Rumi's Masnavi - Moses and Pharaoh were servants (worshippers) of Reality, (though) outwardly the former keeps the way (is rightly guided), while the latter has lost the way.

Moses and Pharaoh were servants (worshippers) of Reality, (though) outwardly the former keeps the way (is rightly guided), while the latter has lost the way.

موسی و فرعون معنی را رهی ** ظاهر آن ره دارد و این بی‌‌رهی‌‌

In the daytime Moses was making lament (supplication) to God: at midnight Pharaoh would begin to weep,

روز موسی پیش حق نالان شده ** نیم شب فرعون گریان آمده‌‌

Saying, “O God, what shackle is this on my neck? Were it not for the shackle, who would say ‘I am I’?

کاین چه غل است ای خدا بر گردنم ** ور نه غل باشد که گوید من منم‌‌

By that (will) whereby Thou hast made Moses to be illumined, by that (same will) Thou hast made me to be darkened; 2450

ز آن که موسی را منور کرده‌‌ای ** مر مرا ز آن هم مکدر کرده‌‌ای‌‌

By that whereby Thou hast made Moses' face like the moon Thou hast made the moon of my soul to be black-faced (eclipsed).

ز آن که موسی را تو مه رو کرده‌‌ای ** ماه جانم را سیه رو کرده‌‌ای‌‌

My star was not better than a moon (so that it should be exempt from eclipse): since it has suffered eclipse, what help have I?

بهتر از ماهی نبود استاره‌‌ام ** چون خسوف آمد چه باشد چاره‌‌ام‌‌

If they beat drums in my honour (proclaiming me) as Lord and Sultan, (’tis like as when) the moon is eclipsed and the people beat bowls (of metal).

نوبتم گر رب و سلطان می‌‌زنند ** مه گرفت و خلق پنگان می‌‌زنند

They beat those bowls and raise a clamour: they put the moon to shame by their blows.

می‌‌زنند آن طاس و غوغا می‌‌کنند ** ماه را ز آن زخمه رسوا می‌‌کنند

I, who am Pharaoh, oh, woe is me because of (what is being done by) the people: my (title of) ‘My supreme Lord’ is (like) the blows on the bowl (since it proclaims my eclipse). 2455

من که فرعونم ز شهرت وای من ** زخم طاس آن ربی الاعلای من‌‌

We (Moses and I) are fellow-servants (to Thee), but Thy axe is cleaving the boughs in Thy forest;

خواجه‌‌تاشانیم اما تیشه‌‌ات ** می‌‌شکافد شاخ را در بیشه‌‌ات‌‌

Then it makes one bough to be grafted, another bough to be left uncared for.

باز شاخی را موصل می‌‌کند ** شاخ دیگر را معطل می‌‌کند

The bough has no power against the axe: no bough escaped from the power of the axe.

شاخ را بر تیشه دستی هست نی ** هیچ شاخ از دست تیشه جست نی‌‌

(I entreat Thee) by the truth of the might which belongs to Thy axe, do Thou graciously make these crooked (perverse) actions (of ours) straight (righteous).”

حق آن قدرت که آن تیشه تراست ** از کرم کن این کژیها را تو راست‌‌

Once more Pharaoh said to himself, “Oh, wonderful! Am not I (occupied) the whole night in (crying) ‘O our Lord’? 2460

باز با خود گفته فرعون ای عجب ** من نه در یا ربناام جمله شب‌‌

In secret I am growing humble and harmonious: when I reach Moses, how am I becoming (so different)?

در نهان خاکی و موزون می‌‌شوم ** چون به موسی می‌‌رسم چون می‌‌شوم‌‌

The colour (gilt) of base gold is (laid on) in ten coats: how is it becoming black-faced in the presence of the fire?

رنگ زر قلب ده‌‌تو می‌‌شود ** پیش آتش چون سیه رو می‌‌شود

Is it not (true) that my heart (spirit) and body are under His control, (so that) at one moment He makes me a kernel, at another moment a rind?

نی که قلب و قالبم در حکم اوست ** لحظه‌‌ای مغزم کند یک لحظه پوست‌‌

When He bids me be a cornfield, I become green; when He bids me be ugly, I become yellow.

سبز گردم چون که گوید کشت باش ** زرد گردم چون که گوید زشت باش‌‌

At one moment He makes me a moon, at another black.” How, indeed, is the action of God other than this? 2465

لحظه‌‌ای ماهم کند یک دم سیاه ** خود چه باشد غیر این کار اله‌‌

Before the (blows of the) bat of His decree, “Be, and it was,” we are running (like balls) in Space and beyond.

پیش چوگانهای حکم کن فکان ** می‌‌دویم اندر مکان و لامکان‌‌

Since colourlessness (pure Unity) became the captive of colour (manifestation in the phenomenal world), a Moses came into conflict with a Moses.

چون که بی‌‌رنگی اسیر رنگ شد ** موسیی با موسیی در جنگ شد

When you attain unto the colourlessness which you (originally) possessed, Moses and Pharaoh are at peace (with each other).

چون به بی‌‌رنگی رسی کان داشتی ** موسی و فرعون دارند آشتی‌‌

If it occurs to you to ask questions about this mystery, (I reply), how should (the world of) colour be devoid of contradiction?

گر ترا آید بر این نکته سؤال ** رنگ کی خالی بود از قیل و قال‌‌

The marvel is that this colour arose from that which is colourless: how did colour arise to war with the colourless? 2470

این عجب کاین رنگ از بی‌‌رنگ خاست ** رنگ با بی‌‌رنگ چون در جنگ خاست‌‌

The original source of oil (the oil producing tree) is made to grow by means of water: how (then) does it (oil) finally become opposed to water?

چون که روغن را ز آب اسرشته‌‌اند ** آب با روغن چرا ضد گشته‌‌اند