Rumi's Masnavi - Where is (one like) the Friend (of God), who came forth from the cave (of idolatry), and said, “This is my Lord (as ye assert). Take heed! Where is the Maker (of all)?”

Where is (one like) the Friend (of God), who came forth from the cave (of idolatry), and said, “This is my Lord (as ye assert). Take heed! Where is the Maker (of all)?”—

کو خلیلی که برون آمد ز غار ** گفت هذا رب هان کو کردگار

(One who shall say), “I will not look at the two worlds until I see to whom these two assembly-places (really) belong.

من نخواهم در دو عالم بنگریست ** تا نبینم این دو مجلس آن کیست‏

If I eat bread without the view of God's attributes, it will stick in my throat.”

بی‏تماشای صفتهای خدا ** گر خورم نان در گلو ماند مرا

How should a morsel digest without the sight of Him, without the view of His roses and rose-garden? 3080

چون گوارد لقمه بی‏دیدار او ** بی‏تماشای گل و گلزار او

Save in hope of God, who but an ox or ass would for one moment partake of this food and drink?

جز بر امید خدا زین آب خور ** کی خورد یک لحظه الا گاو و خر

(Who but) he that was like the cattle, nay, more lost?—though (indeed) that stinkard is full of cunning.

آن که کالانعام بد بل هم اضل ** گر چه پر مکر است آن گنده بغل‏

His cunning went headlong (to ruin), and he went headlong: he passed a little while, and his day set.

مکر او سر زیر و او سر زیر شد ** روزگاری برد و روزش دیر شد

His brain became dull, his mind doting: his life is gone—and like (the letter) alif he hath nothing.

فکرگاهش کند شد عقلش خرف ** عمر شد چیزی ندارد چون الف‏

(As for) his saying, “I am thinking about it”—that too is only (part) of the deceit of the fleshly soul; 3085

آن چه می‏گوید در این اندیشه‏ام ** آن هم از دستان آن نفس است هم‏

And (as for) his saying, “He (God) is forgiving and merciful” —that is naught but a trick of the villainous flesh.

و انچه می‏گوید غفور است و رحیم ** نیست آن جز حیله‏ی نفس لئیم‏

O thou that art dead with anxiety because thy hands are empty of bread, what is this fear, since He is forgiving and merciful?

ای ز غم مرده که دست از نان تهی است ** چون غفور است و رحیم این ترس چیست‏

How an old man complained of his ailments to a doctor, and how the doctor answered him.

شکایت گفتن پیر مردی به طبیب از رنجوریها و جواب گفتن طبیب او را

An old man said to a doctor, “I am in torment because of my brain.”

گفت پیری مر طبیبی را که من ** در زحیرم از دماغ خویشتن‏

The doctor replied, “That weakness of brain is from age.” Said the old man, “There are spots of darkness on my eyes.”

گفت از پیری است آن ضعف دماغ ** گفت بر چشمم ز ظلمت هست داغ‏

“It is from age, O ancient Shaykh,” said the doctor. “Awful pain comes in my back,” said he. 3090

گفت از پیری است ای شیخ قدیم ** گفت پشتم درد می‏آید عظیم‏

“It is from age, O emaciated Shaykh” said the doctor. “Whatever I eat,” said he, “is not digested.”

گفت از پیری است ای شیخ نزار ** گفت هر چه می‏خورم نبود گوار

The doctor replied, “Weakness of stomach also is (the result) of age.” Said he, “When I breathe, respiration is hard for me.”

گفت ضعف معده هم از پیری است ** گفت وقت دم مرا دم گیری است‏

“Yes,” he said, “it is asthma*; when old age arrives, two hundred diseases come on.”

گفت آری انقطاع دم بود ** چون رسد پیری دو صد علت شود

“O fool,” he exclaimed, “you have stuck at this: this is all that you have learned of medicine.

گفت ای احمق بر این بر دوختی ** از طبیبی تو همین آموختی‏

O crack-brained man, your intellect has not given you this knowledge, that God hath appointed a remedy for every pain. 3095

ای مدمغ عقلت این دانش نداد ** که خدا هر رنج را درمان نهاد

You, stupid ass, from poorness of ability have remained (fallen) on the ground for want of a sufficient foothold.”

تو خر احمق ز اندک مایگی ** بر زمین ماندی ز کوته‏پایگی‏

Then the doctor said to him, “O sexagenarian, this anger and this choler are also from old age.

پس طبیبش گفت ای عمر تو شصت ** این غضب وین خشم هم از پیری است‏

Since all the functions and parts (of your body) are atrophied, your self-control and patience have become weak.”

چون همه اوصاف و اجزا شد نحیف ** خویشتن‏داری و صبرت شد ضعیف‏

He (an old man) cannot endure two words, he cries out thereat; he cannot retain one draught, he vomits (it)—

بر نتابد دو سخن زو هی کند ** تاب یک جرعه ندارد قی کند

Except, to be sure, the Ancient (Pír) that is drunken with God, and in whose inward being there is “a goodly life.” 3100

جز مگر پیری که از حق است مست ** در درون او حیات طیبه است‏

Outwardly he is old, but within he is young. What thing, verily, is he? He is the saint and the prophet.

