| Divine Face of Jalal ud Din Rumi |
| Translation & Commentary by Seema Arif |
| The Weeping Tree |
| Hannana was the tree served as pillar in the mosque where Hazrat Muhammad (saw) used to address people. While sitting on floor he used to rest his back against this tree. A group of people had approached Hazrat Muhammad (saw) and had thus requested that they can�t see his blessed face while he was addressing them. So it was decided that a proper (minbar) podium shall be constructed, which will be elevated and Hazrat Muhammad (saw) shall address people sitting on that podium. When podium had been erected, Hazrat Muhammad (saw) had left his usual place; the tree feel dejected and is said to weep bitterly at this separation from Hazrat Muhammad (saw).
Hannana had wept so bitterly during a sermon that all sitting there young and old had noticed it. The companions of Hazrat Muhammad (saw) were deeply amazed. The pillar was shaking all over with grief. The leader of the compassionate Hazrat Muhammad (saw) had asked the tree what it had wanted. The tree replied it had been unbearable for it to endure parting with the sacred company of Hazrat Muhammad (saw). Hannana said: �My soul is in deep grief; I�m burned to ashes; I must weep; at such a loss why I must not shed tears. I was your blessed seat and now you have parted with me.� Hazrat Muhammad (saw) had then replied to him: �O kind tree you have such a blessed soul; state your wish. You may become a date tree and people from East and West would enjoy your sweet fruit. Or you may choose to be resurrected as a Cypress in the world hereafter where you shall remain evergreen. The tree had thus answered: I�d like to enjoy eternity. Therefore the tree was buried under earth like human beings and shall be resurrected on Doom�s Day along with them. The question Rumi puts in the end before his readers: �would they like to wish something lesser for themselves than a wood?� A dead tree had preferred for itself eternity in the world hereafter over abundant sweet fruits in this world. Date tree is not just a fruit tree it is also considered sacred in Arabia and the cypress is a Persian evergreen tree which does not bear any fruit or shade in this world. It is liked for its beauty and fragrance, mostly used as simile for beloved�s tall and slender body in the poetry. Rumi before indulging into a discourse states the moral of the story: |
| (1) God says �Be� and it is. (Qura�n: 2:117, 3:59, 6:73, 19:35, 25:7, 40:68) It is to demonstrate here that nothing is beyond the command of God. Everything glorifies Allah: Allah says in Qura�n : the seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, meaning the creatures that dwell therein, sanctify Him, exalt Him, venerate Him, glorify Him and magnify Him far above what these idolators say, and they bear witness that He is One in His Lordship and Divinity. In everything there is a sign of Allah indicating that He is One. Click for Detail: Ibn Arabi has told us in Fusus that the Messenger knows that when something inimitable is manifested to the community, some of them believe in it, and some recognize it but deny it out of injustice, arrogance or envy. Some of them attribute it to magic and deception. The Messenger realizes that, and he also acknowledges that no one will believe unless Allah illuminates his heart by the light of belief. When the person does not look by that light called belief, the inimitable miracle has no benefit for him. Their aspiration does not seek inimitable matters, since the effect is not uniform among those who see it, nor is it in their hearts as He said in respect to the most perfect of Messengers and the most knowing of creation and the most truthful in state, "You cannot guide those you would like to but Allah guides those He wills." (28:56) |
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| Reckon! Whoever has some business with God
He is worthless for all states and deeds in world One who with knowledge ulterior is not blessed? Admits not a lifeless like humans can weep, regret Agree he may in words but not with his heart Fearing he may be reckoned a hypocrite wart �Be� is the principle we all must agree with (1) The only proof provided that miracles do exist |
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| The Talking Stones |
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