomenal) form.

End of Part- 1