Rumi's Masnavi - To the vulgar all the particles of the world seem dead, but before God they are possessed of knowledge and submissive (to His commands).

To the vulgar all the particles of the world seem dead, but before God they are possessed of knowledge and submissive (to His commands). 860

جمله اجزای جهان پیش عوام ** مرده و پیش خدا دانا و رام

As for your saying, ‘There is nobody in this house and palace: why art thou beating this drum?’—

آنچ گفتی کاندرین خانه و سرا ** نیست کس چون می‌زنی این طبل را

(I reply that) this (Moslem) people are giving (large) sums of gold for God's sake, founding hundreds of pious institutions and mosques,

بهر حق این خلق زرها می‌دهند ** صد اساس خیر و مسجد می‌نهند

And, like intoxicated lovers, gladly risking their property and lives on their way to (perform) the distant Pilgrimage:

مال و تن در راه حج دوردست ** خوش همی‌بازند چون عشاق مست

Do they ever say, ‘The House (Ka‘ba) is empty’? Nay, (they know that) the Lord of the House is the Spirit invisible.

هیچ می‌گویند کان خانه تهیست ** بلک صاحب‌خانه جان مختبیست

He that is illumined by the Light of God deems the House of the Beloved to be full (of Him). 865

پر همی‌بیند سرای دوست را ** آنک از نور الهستش ضیا

In the eyes of those who see the end, many a palace filled with a crowd and throng (of people) is empty.

بس سرای پر ز جمع و انبهی ** پیش چشم عاقبت‌بینان تهی

Seek in the (spiritual) Ka‘ba whomsoever you please, that he may at once grow (rise into view) before your face.

هر که را خواهی تو در کعبه بجو ** تا بروید در زمان او پیش رو

How should the form (of the Perfect Man), which is splendid and sublime, (ever) be absent from the House of God?

صورتی کو فاخر و عالی بود ** او ز بیت الله کی خالی بود

He is (always) present (there), exempt from exclusion, (while) the rest of mankind (are there only) on account of (their occasional) need.

او بود حاضر منزه از رتاج ** باقی مردم برای احتیاج