Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 5ing the earth fresh and green, bringing fruit to thetrees, and warmth to the breeze. Their trade isgiving, they do not receive. The Arabs haveexpressed this in a proverb: “We have learned inorder to give, we have not learned in order totake.” And so in all ways they are the visited, andthe prince is the visitor.The thought comes to me at this point to commenton a verse of the Koran, although it is notrelated to the present discourse. However, thisidea comes to me now, and I want to express it sothat it can go on record.O Prophet, say to the prisoners in your hands.‘If God knows of any good in your hearts,He will give you more than He has taken,And He will forgive you.Surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.’This verse was revealed when Mohammed haddefeated the unbelievers, slaying, plundering andtaking prisoners, whom he tied hand and foot.Amongst the prisoners was his uncle, ‘Abbas. Thechained people wept and wailed all night in theirhelpless humiliation. They had given up all hopeof their lives, expecting the sword and slaughter.Mohammed, seeing this, laughed.