Rumi's Masnavi - Crying, “O Moslems, who has seen a camel which this morning escaped from a stable?

Crying, “O Moslems, who has seen a camel which this morning escaped from a stable?

کای مسلمانان که دیده ست اشتری ** جسته بیرون بامداد از آخوری‏

Whoever will tell (me) a clue to my camel, I will give so many dirhems as a reward (for the information).”

هر که بر گوید نشان از اشترم ** مژدگانی می‏دهم چندین درم‏

You are requesting clues from every one: every rascal is making a mock of you on this account,

باز می‏جویی نشان از هر کسی ** ریش‏خندت می‏کند زین هر خسی‏

Saying, “We saw a camel going in this direction, a reddish camel (going) towards yonder pasturage.”

کاشتری دیدیم می‏رفت این طرف ** اشتر سرخی به سوی آن علف‏

One (of them) says, “It was crop-eared,” and another says, “Its saddlecloth was embroidered.” 2920

آن یکی گوید بریده گوش بود ** و آن دگر گوید جلش منقوش بود

One says, “The camel had (only) one eye,” and another says, “It (was suffering) from mange (and) had no hair.”

آن یکی گوید شتر یک چشم بود ** و آن دگر گوید ز گر بی‏پشم بود

For the sake of the reward every rascal, (speaking) at random, sets forth a hundred clues.

از برای مژدگانی صد نشان ** از گزافه هر خسی کرده بیان‏

On being perplexed amidst discordant doctrines and finding (a means of) escape and deliverance.

متردد شدن در میان مذهبهای مخالف و بیرون شو و مخلص یافتن‏

(This is) even as in the matter of knowledge (of God) every one describes (differently) the Unseen Object of description.

همچنان که هر کسی در معرفت ** می‏کند موصوف غیبی را صفت‏

The philosopher gives an explanation of another (a particular) kind; a scholastic theologian invalidates his statement;

فلسفی از نوع دیگر کرده شرح ** باحثی مر گفت او را کرده جرح‏

And some one else jeers at both of them, while another hypocritically tires himself to death (trying to prove that he has real knowledge of God). 2925

و آن دگر در هر دو طعنه می‏زند ** و آن دگر از زرق جانی می‏کند