Rumi's Masnavi - All (your) gold and silk comes to you from the (apparently) poor man: hark, give an alms to the (really) rich man, O you who are (really) poor.

All (your) gold and silk comes to you from the (apparently) poor man: hark, give an alms to the (really) rich man, O you who are (really) poor.

از فقیرستت همه زر و حریر ** هین غنی راده زکاتی ای فقیر

A disgrace (an infamous creature) like thee, married to that man whose spirit is accepted (by God), resembles the unbelieving wedded wife of Noah. 2110

چون تو ننگی جفت آن مقبول‌روح ** چون عیال کافر اندر عقد نوح

Were it not for thy relationship to this (blessed) house, I would tear thee to pieces at this moment.

گر نبودی نسبت تو زین سرا ** پاره‌پاره کردمی این دم ترا

I would deliver that Noah from thee, in order that I might be ennobled (by being slain) in retaliation.

دادمی آن نوح را از تو خلاص ** تا مشرف گشتمی من در قصاص

But such a disrespect to the house of the emperor of the world cannot be shown by me.

لیک با خانه‌ی شهنشاه زمن ** این چنین گستاخیی ناید ز من

Go and thank God that thou art the dog of this dwelling-place, (for) otherwise I would do now what ought to be done.”

رو دعا کن که سگ این موطنی ** ورنه اکنون کردمی من کردنی

How the disciple turned back from the Shaykh's house and questioned the people (in the neighbourhood), and how they directed him, saying, “The Shaykh has gone to such and such a forest.”

واگشتن مرید از وثاق شیخ و پرسیدن از مردم و نشان دادن ایشان کی شیخ به فلان بیشه رفته است

Afterwards he began to inquire of every one and sought the Shaykh for a long while in every quarter. 2115

بعد از آن پرسان شد او از هر کسی ** شیخ را می‌جست از هر سو بسی

Then (at last) somebody said to him, “That Qutb (Pivot) of the world has gone to fetch faggots from the hilly country.”

پس کسی گفتش که آن قطب دیار ** رفت تا هیزم کشد از کوهسار

The disciple, whose thoughts were (like) Dhu ’l-faqár (a sharp sword), ran quickly to the forest in eager desire for the Shaykh.

آن مرید ذوالفقاراندیش تفت ** در هوای شیخ سوی بیشه رفت

(But) the Devil was introducing to the (young) man's mind an evil suggestion, in order that the (spiritual) Moon might be concealed by dust,

دیو می‌آورد پیش هوش مرد ** وسوسه تا خفیه گردد مه ز گرد

Namely, “Why should this Shaykh of the (true) religion keep in his house a woman like this as his mate and companion?

کین چنین زن را چرا این شیخ دین ** دارد اندر خانه یار و همنشین

Whence (this) familiarity between opposite and opposite? Whence (comes it that) a nasnás (anthropoid ape) is (associated) with the Imám of mankind?” 2120

ضد را با ضد ایناس از کجا ** با امام‌الناس نسناس از کجا

Then again he was exclaiming fervidly, “God help me! My impugning him (the Shaykh) is infidelity and enmity.

باز او لاحول می‌کرد آتشین ** که اعتراض من برو کفرست و کین

Who am I, in view of God's exercising (absolute) control (over everything he does), that my carnal soul should raise difficulties and objections?”

من کی باشم با تصرفهای حق ** که بر آرد نفس من اشکال و دق

But soon his carnal soul was returning to the attack—(for) in consequence of this acquaintance (there was) smoke in his straw-like heart—

باز نفسش حمله می‌آورد زود ** زین تعرف در دلش چون کاه دود

Saying, “What affinity has (this woman like) the Devil with (a saint like) Gabriel, that she should be his bedfellow in (connubial) intercourse?

که چه نسبت دیو را با جبرئیل ** که بود با او به صحبت هم مقیل

How can Khalíl (Abraham) agree with Ázar? How can a guide agree with a brigand?” 2125

چون تواند ساخت با آزر خلیل ** چون تواند ساخت با ره‌زن دلیل

How the disciple gained his wish and met the Shaykh near the forest.

یافتن مرید مراد را و ملاقات او با شیخ نزدیک آن بیشه

He was (absorbed) in this (perplexity) when suddenly the renowned Shaykh appeared before him, riding on a lion.

اندرین بود او که شیخ نامدار ** زود پیش افتاد بر شیری سوار

The roaring lion carried his faggots, while that blessed one sat on the top of them.

شیر غران هیزمش را می‌کشید ** بر سر هیزم نشسته آن سعید

Because of the honour (in which God held him) his whip was a fierce serpent: he had grasped the serpent in his hand, like an ass-goad.

تازیانه‌ش مار نر بود از شرف ** مار را بگرفته چون خرزن به کف

Know for certain that likewise every Shaykh that exists is riding on a furious lion.

تو یقین می‌دان که هر شیخی که هست ** هم سواری می‌کند بر شیر مست

Although that (riding) and this (lion) are not perceived by the senses, yet ’tis not concealed from the spiritual eye. 2130

گرچه آن محسوس و این محسوس نیست ** لیک آن بر چشم جان ملبوس نیست

Under their (the saints') thighs a hundred thousand lions carrying faggots are (present) before the eye that knows the Unseen;

صد هزاران شیر زیر را نشان ** پیش دیده‌ی غیب‌دان هیزم‌کشان

But God has (sometimes) made them visible singly, in order that even he who is not a (holy) man may behold them.

