Rumi's Masnavi - I will tell you the story of Halíma's mystic experience, that her tale may clear away your trouble.

I will tell you the story of Halíma's mystic experience, that her tale may clear away your trouble. 915

قصه‌ی راز حلیمه گویمت ** تا زداید داستان او غمت

When she parted Mustafá from (her) milk, she took him up on the palm of her hand as (tenderly as though he were) sweet basil and roses,

مصطفی را چون ز شیر او باز کرد ** بر کفش برداشت چون ریحان و ورد

Causing him to avoid every good or evil (hap), that she might commit that (spiritual) emperor to (the care of) his grandsire.

می‌گریزانیدش از هر نیک و بد ** تا سپارد آن شهنشه را به جد

Since she was bringing the (precious) trust in fear (for its safety), she went to the Ka‘ba and came into the Hatím.

چون همی آورد امانت را ز بیم ** شد به کعبه و آمد او اندر حطیم

From the air she heard a cry—“O Hatím, an exceedingly mighty Sun hath shone upon thee.

از هوا بشنید بانگی کای حطیم ** تافت بر تو آفتابی بس عظیم

O Hatím, to-day there will suddenly come upon thee a hundred thousand beams from the Sun of munificence. 920

ای حطیم امروز آید بر تو زود ** صد هزاران نور از خورشید جود

O Hatím, to-day there will march into thee with pomp a glorious King, whose harbinger is Fortune.

ای حطیم امروز آرد در تو رخت ** محتشم شاهی که پیک اوست بخت

O Hatím, to-day without doubt thou wilt become anew the abode of exalted spirits.

ای حطیم امروز بی‌شک از نوی ** منزل جانهای بالایی شوی

The spirits of the holy will come to thee from every quarter in troops and multitudes, drunken with desire.”

جان پاکان طلب طلب و جوق جوق ** آیدت از هر نواحی مست شوق

Halíma was bewildered by that voice: neither in front nor behind was any one (to be seen).

گشت حیران آن حلیمه زان صدا ** نه کسی در پیش نه سوی قفا

(All) the six directions were empty of (any visible) form, and this cry was continuous—may the soul be a ransom for that cry! 925

شش جهت خالی ز صورت وین ندا ** شد پیاپی آن ندا را جان فدا

She laid Mustafá on the earth, that she might search after the sweet sound.

مصطفی را بر زمین بنهاد او ** تا کند آن بانگ خوش را جست و جو

Then she cast her eye to and fro, saying, “Where is that king that tells of mysteries?

چشم می‌انداخت آن دم سو به سو ** که کجا است این شه اسرارگو

For such a loud sound is arriving from left and right. O Lord, where is he that causes it to arrive?”

کین چنین بانگ بلند از چپ و راست ** می‌رسد یا رب رساننده کجاست

When she did not see (any one), she became distraught and despairing: her body began to tremble like the willow-bough.

چون ندید او خیره و نومید شد ** جسم لرزان هم‌چو شاخ بید شد

She came back towards that righteous child: she did not see Mustafá in his (former) place. 930

باز آمد سوی آن طفل رشید ** مصطفی را بر مکان خود ندید

Bewilderment on bewilderment fell upon her heart: from grief her abode became very dark.

حیرت اندر حیرت آمد بر دلش ** گشت بس تاریک از غم منزلش

She ran to the dwellings (hard by) and raised an outcry, saying, “Who has carried off my single pearl?”

سوی منزلها دوید و بانگ داشت ** که کی بر دردانه‌ام غارت گماشت

The Meccans said, “We have no knowledge: we knew not that a child was there.”

مکیان گفتند ما را علم نیست ** ما ندانستیم که آنجا کودکیست

She shed so many tears and made (so) much lamentation that those others began to weep because of her (grief).

ریخت چندان اشک و کرد او بس فغان ** که ازو گریان شدند آن دیگران

Beating her breast, she wept so well (mightily) that the stars were made to weep by her weeping. 935

سینه کوبان آن چنان بگریست خوش ** که اختران گریان شدند از گریه‌اش

Story of the old Arab who directed Halíma to seek help from the idols.

حکایت آن پیر عرب کی دلالت کرد حلیمه را به استعانت به بتان

An old man with a staff approached her, saying, “Why, what hath befallen thee, O Halíma,

پیرمردی پیشش آمد با عصا ** کای حلیمه چه فتاد آخر ترا

That thou didst let such a fire (of grief) blaze (forth) from thy heart and consume these bowels (of the bystanders) with mourning?”

که چنین آتش ز دل افروختی ** این جگرها را ز ماتم سوختی

She replied, “I am Ahmad's (Mohammed's) trusted foster-mother, so I brought him (back) to hand him over to his grandsire.

گفت احمد را رضیعم معتمد ** پس بیاوردم که بسپارم به جد

When I arrived in the Hatím, voices were coming (down) and I was hearing (them) from the air.

