Rumi's Masnavi - Else I should have corrected and chastised thee: I should have afflicted thee on account of this question.

Else I should have corrected and chastised thee: I should have afflicted thee on account of this question.

ورنه تادیب و عتابت کردمی ** بهر این پرسش ترا آزردمی

But (I know that) thou wishest to discover in My actions the wisdom and hidden meaning of (phenomenal) duration, 3005

لیک می‌خواهی که در افعال ما ** باز جویی حکمت و سر بقا

That thou mayst acquaint the vulgar therewith and by this means make every raw (ignorant) person to become cooked.

تا از آن واقف کنی مر عام را ** پخته گردانی بدین هر خام را

Thou hast become a questioner on purpose to disclose (this matter) to the vulgar, albeit thou art acquainted with it;

قاصدا سایل شدی در کاشفی ** بر عوام ار چه که تو زان واقفی

For this questioning is the half of knowledge, and this ability (to ask questions) does not belong to every outsider.”

زآنک نیم علم آمد این سال ** هر برونی را نباشد آن مجال

Both question and answer arise from knowledge, just as the thorn and the rose from earth and water.

هم سال از علم خیزد هم جواب ** هم‌چنانک خار و گل از خاک و آب

Both perdition and salvation arise from knowledge, just as bitter and sweet (fruit) from moisture. 3010

هم ضلال از علم خیزد هم هدی ** هم‌چنانک تلخ و شیرین از ندا

This hatred and love arise from acquaintance, and from wholesome food (arise both) sickness and (bodily) powers.

ز آشنایی خیزد این بغض و ولا ** وز غذای خویش بود سقم و قوی

That Kalím (Moses) became (like) an ignorant enquirer in order that he might make the ignorant acquainted with this mystery.

مستفید اعجمی شد آن کلیم ** تا عجمیان را کند زین سر علیم

Let us too feign ourselves to be ignorant thereof and elicit the answer to it (to the question) as (if we were) strangers (seeking information).

ما هم از وی اعجمی سازیم خویش ** پاسخش آریم چون بیگانه پیش