Discourses of Rumi

8 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIMohammed said, “God demands a token ofthis claim you make, for easy it is to boast of love,but other is the proof thereof.”“In God’s name, what token do you demand?”asked ‘Abbas.“Give all the properties that remain to you forthe army of Islam, so the army of Islam may bestrengthened,” said Mohammed. “That is, ofcourse, if you have truly become a Muslim anddesire the good of Islam and Muslimdom.”“Prophet of God, what remains to me?” said‘Abbas. “They have taken everything, leaving menot so much as an old reed-mat.”“You see,” said Mohammed, “you have notyet given up your old ways. You have not yet seenthe light of truth. Should I tell you how muchproperty you still have? Where you have hiddenit? To whom you have entrusted it? Where youconcealed and buried it?”“God forbid!” exclaimed ‘Abbas.“Did you not entrust so much property specificallyto your mother?” asked Mohammed. “Didyou not bury your gold under such and such awall? Did you not tell your mother in detail, ‘If Ireturn, give this back to me. But if I do not return