Masnavi Stories in Prose

Book (1)

1) The King and the bondmaid

Once upon a time, a powerful and capable King went to the desert to hunt with his courtiers. On the way king saw a beautiful bondmaid and fell in love with her. He paid a lot of money and bought the girl from her master, after a while, girl became ill and king was very sad. He called skilled physicians from all over the country to court to treat her, and said: My life depends on her life, if she is not treated, I would die too. Anyone who can treat my sweatheart, I'll give him a lot of gold and pearls. Doctors say: we devote ourselves and we treat her by consultation. Each of us is a healer like the Jesus Christ. Doctors were proud of their knowledge and did not mention God. God showed their incapacity and inability to them. Doctors' prescriptions were useless. On the severity of disease, girl became such as hair- thin and skinny. King cried day and night. Drugs were useless. King was disappointed of physicians and he went barefoot to the mosque and cried a lot in the mosque and prayed: Oh, Gracious God what should I say? You know the secrets inside me clearly. God, you have always supported us, we once again proved wrong. After crying and praying wholeheartedly, king went to sleep. He dreamed of a nice and bright man telling him: Oh king, it is good news, God accepted your prayer, tomorrow an unknown man comes to your court. He is a wise doctor. He knows treatment of all pains and illnesses. He is true and the power of God is in his soul. Wait for him.
The day after king was sitting on top of his palace waiting for the man, suddenly the nice wise man was there in the distance; he was like the sun in the shade and shone like the moon. He was there and was not there like a dream. Whatever king had seen in his dream in the mosque was present in guest's face. King went to welcom him. Although king had not seen the man before but he seemed very familiar, as if they knew each other many years and they were two souls in one body.
Seeing the man, king was so happy and said: you have been my real beloved, not the bondmaid. She has been the tool to get you here. Then king kissed the guest and took his hand and took him to the palace with great respect. After eating meal and taking a rest, King took physician to bondmaid and told the story of her illness. Physician examined girl and said: all the drugs of doctors had been useless and they made her worse, they knew nothing of the girl's soul and they merely treated her body. Physician discovered girl's disease but did not say it to the king. He found that girl is sick of heart and love, her body is healthy and she suffers from love.
Lover's pain is different from other pains. Love is the mirror of God's mysteries. Reason is incapable of explaning love.
Only God knows love. King said to the king: empty the house!
All should go out, even the king. I want to ask this girl some questions.
All left, physician asked slowly: Where is your city? Who are your friends and relatives? Whiling taking her pulse, doctor was asking and the girl was responding.
He asked of cities and several people, her pulse was slow until he reached Samarkand, suddenly her pulse became rapid and her face became red. Physician asked the neighborhoods of Samarkand. The name of Ghatfar alley intensified her pulse.
Physician knew that she has a special attachment to the lane. He asked and asked until he came to a young goldsmith' name, the girl fainted. Physician said: I diagnosed your sickness, I will treat you readily. Do not say the secret to someone. A secret is like a seed, if you hold the secret in your heart, it grows out of soil and turns into a plant and a tree.
The sage physician went to the king and made him aware of girl's mood and said: you should bring that young goldsmith from Samarkand here and decieve him with gold and money; poor girl will be better after seeing him. King sent two omniscient, wise men to get the goldsmith. They found goldsmith and praised him and said that your fame and art has been spread everywhere, our king has chosen you for the Treasury.
He has sent you these gifts and golds and has invited you to come to the court where you will see more of this. Young goldsmith was deceived by money and gold and abandoned his family and city and went along with them happily. He did not know that the king wants to kill him. He rode an Arabic horse and went to the court very fast. Those gifts were his blood money.
All the way long, goldsmith dreamed of money and gold. When they arrived, physician welcomed him ardently and took him to the king, King honored him as well and gave him his gold Treasury and made him head of the Treasury. Physician told king to surrender the girl to young man. Under king's order, goldsmith married young girl and they spent six months happily and she became throughly fine and healthy. Then physician made a drug and gave it to goldsmith. Young man became weak day by day. After a month he was ugly and sick and lost his beauty and happiness, his love in girl's heart finally became cold.
Young goldsmith shed blood. Beautiful face was his enemy, like a peacock which his beautiful feathers are his enemy. Goldsmith whined and said: "I am like that deer which hunter sheds his blood for his fragrant musk. I am like a fox which is killed due to her beautiful skin. I am the elephant which is killed for his beautiful tusk. Oh King, you killed me, but be aware that the world is a mountain and our actions echo like sounds and the sound of our actions turn back again to us". Goldsmith then passed away. At last bondmaid was free of his love. Her love and attraction was a love of face, a love of unstable things. Spirituos love is everlasting. Love of the real Beloved is permenant and it freshes body and soul every moment.
Choose true and genuine love which is always eternal. It refreshes you. Choose love of God the One since all prophets and great people reached prominence and nobility due to His Love. Do not say we are not allowed to His Court, it is not difficult for the Merciful and Great One.
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2) The parrot and the Grocer

