Discourses of Rumi

100 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIMohammed’s heart ached for his prisoners. Tocomfort the Prophet, God sent down a revelationsaying: O Prophet, say to the prisoners in yourhands, “If you turn to truth and the righteousway, God will deliver you out of bondage. He willrestore everything you have lost, and much more,including treasures in the world to come.”The Amir asked: “When a servant of God performsa service, does the grace and good arisefrom that action, or is it the gift of God?”Rumi answered: It is the gift of God and thegrace of God. Yet God, out of Its exceeding lovegives credit for both the action and the grace tothe servant, declaring, “Both are yours.”The Amir said: “Since God has such love, theneveryone who seeks in truth shall find.”Rumi said: But without a guide this does notcome to pass. So, when the Israelites were obedientto Moses, ways were opened up to them eventhrough the sea. But when they were disobedient,they remained in the wilderness for many years.The leaders of a given time are charged to securethe welfare of those who are bound to them and