How the Amírs of the Arabs wrangled with Mustafá
(Mohammed), on whom be peace, saying, “Share the kingdom with us, in order that there may be no contention”; and how Mustafá, on whom be peace, answered and said, “I am commanded (by God) in respect of this Amírate”; and the arguments on both sides.
The Amírs of the
Arabs assembled and began
to wrangle in the Prophet's presence,
2780. Saying, “You art
an Amír; every one of us is an Amír likewise: distribute this kingdom
and take your share.
Each (of
us) is seeking equity in
regard to his
share: do you wash
your hands of our
share.” He replied, “God
has given the Amírate
to me: He
has given me the chief authority and the absolute command,
Saying, ‘This is the epoch and
cycle of Ahmad
(Mohammed): hark, accept his command!
Have
fear (of God)!’”
The party (of Amírs) said
to
him, “We too
are (made) rulers
by
that (Divine) destiny,
and God has given the Amírate to us.”
2785. He said,
“(Yes), but to me God gave it as a possession, and to you
(only) as a loan for
the sake of (furnishing you with) provisions for the road.
My Amírate is lasting till the
Resurrection; the Amírate
held on loan will
be
shattered.”
The (opposing) party
said, “O Amír, do not say too much
(about this): what is
your argument for seeking more
(than your share)?”
Forthwith, by the bitter command
(of God), a cloud arose; (then)
came the torrent: the
countryside was filled (with
the
flood).
The exceedingly frightful
torrent set its face towards
the town: the
townsfolk (were)
making loud lamentation,
all (were) terrified.
2790. The Prophet said, “Now the time is come for the test, in
order that opinion may become ocular vision.”
Each Amír flung his
lance (into the flood),
that in the test it might become a
barrier against the
torrent.
Then Mustafá (Mohammed) cast
his wand upon it—that sovereign wand that
reduced (his foes)
to helplessness.
The rapid water
of the boiling tameless torrent
swept away the lances
like a bit of straw.
All the lances
disappeared,
while that wand stood on
the surface
of the water like
a sentry.
2795. From anxious
regard for that
wand the mighty
torrent turned its face
away, and the
flood-water
departed.
When they beheld that great
matter wrought by
him, those Amírs, (overcome) by dread, confessed—
Save three persons,
whose rancour
was prevailing: they, from disbelief, called him a magician and soothsayer.
The kingship that has been tied on (artificially) is weak like that; the kingship that has grown up
(naturally) is
august like this.
If you didst not see the lances together with the
wand, (yet) consider
the names of them
(the
Amírs) and consider the
name of him
(Mohammed), O noble
one!
2800. Their names the
rapid torrent of death
has borne away; his name
and his puissant
fortune are not
dead.
For him the
drum is always beaten
five times (daily): on this
wise every day till the Day of
Resurrection.
“If you have intelligence,
(you wilt see
that) I have
done kindnesses; and if
you art an ass, I
have brought the rod for the
ass.
I will turn you out
of this stable
in such wise that I will make your ears and head
bloody with
(blows of) the rod.
In this stable
asses and men are
getting no quarter
from your oppression.
2805. Lo, I have
brought the
rod, for correction's sake,
for
every ass that is not approved.
It will become a dragon in subduing you, for
you have become a dragon
in (your) deeds and disposition.
You art a mountain-dragon without mercy; but look at the dragon of Heaven!
This rod comes as a taste (sample) from Hell, saying, ‘Ho! take
refuge in the Light;
Else you wilt be left
helpless in my
teeth: there will be
no escape for
you through my passes.’
2810. This was a rod; it is now a
dragon, to the end that
you mayst not say,
‘Where is God's
Hell?’”
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