A seller had a beautiful green parrot in his shop. The parrots spoke like people and knew human language. He was the guardian of the store and made the customers laugh; actually he attracted a lot of customers to the store.
One day he jumped from one side of store to the other side. His wing struck to the bottle of oil. The glass bottle fell down and the oil poured. When the seller came and to saw that the oil is poured and the store is dirty and oily, he knew that it's parrot's fault. He picked up stick and hit the parrot, parrot's head was wounded and he became was bald. His head was bald. Parrot did not speak anymore. Seller and his customers were upset. He was regretful and said: I wish I did not hit the parrot. He wanted the parrot to speak again and attract lots of customers.
A day, the seller was sitting down outside the shop. A bald man was crossing the street. His head was flat and bald like the back of a copper bowl. Suddenly the parrot said: Oh, bald man! Why did you breal the bottle of oil and you became bald? Due to this, you joined the community of balds and you are a member of our community. You should not pour the oil. People laughed at the comparison made by parrot. He thought whoever is bald has poured the oil.
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3) The parrot and the merchant

A merchant had a beautiful and well-spoken parrot in a cage. One day, he was ready to travel to India, he asked each of the servants what they want a souvenier, each of them ordered a thing. The merchant asked parrot: what gift should I bring for you from India? Parrot said: in India, if you saw parrots tell them about me, say that I am eager to meet them.
But Unfortunately I'm in a cage. Say my hello to them and asked them to help me. Say that I am eager to meet them and I am dying of the pain of separation and loneliness in the narrow cage. Where is my friend's loyalty and care? Is it fair that I'm in a cage, and you are in the garden and meadow? Oh my Fellows, think of this oppressed parrot.It is good and nice if friends remember friends. Merchant heard parrot's message and promised him to give it to parrots in India.
When he arrived in India, he saw some parrots in the woods. He said hello to parrots and gave his parrot's message. Suddenly one parrot trembled and fell off the tree and died in an instance. Merchant was regretfull of telling the message and said: I am responsible for his death, probably this parrot was a relative of my parrot or they are one soul in two bodies. Why did I say and killed the poor parrot? Tongue in the mouth is such as stone and iron, do not hit the stone and iron on no account; the result is the fire coming out of the mouth. World is Dark such as a cotton field, why do you set fire to a cotton field? Those who close their eyes and set fire to the world with their speech are cruel. A word can destroy a world or can make dead foxes lions.
The merchant finished his trade with pain and suffering and returned to his hometown and gave to each of his friends and servants a souvenir. His parrot said: where is my gift? Did you give my message? What did the parrots say?
The merchant said: I regret to convey that message. I say nothing. Why did I say that? I am so ignorant. I do not speak anymore unknowingly. Parrot said: Why are you regretful? What happend? Why are you sad? The merchant did not say. Parrot insisted. The merchant said: when I said your message to the parrots, one of them was aware of your pain, he trembled and fell from the tree and died. I'm sorry why I said that. But my regret was no use; a word whis is said is like a bow which never comes back.
When parrot heard merchant's saying, he trembled and fell down and died. The merchant screamed and threw his hat to the ground, he tore his clothes out of discomfort and said: Oh my sweet chicken! Why are you so? Alas, my well-spoken bird died. My tongue you caused my loss and misery.
The merchant whined of pain and threw the parrot out of cage and suddenly the parrot flew in sky and sat on a long tree branch. The merchant was astonished and said: Oh my beautiful bird, make me aware of your secret. What did that Indian parrot teach you that made me poor?
The parrot said: he advised me by his action and told me I am in the cage due to my tongue. If I want to be freed, I have to leave my traits. You're doomed. You should forget yourself if you want to be freed. If you are a seed, chickens eat you. If you are a bud, children pick you. Everyone who shows his beauty and art, a hundred bad events await him. Both friends and enemies pay a lot of attention to him. Enemies are jelous of him.
Parrot said goodbye to the merchant. He said: Go! God may keep you! You showed me the way of truth, I'm going to follow your way as well. My life is not less than a parrot. For the soul being freed, everything should be left.
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4) The headless and tailless lion

In the city of Qazvin, people used to draw patterns of things, humen or animals or write names by the use of a needle on the back their hands and arms. Those who were skillful in this profession were called rubbers. The rubber inserted ink with a needle under the skin and he illustrated some patterns that always remain on the body.
One day, a Qazvini champion went to the rubber and said: draw a picture of a lion on my shoulder. Champion lay down on the ground and the rubber picked up the needle and started to draw. When the first needle was inserted, the champion cried of pain and said: Ouch! You killed me.
The rubber said: you wanted it yourself, you have to tolerate. The champion asked: what image are you drawing? He answered: you yourself wanted me to draw a lion. Champion said: what part of the lion you started from? He answered: the lion's tail. Champion said: I am dying of pain, do not draw the tail. Rubber inserted the needle again and the hero shouted: what part of the lion you are drawing? The rubber said: it's the lion's ear. Champion said: this lion does not need an ear. Draw another part. Rubber inserted the needle again and the hero shouted: what part of the lion you are drawing now? The rubber said: it's the lion's abdomen. Champion said: this lion is not hungry. He doesn’t need the abdomen.
Champion became angry and threw the needle on the ground and said: where in the world a person has seen a lion without a head and a tail and an abdomen? God has not created a lion like this.
1) Qazvin, a historical city at 150 kilometers West of Tehran
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5. Sailing by a fly

