Rumi's Masnavi - The Prophet said that God has said, ‘I am not contained at all in “high” and “low” (spatial dimensions);

The Prophet said that God has said, ‘I am not contained at all in “high” and “low” (spatial dimensions);

گفت پیغمبر که حق فرموده است ** من نگنجم هیچ در بالا و پست‌‌

I am not contained in earth or heaven or even in the empyrean—know this for certain, O noble one;

در زمین و آسمان و عرش نیز ** من نگنجم این یقین دان ای عزیز

(But) I am contained in the true believer's heart: oh, how wonderful! If thou seekest Me, search in those hearts.’ 2655

در دل مومن بگنجم ای عجب ** گر مرا جویی در آن دلها طلب‌‌

He (God) said (also), ‘Enter among My servants, thou wilt meet with a Paradise (consisting) of vision of Me, O God-fearing one.’

گفت ادخل فی عبادی تلتقی ** جنة من رؤیتی یا متقی‌‌

The empyrean, notwithstanding its wide (far-extending) light, when it beheld that (spirit of Adam), was confounded.

عرش با آن نور با پهنای خویش ** چون بدید آن را برفت از جای خویش‌‌

Truly, the magnitude of the empyrean is very great, but who (what) is form when reality has arrived?

خود بزرگی عرش باشد بس مدید ** لیک صورت کیست چون معنی رسید

Every angel was saying (to Adam), ‘Before this (time) we had a friendship (with thee) on the face of the earth.

هر ملک می‌‌گفت ما را پیش از این ** الفتی می‌‌بود بر گرد زمین‌‌

On the earth we were sowing the seed of service (worship): we were marveling at that connexion, 2660

تخم خدمت بر زمین می‌‌کاشتیم ** ز آن تعلق ما عجب می‌‌داشتیم‌‌

Marvelling what connexion we had with this dust, inasmuch as our nature is of heaven.

کاین تعلق چیست با این خاکمان ** چون سرشت ما بده ست از آسمان‌‌

(We said), Why (this) friendship in us, who are light, with darkness? How can light live with darkness?

الف ما انوار با ظلمات چیست ** چون تواند نور با ظلمات زیست‌‌

O Adam, that friendship was owing to the scent of thee, because earth was the woof and warp of thy body.

آدما آن الف از بوی تو بود ** ز آن که جسمت را زمین بد تار و پود

From this place (the earth) thy earthly body was woven, in this place thy pure light was found.

جسم خاکت را از اینجا بافتند ** نور پاکت را در اینجا یافتند

This (light) that our souls have obtained from thy spirit shone erstwhile from the dust. 2665

این که جان ما ز روحت یافته ست ** پیش پیش از خاک آن می‌‌تافته ست‌‌

We were in the earth, and heedless of the earth, heedless of the treasure that lay buried there.

در زمین بودیم و غافل از زمین ** غافل از گنجی که در وی بد دفین‌‌

When He (God) bade us journey from that place of abode our palates were soured (we were bitterly grieved) by the change,

چون سفر فرمود ما را ز آن مقام ** تلخ شد ما را از آن تحویل کام‌‌

So that we were arguing (and saying), ‘O God, who will come in our stead?

تا که حجتها همی‌‌گفتیم ما ** که بجای ما کی آید ای خدا

Wilt Thou sell the splendour of the praise with which we glorify and magnify Thee for babble and palaver?’

نور این تسبیح و این تهلیل را ** می‌‌فروشی بهر قال و قیل را

The decree of God spread for us the carpet (of indulgence), (and He said), ‘Speak ye, in the way of boldness 2670

حکم حق گسترد بهر ما بساط ** که بگویید از طریق انبساط

(And) without fear, whatever comes upon your tongues, like only children with their father;

هر چه آید بر زبانتان بی‌‌حذر ** همچو طفلان یگانه با پدر

For what if these words (of yours) are unseemly? My mercy likewise is prior (superior) to My wrath.

ز آن که این دمها چه گر نالایق است ** رحمت من بر غضب هم سابق است‌‌

In order to manifest this priority, O angel, I will put in thee incitement to perplexity and doubt,

از پی اظهار این سبق ای ملک ** در تو بنهم داعیه‌‌ی اشکال و شک‌‌

That thou mayst speak and I not take offence at thee, (so that) none who denies My clemency may dare to utter a word.

تا بگویی و نگیرم بر تو من ** منکر حلمم نیارد دم زدن‌‌

Within My (infinite) clemency (the clemencies of) a hundred fathers and a hundred mothers at every moment are born and vanish. 2675

صد پدر صد مادر اندر حلم ما ** هر نفس زاید در افتد در فنا

Their clemency is (but) the foam of the sea of My clemency: the foam comes and goes, but the sea is (always) there.’’

حلم ایشان کف بحر حلم ماست ** کف رود آید ولی دریا به جاست‌‌

What indeed shall I say? Compared with that pearl (Divine clemency) this oyster-shell (human clemency) is naught but the foam of the foam of the foam of foam.

خود چه گویم پیش آن در این صدف ** نیست الا کف کف کف کف‌‌