Rumi's Masnavi - Would that in your bowing low in prayer you would turn your face (to attentive consideration) and apprehend the meaning of “Glory to my Lord!”

Would that in your bowing low in prayer you would turn your face (to attentive consideration) and apprehend the meaning of “Glory to my Lord!”

در سجودت کاش رو گردانی‏ای ** معنی سبحان ربی دانی‏ای‏

Saying, “Oh, my prostration (in prayer), like my existence, is unworthy (of Thee): do Thou give good in return for evil!”

کای سجودم چون وجودم ناسزا ** مر بدی را تو نکویی ده جزا

This earth has the mark of God's clemency, in that it got filth and gave flowers as the produce;

این زمین از حلم حق دارد اثر ** تا نجاست برد و گلها داد بر

In that it covers our pollutions, (and that) buds grow up from it in exchange.

تا بپوشد او پلیدیهای ما ** در عوض بر روید از وی غنچه‏ها

Therefore, when the infidel saw that in giving and lavishing he was meaner and unwealthier than the earth, 1805

پس چو کافر دید کاو در داد و جود ** کمتر و بی‏مایه تر از خاک بود

(That) flowers and fruit did not grow from his being, (and that) he sought (and achieved) nothing but the corruption of all purities,

از وجود او گل و میوه نرست ** جز فساد جمله پاکیها نجست‏

He said, “I have gone backwards in (my) course. Alas! would that I had (still) been earth!

گفت واپس رفته‏ام من در ذهاب ** حسرتا یا لیتنی کنت تراب‏

Would that I had not chosen to travel away from earthiness, (and that) like a clod of earth I had gathered some grain!

کاش از خاکی سفر نگزیدمی ** همچو خاکی دانه‏ای می‏چیدمی‏

When I travelled, the Way tried me: what was the present I brought (home) from this travelling?”

چون سفر کردم مرا راه آزمود ** زین سفر کردن ره آوردم چه بود

’Tis from all that propensity of his towards earth that he sees before him no profit in the journey. 1810

ز آن همه میلش سوی خاک است کاو ** در سفر سودی نبیند پیش رو

His turning his face back is that greed and cupidity (of his); his turning his face to the Way is sincerity and supplication.

روی واپس کردنش آن حرص و آز ** روی در ره کردنش صدق و نیاز

Every herb that has a propensity for (moving) upwards is in (the state of) increase and life and growth;

هر گیا را کش بود میل علا ** در مزید است و حیات و در نما

When it has turned its head towards the earth, (it is) in (the state of) decrease and dryness and failure and disappointment.

چون که گردانید سر سوی زمین ** در کمی و خشکی و نقص و غبین‏

When the propensity of your spirit is upwards, (you are) in (the state of) increase, and that (lofty) place is the place to which you will return;

میل روحت چون سوی بالا بود ** در تزاید مرجعت آن جا بود

But if you are upside down, (with) your head towards the earth, (then) you are one that sinks: God loves not them that sink. 1815

ور نگون ساری سرت سوی زمین ** آفلی حق لا یحب الآفلین‏

How Moses, on whom be peace, asked the high God (to explain) the secret of the predominance of the unjust.

پرسیدن موسی علیه السلام از حق تعالی سر غلبه‏ی ظالمان‏

Moses said, “O Bounteous Disposer, O Thou whom to commemorate for one moment is (worth) a long life,

گفت موسی ای کریم کارساز ** ای که یک دم ذکر تو عمر دراز

I have seen the crooked, misshapen image in (the mould of) water and clay, and like the angels, my heart has raised an objection,

نقش کژمژ دیدم اندر آب و گل ** چون ملایک اعتراضی کرد دل‏

As to what is the purpose of making an image and casting therein the seed of corruption.

که چه مقصود است نقشی ساختن ** و اندر او تخم فساد انداختن‏

To kindle the fire of iniquity and corruption; to burn the mosque and those who bend low in prayer;

آتش ظلم و فساد افروختن ** مسجد و سجده کنان را سوختن‏

To set boiling the source of bloody tears for the sake of (receiving) humble entreaties (from the suffering and oppressed)— 1820

مایه‏ی خونابه و زردآبه را ** جوش دادن از برای لابه را

I know for certain that it is the essence of wisdom (on Thy part), but my aim is (to know this by) actual seeing and vision.

من یقین دانم که عین حکمت است ** لیک مقصودم عیان و رویت است‏

That certainty (of mine) says to me, ‘keep silence’; the craving for vision says to me, ‘Make a stir (and outcry).’

آن یقین می‏گویدم خاموش کن ** حرص رویت گویدم نه جوش کن‏

Thou hast shown Thy secret to the angels, (namely) that such honey as this is worth the sting.

مر ملایک را نمودی سر خویش ** کاین چنین نوشی همی‏ارزد به نیش‏

Thou hast displayed the Light of Adam manifestly to the angels, (so that all) the difficulties were explained.

عرضه کردی نور آدم را عیان ** بر ملایک گشت مشکلها بیان‏

Thy Resurrection declares what is the secret of death: the fruits declare what is the secret of the leaves.” 1825

حشر تو گوید که سر مرگ چیست ** میوه‏ها گویند سر برگ چیست‏