Why the Dying Wish They Had Died Sooner
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 29 of 175: Commentary on the saying of the Prophet (در تفسیر قول رسول علیه‌السلام ما مات من مات الا و تمنی ان یموت قبل ما مات ان کان برا). Below, each of its 32 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Commentary on the saying of the Prophet, on whom be peace, “None ever died without wishing, if he was a righteous man, that he had died before he (actually) died, in order that he might sooner attain unto felicity; and if he was a wicked man, in order that his wickedness might be less.” در تفسیر قول رسول علیه‌السلام ما مات من مات الا و تمنی ان یموت قبل ما مات ان کان برا لیکون الی وصول البر اعجل و ان کان فاجرا لیقل فجوره
زین بفرمودست آن آگه رسول
که هر آنک مرد و کرد از تن نزول
Hence the wise Prophet has said that no one who dies and dismounts from (the steed of) the body
نبود او را حسرت نقلان و موت
لیک باشد حسرت تقصیر و فوت
Feels grief on account of departure and death, but (only) grieves because of having failed (in good works) and missed his opportunities.
هر که میرد خود تمنی باشدش
که بدی زین پیش نقل مقصدش
In sooth every one that dies wishes that the departure to his destination had been earlier:
گر بود بد تا بدی کمتر بدی
ور تقی تا خانه زوتر آمدی
If he be wicked, in order that his wickedness might have been less; and if devout, in order that he might have come home sooner.
گوید آن بد بی‌خبر می‌بوده‌ام
دم به دم من پرده می‌افزوده‌ام
The wicked man says, ‘I have been heedless, moment by moment I have been adding to the veil (of sin).
گر ازین زودتر مرا معبر بدی
این حجاب و پرده‌ام کمتر بدی
If my passing (from the world) had taken place sooner, this screen and veil of mine would have been less.’
از حریصی کم دران روی قنوع
وز تکبر کم دران چهره‌ی خشوع
Do not in covetousness rend the face of contentment, and do not in pride rend the visage of humility.
هم‌چنین از بخل کم در روی جود
وز بلیسی چهره‌ی خوب سجود
Likewise do not in avarice rend the face of munificence, and in devilishness the beauteous countenance of worship.
بر مکن آن پر خلد آرای را
بر مکن آن پر ره‌پیمای را
Do not tear out those feathers which are an ornament to Paradise: do not tear out those feathers which (enable thee to) traverse the Way.”
چون شنید این پند در وی بنگریست
بعد از آن در نوحه آمد می‌گریست
When he (the peacock) heard this counsel, he looked at him (the Sage) and, after that, began to lament and weep.
نوحه و گریه‌ی دراز دردمند
هر که آنجا بود بر گریه‌ش فکند
The long lamentation and weeping of the sorrowful (peacock) caused every one who was there to fall a-weeping;
وآنک می‌پرسید پر کندن ز چیست
بی‌جوابی شد پشیمان می‌گریست
And he who was asking the reason of (the peacock’s) tearing out his feathers, (he too being left) without an answer repented (of having asked) and wept,
کز فضولی من چرا پرسیدمش
او ز غم پر بود شورانیدمش
Saying, “Why did I impertinently ask him (that question)? He was full of grief: I made him distraught.”
می‌چکید از چشم تر بر خاک آب
اندر آن هر قطره مدرج صد جواب
From his (the peacock’s) moist eyes the water (of tears) was trickling to the earth: in every drop were contained a hundred answers.
گریه‌ی با صدق بر جانها زند
تا که چرخ و عرش را گریان کند
Sincere weeping touches the souls (of all), so that it makes (even) the sky and heaven to weep.
عقل و دلها بی‌گمان عرشی‌اند
در حجاب از نور عرشی می‌زیند
Without any doubt, intellects and hearts (spirits) are celestial, (though) they live debarred from the celestial light.
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