Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 47the benefit of others, so they can enjoy their shareof the light. Wherever the lamp may be, whetherbelow or above, it is still the lamp of the EternalSun. If the saint seeks worldly rank and office, itis for this purpose: They desire to snare thoseworldlings, who do not have the vision to seetheir true elevation, with a trap of worldly rank.Through this they may find their way to the higherworlds, and fall into the trap of divine grace.In this same way, the Prophet, Mohammed didnot conquer Mecca and the surrounding landsbecause he was in need of them. He conquered inorder to give life and grant light to all people.“This is a hand accustomed to give, it is notaccustomed to take.” The saints beguile people inorder to bestow gifts on them, not to take anythingaway.When someone lays a trap and catches littlebirds to eat and sell, that is called cunning. But ifa king lays a trap to capture an untutored andworthless hawk, having no knowledge of its owntrue nature, to train it to his own forearm so thatit may become ennobled, that is not called cunning.Though to outward appearance it is cun-