XV

SHOWING THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE MUSLIM'S LIFE IS TO EXALT THE WORD OF ALLAH AND THAT THE JIHAD (WAR AGAINST UNBELIEVERS), IF IT BE PROMPTED BY LAND-HUNGER, IS UNLAWFUL IN THE RELIGION OF ISLAM.

IMBUE thine heart With the tincture of Allah,
Give honour and glory to Love! 1320
The Muslim's nature prevails by means of love:
The Muslim, if he be not loving, is an infidel.
Upon God depends his seeing and not seeing,
His eating, drinking, and sleeping.
In his will that which God wills becomes lost— 1325
"How small a man believe this saying?97
He encamps in the, field of "There is no god but Allah";
In the world he is a witness to mankind.98
His high estate is attested by the Prophet who was sent to men and Jinn—
The most truthful of witnesses. 1330
Leave words and seek that spiritual state,
Shed the light of God o'er the darkness of thy deeds!
Albeit clad in kingly robe, live as a dervish,
Live wakeful and meditating on God!
Whatever thou dost, let it be thine aim therein to draw nigh to God, 1335
That his glory may be made manifest by thee
Peace becomes an evil, if its object aught else;
War is good if its object is God.
If God be not exalted by our swords
War dishonours the people. 1340
The holy Sheikh Miyan Mir Wali,99
By the light of whose soul every hidden thing was revealed
His feet were firmly planted on the path of Muhammad,
He was a flute for the impassioned music of love.
His tomb keeps our city safe from harm 1345
And causes the beams of true religion to shine on us.
Heaven stooped its brow to his threshold,
The Emperor of Indian was one of his disciples.100
Now, this monarch had sown the seed of ambition in his heart
And was resolved on conquest. 1350
The flames of vain desire were alight in him,
He was teaching his sword to ask, "Is there any more?"101
In the Deccan was a great noise of war
His army stood on the battle field.
He went to the Sheikh of heaven-high dignity 1355
That he might receive his blessing:
The Muslim turns from this world to God
And strengthens policy with prayer.
The Sheikh made no answer to the Emperor's speech,
The assembly of dervishes was all ears, 1360
Until a disciple, in his hand a silver coin,
Opened his lips and broke the silence-,
Saying, "Accept this poor offering from me,
O guide of them that have lost the way to God!
My limbs were bathed in sweat of labour 1365
Before I put away a dirhem in my skirt."
The Sheikh said: "This money ought to be given to our Sultan,
Who is a beggar wearing the raiment of a king.
Though he holds sway over sun, moon. and stars,
Our Emperor is the most penniless of mankind. 1370
His eye is fixed on the table of strangers,
The fire of his hunger hath consumed a whole world.
His sword is followed by famine and plague,
His building lays wide and waste.
The folk are crying out because of his indigence; 1375
His empty handedness causes him to plunder the weak.
His power is an enemy to all:
Humankind are the caravan and he the brigand.
In his self-delusion and ignorance
He calls pillage by the name of empire 1380
Both the royal troops and those of the enemy
Are cloven in twain by the sword of his hunger.
The beggar's hunger consumes his own soul,
But the Sultan's hunger destroys state and religion.
Whoso shall draw the sword for anything except Allah, 1385
His sword is sheathed in his own breast."