How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
شاعر: رومی
وزن: فاعلاتن فاعلاتن فاعلن (رمل مسدس محذوف یا وزن مثنوی)
صنف: مثنوی
At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel).
The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
(Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded).
There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”