Discourses of Rumi

156 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIBy enduring and putting up with the tyranny ofyour spouse it is as though you rub off your ownimpurity on them. Your character becomes goodthrough forbearance; their character becomes badthrough domineering and aggression. Once youhave realized this, make yourself clean. Knowthat they are like a garment; in them you cancleanse your own impurities and become cleanyourself.Rid yourself of pride, envy and jealousy, untilyou experience pleasure in struggling and enduring.Through their demands discover spiritual joy.After that, you will endure such struggles, andyou will not run from oppression, since you willsee the advantages they bring to you.It is related that Mohammed returned with hisCompanions from a raid, one night. He told themto beat the drum saying, “Tonight we will sleep atthe gate of the city, and enter tomorrow.” Theyasked, “Messenger of God, why don’t we returnto our homes immediately?” He said, “You mightsee your wives in bed with strange men. Youwould be hurt, and a commotion would arise.”One of the Companions did not hear; he enteredand found his wife with a stranger.