لیک یک یک را خدا محسوس کرد ** تا که بیند نیز او که نیست مرد

That (spiritual) prince saw him (the disciple) from afar and laughed and said (to him), “O you who are tempted, do not listen to it (the evil suggestion) from the Devil.”

دیدش از دور و بخندید آن خدیو ** گفت آن را مشنو ای مفتون دیو

The venerable (saint) knew his secret thought by the light of the heart: yea, ’tis an excellent guide (to knowledge of the occult).

از ضمیر او بدانست آن جلیل ** هم ز نور دل بلی نعم الدلیل

(Then) the master of (mystical) sciences recited to him in detail all that had befallen him (the disciple) on his journey until now. 2135

خواند بر وی یک به یک آن ذوفنون ** آنچ در ره رفت بر وی تا کنون

Afterwards that man of sweet discourse opened his mouth (to speak) on the difficult matter of his wife's disbelief,

بعد از آن در مشکل انکار زن ** بر گشاد آن خوش‌سراینده دهن

Saying, “My long-suffering is not from (the motive of) sensual desire; that (suspicion) is a vain fancy of your carnal soul: do not take that standpoint.

کان تحمل از هوای نفس نیست ** آن خیال نفس تست آنجا مه‌ایست

Unless my patience had endured the burden of (supporting) my wife, how should the fierce lion have endured the labour of (carrying) me?

گرنه صبرم می‌کشیدی بار زن ** کی کشیدی شیر نر بیگار من

I am (like) Bactrian camels, (speeding) in advance (of the caravan), intoxicated and beside myself under the panniers of God.

اشتران بختییم اندر سبق ** مست و بی‌خود زیر محملهای حق

I am not half-raw (imperfect) in (fulfilling) the (Divine) order and command, that I should take any thought of revilement by the public. 2140

من نیم در امر و فرمان نیم‌خام ** تا بیندیشم من از تشنیع عام

My public and my private (object) is His command: my spirit is running on its face in search of Him.

عام ما و خاص ما فرمان اوست ** جان ما بر رو دوان جویان اوست

My being single or wedded is not on account of sensual desire: my spirit is like a die in the hand of God.

فردی ما جفتی ما نه از هواست ** جان ما چون مهره در دست خداست

I endure the disdain of that foolish (woman) and a hundred like her, neither from love of colour nor passion for scent.

ناز آن ابله کشیم و صد چو او ** نه ز عشق رنگ و نه سودای بو

This much, indeed, is (only) the lesson learned by my disciples; (but) unto what place (attains) the forward and backward movement of my battle!

این قدر خود درس شاگردان ماست ** کر و فر ملحمه‌ی ما تا کجاست

Unto what place? Unto the place where Place (itself) finds no admittance, and where nothing exists save the lightning-flash of the Moon of Allah. 2145

تا کجا آنجا که جا را راه نیست ** جز سنابرق مه الله نیست

(’Tis) far beyond all conceptions and imaginations, (’tis) the Light of light of light of light of light of light.”

از همه اوهام و تصویرات دور ** نور نور نور نور نور نور

If I have made my discourse low for your sake, (it is) in order that you may put up with an ill-natured companion,

بهر تو ار پست کردم گفت و گو ** تا بسازی با رفیق زشت‌خو

And smilingly and cheerfully bear the burden of distress, because patience is the key to relief from pain.

تا کشی خندان و خوش بار حرج ** از پی الصبر مفتاح الفرج

When you put up with the vileness of these vile folk you will attain unto the light of the (Prophetic) sunnas (ways and practices);

چون بسازی با خسی این خسان ** گردی اندر نور سنتها رسان

For the prophets have often suffered affliction from the vile: often have they writhed in anguish on account of such snakes. 2150

که انبیا رنج خسان بس دیده‌اند ** از چنین ماران بسی پیچیده‌اند

Since in eternity it was the will and decree of God, the Forgiver, to reveal and manifest Himself,

چون مراد و حکم یزدان غفور ** بود در قدمت تجلی و ظهور

(This involves contrariety, for) nothing can be shown without a contrary; and there was no contrary to that incomparable King.

بی ز ضدی ضد را نتوان نمود ** وان شه بی‌مثل را ضدی نبود

The (Divine) purpose in (saying), “Lo, I will place a viceroy in the earth.”

حکمت در انی جاعل فی الارض خلیفة

Therefore He made a viceroy, one having a heart, to the end that he might be a mirror for His sovereignty;

پس خلیفه ساخت صاحب‌سینه‌ای ** تا بود شاهیش را آیینه‌ای

So He endowed him with infinite purity (spiritual light), and then set up against him a contrary (in the form) of darkness.

بس صفای بی‌حدودش داد او ** وانگه از ظلمت ضدش بنهاد او

He made two banners, white and black: one (was) Adam, the other (was) the Iblís (Devil) of the Way (to Him). 2155

دو علم بر ساخت اسپید و سیاه ** آن یکی آدم دگر ابلیس راه

Between those two mighty camps (there was) combat and strife, and there came to pass what came to pass.

در میان آن دو لشکرگاه زفت ** چالش و پیکار آنچ رفت رفت

Likewise in the second period Hábíl (Abel) arose, and Qábíl (Cain) became the antagonist of his pure light.

هم‌چنان دور دوم هابیل شد ** ضد نور پاک او قابیل شد

Even so (were) these two banners of justice and iniquity (continuing to be raised) till in the course of time the period of Nimrod arrived.

هم‌چنان این دو علم از عدل و جور ** تا به نمرود آمد اندر دور دور