Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 395the sun’s orb all day it does them no good andtheir eyes become dazzled. It would be better forthem to become involved in some other task andleave the presence of the sun’s orb. Similarly, tomention tasty dishes in the presence of sick peopleencourages them to gain strength andappetite, but the actual consumption of thosedishes can do them harm.Therefore, trembling and passionate love arenecessary in the quest for God. Whoever does nottremble must wait upon the tremblers. No fruitever grows on the trunk of a tree, for trunks donot tremble. The tips of the branches tremble, andthe trunk supports the tips of the branches andthe fruit securely, even against the blow of an axe.Since the trembling of the tree trunk would end inruin, it is better for the trunk not to tremble. Itsuits the trunk to be quiet to better serve the tremblers.Since the Amir’s name is Mu’in al-Din, he isnot ‘Ain al-Din (“Essence of the Faith”) becauseof the “M” added to the ‘Ain. “Any addition toperfection is a diminution.” The addition of that“M” is a diminution. In the same way, though a