از برون پیر است و در باطن صبی ** خود چه چیز است آن ولی و آن نبی‏

If they are not manifest to the good and the evil (alike), what is this envy which the worthless bear against them?

گر نه پیدایند پیش نیک و بد ** چیست با ایشان خسان را این حسد

And if they do not know them with certain knowledge, what is this hatred and hatching of plots and enmity?

ور نمی‏دانندشان علم الیقین ** چیست این بغض و حیل سازی و کین‏

And (again), if they know the retribution (which shall take place) at the Resurrection and rising from the dead, how should they dash themselves against a sharp sword?

ور نمی‏دانند بعث و رستخیز ** چون زنندی خویش بر شمشیر تیز

He (the prophet or saint) smiles upon you, (but) do not deem him to be such (as he appears): in his inward consciousness are hidden a hundred Resurrections. 3105

بر تو می‏خندد مبین او را چنان ** صد قیامت در درون استش نهان‏

Hell and Paradise are entirely parts of him: he is beyond any thought that you may conceive (of him).

دوزخ و جنت همه اجزای اوست ** هر چه اندیشی تو او بالای اوست‏

All that you may think of is liable to pass away; he that comes not into thought is God.

هر چه اندیشی پذیرای فناست ** آن که در اندیشه ناید آن خداست‏

Wherefore (then do they behave with) presumption at the door of this house, if they know who is within the house?

بر در این خانه گستاخی ز چیست ** گر همی‏دانند کاندر خانه کیست‏

Fools venerate the mosque and exert themselves in maltreating them that have the heart (in which God dwells).

ابلهان تعظیم مسجد می‏کنند ** در جفای اهل دل جد می‏کنند

That (mosque) is phenomenal, this (heart) is real, O asses! The (true) mosque is naught but the hearts of the (spiritual) captains. 3110

آن مجاز است این حقیقت ای خران ** نیست مسجد جز درون سروران‏

The mosque that is the inward (consciousness) of the saints is the place of worship for all: God is there.

مسجدی کان اندرون اولیاست ** سجده‏گاه جمله است آن جا خداست‏

Until the heart of the man of God was grieved, never did God put any generation to shame.

تا دل مرد خدا نامد به درد ** هیچ قومی را خدا رسوا نکرد

They were going to make war on the prophets: they saw the body (of the prophet), they supposed he was a man.

قصد جنگ انبیا می‏داشتند ** جسم دیدند آدمی پنداشتند

In thee are the moral natures of those peoples of yore: how art not thou afraid lest thou be the same (as they)?

در تو هست اخلاق آن پیشینیان ** چون نمی‏ترسی که تو باشی همان‏

Forasmuch as all those marks are in thee, and thou art (one) of them, how wilt thou be saved? 3115

آن نشانیها همه چون در تو هست ** چون تو زیشانی کجا خواهی برست‏

The story of Júhí and the child who cried lamentably beside his father's bier.

قصه‏ی جوحی و آن کودک که پیش جنازه‏ی پدر خویش نوحه می‏کرد

A child was crying bitterly and beating his head beside his father's coffin,

کودکی در پیش تابوت پدر ** زار می‏نالید و بر می‏کوفت سر

Saying, “Why, father, where are they taking you to put you under some earth?

کای پدر آخر کجایت می‏برند ** تا ترا در زیر خاکی بسپرند

They are taking you to a narrow and noisome house: there is no carpet in it, nor any mat;

می‏برندت خانه‏ی تنگ و زحیر ** نی در او قالی و نه در وی حصیر

No lamp at night and no bread by day; neither smell nor sign of food is there.

نی چراغی در شب و نه روز نان ** نی در او بوی طعام و نه نشان‏

No door in good repair, no way to the roof; not one neighbour to be (your) refuge. 3120

نی درش معمور و نی در بام راه ** نی یکی همسایه کاو باشد پناه‏

Your eye, which was a place for the people's kisses—how should it go into a blind and murky house?—

چشم تو که بوسه گاه خلق بود ** چون رود در خانه‏ی کور و کبود

A pitiless house and narrow room, where neither (your) face will be lasting nor (your) colour.”

خانه‏ی بی‏زینهار و جای تنگ ** که در او نه روی می‏ماند نه رنگ‏

In this manner was he enumerating the qualities of the house, whilst he wrung tears of blood from his two eyes.

زین نسق اوصاف خانه می‏شمرد ** وز دو دیده اشک خونین می‏فشرد

Júhí said to his father, “O worthy (sir), by God they are taking this (corpse) to our house.”

گفت جوحی را پدر ای ارجمند ** و الله این را خانه‏ی ما می‏برند

The father said to Júhí, “Don't be a fool!” “O papa,” said he, “hear the marks (of identity). 3125

گفت جوحی را پدر ابله مشو ** گفت ای بابا نشانیها شنو

These marks which he mentioned one by one—our house has them (all), without uncertainty or doubt.

این نشانیها که گفت او یک به یک ** خانه‏ی ما راست بی‏تردید و شک‏