A fly sat on straw, the straw was on the urine of a donkey. Fly proudly sailed on the donkey urine and said: I have read the science of navigation and shipping. I have thought of this so much. See this sea and my ship and how I sail the ship. In his narrow mind, the fly sailed the ship; urine was an endless sea and straw was a big ship because he had low knowledge and insight. A man's world is as big as his mind. A proud and narrow-minded man is like a fly and his mind is as big as undrestanding donkey urine and straw.
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6) Bear and Dragon

A dragon caught a bear and wanted to kill and eat him. Bear cried a lot and wanted help. A champion helped bear and saved him from the hands of the dragon. When bear saw champion's kindess, he threw himself to athlete's foot and said: I am your servant and I come with you wherever you go. The two were together until they got somewhere. The champion was tired and wanted to sleep. Bear said: you sleep comfortably, I am your guard. A man was passing, he asked the champion: why this bear is with you?
The champion said: I have saved him and he became my friend. The man said: do not rely on the friendship of a bear that is worse than a thousand enemies. The champion said: the man is jealous. The bear is my friend, I have helped him, and he does not betray me.
The man said: friendship and love of fools cheat us. Do leave him because he is dangerous. Champion said: you leave me, you're jealous. The man said: My heart says that this bear harms you very much.
Champion did not listen to him and the man went away. When champion slept, a fly sat on his face and the bear hit the fly. The fly sat on man's face for several times, but the fly did not go away. Bear became angry and picked up a large stone from the mountain and as soon as the fly sat on champion's face, bear hit the huge stone to champion's face and head. Friendship of ignorant people is like friendship and love of bear. His friendship and enmity is the same. A wise enemy makes you succeed, but an ignorant friend makes you weak and defeated.
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7. Deaf and visiting the sick

There was a deaf man who wanted to go and visit his sick neighbor. He said to himself: 'I am deaf. How can I hear the patient and how can I speak with him? He is sick and his voice is weak. When I look at his lips, I can understand that he is greeting. In his mind, the deaf made a conversation ready. I say: How are you? He would say (for example): I am better. I say: what have you eaten? He would say (for example): porridge or soup or medication.
I say: Who is your doctor? He will say: doctor x. I say: he is a very skillful doctor. He treats all patients. We know him. The deaf made the question and answer ready in his mind and went to visit the neighbor. He sat next to the patient and asked: How are you? The patient said: I am dying of pain. The deaf said: thanks God. The patient became very ill and said: this man is my enemy. The deaf said: What do you eat? The patient said: a lethal poison, the deaf said: it's good. The patient became upset. The deaf asked: Who is your physician? The patient said: Azrael (1). The deaf said: he is blessed. The patient became depressed and so sick. The deaf left the house and was happy that he had a good visit with the patient. The patient moaned that the neighbor is my enemy and their friendship ended.
Many people think they praise God, but in fact they do a wrong deed. They think they go to a right way, but they are like the deaf and go to a wrong path.
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8) Romans and Chinese (painting and mirror)

Chinese artists and Roman painters presented their arts and skills to the King and each group claimed that their art is superior to another one. The king said: we will test you to see which one of you is more superior to the other. Chinese said: our two groups of painters have begun their work of painting on the wall. Chinese wanted hundred colors of the king and every day they used a lot of materials and colors to paint.
After a few days, the sound of drum and happiness of Chinese rose, they finished their painting but the Romans had not yet gotten colors and materials of king and from the first day they were just busy polishing the wall.
Chinese invited king to watch their painting. King was surprised to see the Chinese's painting. Patterns were so astonishing and overwhelming. Then Romans invited king to watch their work. Roman's wall was as flat as a mirror. Then Romans suddenly pulled the curtain away, Chinese's painting was reflected on the Roman's mirror and its beauty was multiplied and it dazzled him. King was helpless to know what painting is true and what is mirror?
Sufis are like Romans. They do not have homework, lesson, book and repeatition, but they cleaned their hearts from hatred and jealousy. Their heart is such as a mirror. They accept all roles and patterns and have room for everything. Their heart is as deep and smooth as a mirror. Mirror shows every pattern; good and bad patterns, ugly and beautiful patterns. People of mirror have rejected face and shell of art and science and found the brain and fact of the world and objects.
All colors will be eventually colorless. Colors are such as clouds and colorless is such as moonlight. The color and form that you see in the cloud is the sunlight and moonlight. Light is colorless.
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9) Unity in love

A Lover went to his beloved' house and knocked on the door. Beloved said: Who is it? Lover said: it's me. Beloved said: go! It is not yet the time for the immature lover in this house. You're novice. You should burn in the fire of separation for a while; you are not yet ready to love. The poor lover went away and burnt in the fire of separation for a year, after a year he came back and knocked on the door of his beloved politely and stressfully. Beloved asked: Who is at the door? Lover said: it is you, yourself my sweet beloved. The beloved opened the door and said: now you and I are one, come into the house. Now there is only one "I" and no more. Two "I"s do not fit in the house of love.