M1:3997 — قرب پنجه کس ز خویش و قوم او / عاشقانه سوی دین کردند رو

This couplet marks a pivotal moment in the story of Ali's encounter with the infidel who spat in his face. After Ali, the paragon of Islamic chivalry and spiritual purity, chose not to kill his assailant because the act of spitting had stirred his personal anger (thus compromising the purity of his intention to fight for God), the assailant was deeply moved. He recognized that Ali's actions stemmed from a higher principle, a divine grace, rather than mere human retaliation.

The preceding verses describe the assailant's realization: he had misjudged Ali, seeing him not as a mere warrior but as a 'balance of God's nature' (M1:3992). He felt Ali was 'the light of the candle of my faith' (M1:3993). This profound spiritual awakening led him to declare his submission to God (M1:3996).

This couplet, M1:3997, reveals the ripple effect of Ali's extraordinary forbearance. It wasn't just the assailant who converted; his entire community, 'around fifty souls from his kin and tribe,' were so inspired by this demonstration of 'ḥilm' (forbearance, clemency) that they too 'turned their faces towards the Faith with love.' Rumi emphasizes 'عاشقانه' (lovingly, passionately) to highlight the sincerity and depth of their conversion, not out of fear or coercion, but out of genuine admiration for the spiritual beauty manifested by Ali. This underscores Rumi's broader message that true spiritual power lies not in physical might but in inner purity, self-mastery, and divine love, which can transform hearts and minds more effectively than any sword.