Masnavis

You are the light in the eyes of those who see, the very purpose behind all creation. You are the one whose heart never sleeps, the guest who spends the night in his Lord's care. To describe you, 'there is no prophet after me' says enough; for who could praise you but yourself, or the words of Saadi?

When you give, give to everyone alike; do not leave one satisfied and another empty-handed. Do your good to all of them together, so no dust of discord settles among them. For whatever you add to one side of the scale must, without dispute, be matched on the other.

Justice, fairness, and honesty are what matter; even if the treasury runs empty, that is fine. People of knowledge and justice would never break the people's hearts to fill their coffers. A king who stands with the poor is the true guardian of his own realm.

Look closely at this fine hair on your head, for people of insight see the finest details. A single strand is weaker than a thread, but woven into a chain it grows strong.

Think first, then speak, because a wall without a foundation will never stand firm. When you do wrong, don't feel safe from criticism, for no one will ever call a bad deed good.

How well Ibrahim Adham spoke, once he gave up his kingdom, his wealth, and his royal ring. 'Never fasten your heart to any thing or any person, for tearing your heart away is a hard thing to do.'

I saw a man in a certain place, digging into the grave of a king. Dust from the royal court slipped through his hands, tears fell from his eyes, and he said: I cannot tell if this was a king or a guard; all I see is a handful of bones.

How many veiled women were truly manly; they snatched the ball of pride right out of men's hands. As for you, with all your manhood and your shows of strength, I fear you may turn out to be less than a woman.

Though kindness toward the worthless is a waste, now and then, for your own good, it must be done. When a snarling dog bares its teeth, toss it a bone right there and then. By common measure, nothing in the world is worse than a dog, yet showing it kindness is not against wisdom. For if you throw a stone at it, it turns to fight; but if you care for it, it will guard your flock.

A good name never dies, even when its bearer does, for among his people someone always rises to take his place. Just as when a gathering has a lamp: if one candle goes out, the room stays lit all the same.

Do you even know what unlawful income is, or which spending ends in ruin? It is gathering wealth by begging, then wasting it on frivolity and sin.

I never heard of a bird that fled the trap and came back willingly to share its secret. A wild bird that has flown to the wall, who can ever catch it again? You bring back those who have left with kindness, not by fighting and wounding them worse.

They wound each other, blow upon blow, tearing at the flesh, yet offer no salve to heal it. Thorn and flower are tangled together, darkness and light, honey and nectar, the sting and the bee.

Whether a carefree rogue, restless and out of luck, or an ascetic who makes life hard on himself. Strive for piety and restraint, for honesty and purity, but never claim to outdo the Prophet Mohammad. Don't demand a whiteness beyond all measure, for that is blameworthy, no less than dead black.

I heard every insult you threw at me, and saw no way to fight back. With someone like you I chose patience, saving my answer for the right moment. The day your strength fails you, everything you said will come back to your own ears.

Do you know what makes a person truly whole? Kindness and generosity to both friend and foe. Grieving alongside the friends of God, and meeting your enemies with patience and comfort.

A dog is nobler than the kind of person who wounds the hearts of his own friends. This claim needs a truth to back it up, so the meaning can settle in your heart. A person shares your food at your own table, while the dog is kept outside, shut from the door. What a shame that the dog stays loyal, yet a human thinks enmity is fair.

Grief, if you set it not on the heart but on a mountain, would crush the mountain, worn down by the weight of sorrow. When the sweet soul itself is suffering pain, how can the poor body ever be at ease?

Don't take Zeyd's word against Amr until you first know the truth of the matter. If there is a quarrel between them, then without a doubt such talk is unreliable.

All human beings are children of Adam, but some lean toward good and some toward evil. This one would not even hurt an ant, while that one is outdone in worth by a dog.

Everyone knows, the soldiers and the lords alike, that youth never springs back from the old. My excuse is written plainly on my face; after this, what excuse do I need to offer?

If you have any sense, don't hoard wealth, for it will trample the peace of your mind. Once I had a purse full of silver, and day and night that purse kept me in fear. I threw it away and turned my back on it, and from that endless guarding I found my freedom.

These false friends you see around you are nothing but flies swarming over sweets. As long as there's some scrap to feast on, they buzz around you like a swarm of bees. But once the estate is ruined and empty, and your purse rings hollow as a broken drum, they drop your company and their affection, as if they never knew you at all. Then, when fortune turns your way again and success comes knocking at your door, just cook up a rich stew and, from every side, they'll dive in like flies landing in yogurt. The truth is, they're the stray dogs of the market: they love the bone far more than they love you.

Anyone who fears harm from you: don't imagine you are safe from him. When scorpions sting people, they mostly do it out of fear for their own lives.

Whoever plans without seeking counsel will usually miss the mark he aimed for. The root you plant without advice yields nothing but regret.