The Mathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi

There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”

❦110. Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
O La-’amruk By thy life, an oath found in the Quran, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”

❦115. They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”

The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.

The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”

❦120. Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing.
In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
That Hand of God, cheerfully washing the filth by himself—far from him be the evil eye!
The amulet vanished from his mind, and a great rapture arose in him: he tore his collar,
Smiting his face and head with both hands, beating his pate against wall and door,

❦125. In such a wise that blood poured from his nose and head, and the Prince (Mohammed) took pity on him.
He uttered shrieks, the people gathered round him: the infidel was crying, “O people, beware!”
He smote his head, saying, “O head without understanding!” He smote his breast, saying, “O bosom without light!”
Prostrating himself, he cried, “O (thou who art) the whole earth, this despicable part is abashed on account of thee.
Thou, who art the whole, art submissive to His command; I, who am (but) a part, am unjust and wicked and misguided.

❦130. Thou, who art the whole, art humble and trembling in fear of God; I, who am (but) a part, am (engaged) in opposition and in rivalry.”
At every moment he was turning his face to heaven, saying, “I have not the face (to look towards thee), O qibla the direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca, symbolizing the spiritual focus of the world!”
When he had trembled and quivered beyond (all) bounds, Mustafá clasped him in his arms,
Quieted him and caressed him much and opened his (inward) eye and gave him (spiritual) knowledge.
Till the cloud weeps, how should the garden smile? Till the babe cries, how should the milk begin to flow?

❦135. The one-day-old babe knows the way: (its instinct says), “I will cry, that the kind nurse may come.”
Do not you know that the Nurse of (all) nurses gives no milk gratis without (your) crying?