چون رسیدم در حطیم آوازها ** می‌رسید و می‌شنیدم از هوا

When I heard from the air those melodious strains, because of that sound I laid down the infant there, 940

من چو آن الحان شنیدم از هوا ** طفل را بنهادم آنجا زان صدا

To see whose voice is (the origin of) this cry, for it is a very beautiful cry and very delightful.

تا ببینم این ندا آواز کیست ** که ندایی بس لطیف و بس شهیست

I saw no sign of any one around me: the cry was not ceasing for one moment.

نه از کسی دیدم بگرد خود نشان ** نه ندا می منقطع شد یک زمان

When I returned (to my senses) from the bewilderments of my heart, I did not see the child there (where I had left him): alas for my heart!”

چونک واگشتم ز حیرتهای دل ** طفل را آنجا ندیدم وای دل

He (the old man) said, “O daughter, do not grieve, for I will show unto thee a queen,

گفتش ای فرزند تو انده مدار ** که نمایم مر ترا یک شهریار

Who, if she wish, will tell what has happened to the child: she knows the dwelling-place of the child and his setting-out (on the way).” 945

که بگوید گر بخواهد حال طفل ** او بداند منزل و ترحال طفل

Then Halíma said, “Oh, my soul be a ransom for thee, O goodly and fair-spoken Shaykh!

پس حلیمه گفت ای جانم فدا ** مر ترا ای شیخ خوب خوش‌ندا

Come, show me that queen of clairvoyance who hath knowledge of what has happened to my child.”

هین مرا بنمای آن شاه نظر ** کش بود از حال طفل من خبر

He brought her to ‘Uzzá, saying, “This idol is greatly prized for information concerning the Unseen.

برد او را پیش عزی کین صنم ** هست در اخبار غیبی مغتنم

Through her we have found thousands that were lost, when we hastened towards her in devotion.”

ما هزاران گم شده زو یافتیم ** چون به خدمت سوی او بشتافتیم

The old man prostrated himself before her (‘Uzzá) and said at once, “O Sovereign of the Arabs, O sea of munificence!” 950

پیر کرد او را سجود و گفت زود ** ای خداوند عرب ای بحر جود

(Then) he said, “O ‘Uzzá, thou hast done many favours (to us), so that we have been delivered from snares.

گفت ای عزی تو بس اکرامها ** کرده‌ای تا رسته‌ایم از دامها

On account of thy favour the duty (of worshipping thee) has become obligatory to the Arabs, so that the Arabs have submitted to thee.

بر عرب حقست از اکرام تو ** فرض گشته تا عرب شد رام تو

In hope of thee this Halíma of (the tribe) Sa‘d has come into the shadow of thy willow-bough,

این حلیمه‌ی سعدی از اومید تو ** آمد اندر ظل شاخ بید تو

For an infant child of hers is lost: the name of that child is Mohammed.”

که ازو فرزند طفلی گم شدست ** نام آن کودک محمد آمدست

When he said “Mohammed,” all those idols immediately fell headlong and prostrate, 955

چون محمد گفت آن جمله بتان ** سرنگون گشت و ساجد آن زمان

Saying, “Begone, O old man! What is this search after that Mohammed by whom we are deposed?

که برو ای پیر این چه جست و جوست ** آن محمد را که عزل ما ازوست

By him we are overthrown and reduced to a collection of (broken) stones; by him we are made unsaleable and valueless.

ما نگون و سنگسار آییم ازو ** ما کساد و بی‌عیار آییم ازو

Those phantoms which the followers of vain opinion used to see from us at times during the Fatra

آن خیالاتی که دیدندی ز ما ** وقت فترت گاه گاه اهل هوا

Will disappear now that his royal court has arrived: the water is come and has torn up (annulled) the ablution with sand.

گم شود چون بارگاه او رسید ** آب آمد مر تیمم را درید

Get thee far off, O old man! Do not kindle mischief! Hark, do not burn us with (the fire of) Ahmad's (Mohammed's) jealousy! 960

دور شو ای پیر فتنه کم فروز ** هین ز رشک احمدی ما را مسوز

Get thee far off, for God's sake, O old man, lest thou (too) be burnt by the fire of Fore-ordainment.

دور شو بهر خدا ای پیر تو ** تا نسوزی ز آتش تقدیر تو

What squeezing of the dragon's tail is this? Dost thou know at all what the announcement (of Mohammed's advent) is (in its effects)?

این چه دم اژدها افشردنست ** هیچ دانی چه خبر آوردنست

At this news the heart of sea and mine will surge; at this news the seven heavens will tremble.”

زین خبر جوشد دل دریا و کان ** زین خبر لرزان شود هفت آسمان

When the old man heard these words from the stones (idols), the ancient old man let his staff drop (from his hand);

چون شنید از سنگها پیر این سخن ** پس عصا انداخت آن پیر کهن