The Man Who Thought He Saw the New Moon
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 2 of 113: How in the time of ‘Umar, a certain person imagined that what he saw was the new moon (هلال پنداشتن آن شخص خیال را در عهد عمر). Below, each of its 46 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How in the time of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, a certain person imagined that what he saw was the new moon. هلال پنداشتن آن شخص خیال را در عهد عمر
ماه روزه گشت در عهد عمر
بر سر کوهی دویدند آن نفر
The Fasting-month (Ramadán) came round in ‘Umar’s time. Some people ran to the top of a hill,
تا هلال روزه را گیرند فال
آن یکی گفت ای عمر اینک هلال
In order to take (the appearance of) the new moon as a good omen, and one of them said, “Look, O ‘Umar, here is the new moon!”
چون عمر بر آسمان مه را ندید
گفت کاین مه از خیال تو دمید
As ‘Umar did not see the moon in the sky, he said, “This moon has risen from thy phantasy.
ور نه من بیناترم افلاک را
چون نمیبینم هلال پاک را
Otherwise, (since) I am a better seer of the heavens (than thou), how is it that I do not see the pure crescent?
گفت تر کن دست و بر ابرو بمال
آن گهان تو بر نگر سوی هلال
Wet thy hand,” said he, “and rub it on thine eyebrow, and then look up towards the new moon.”
چون که او تر کرد ابرو مه ندید
گفت ای شه نیست مه شد ناپدید
When he wetted his eyebrow, he did not see the moon. “O King,” he said, “there is no moon; it has disappeared.”
گفت آری موی ابرو شد کمان
سوی تو افکند تیری از گمان
“Yes,” said ‘Umar, “the hair of thine eyebrow had become (curved) like a bow and shot at thee an arrow of opinion.”
چون یکی مو کج شد او را راه زد
تا به دعوی لاف دید ماه زد
When one hair became crooked, it waylaid him (hindered him from seeing truly), so that, making a false claim, he boasted to have seen the moon.
موی کج چون پردهی گردون بود
چون همه اجزات کج شد چون بود
Inasmuch as a crooked hair veils the sky, how will it be when all your members are crooked?
راست کن اجزات را از راستان
سر مکش ای راست رو ز آن آستان
Straighten your members by (the help of) the straight (the righteous). O you who (would) go straight, turn not your head aside from that threshold (where the righteous dwell).
هم ترازو را ترازو راست کرد
هم ترازو را ترازو کاست کرد
Balance makes balance correct; balance also makes balance defective.
هر که با ناراستان هم سنگ شد
در کمی افتاد و عقلش دنگ شد
Whoever weighs the same (adopts the same standard) as the unrighteous falls into deficiency, and his understanding becomes dazed.
رو أشداء علی الکفار باش
خاک بر دل داری اغیار پاش
Go, be hard on the infidels, sprinkle dust on (renounce) fondness for the strangers.
بر سر اغیار چون شمشیر باش
هین مکن روباه بازی شیر باش
Be as a sword upon the heads of the strangers: come, do not play foxy tricks, be a lion,
تا ز غیرت از تو یاران نگسلند
ز آنکه آن خاران عدوی این گلند
In order that the friends (of God), moved by (righteous) jealousy, may not break with you, because those thorns (the wicked) are the enemies of this rose (the friend of God).
آتش اندر زن به گرگان چون سپند
ز آن که آن گرگان عدوی یوسفند
Set fire to the wolves as (to) rue-seed, because those wolves are the enemies of Joseph.
جان بابا گویدت ابلیس هین
تا به دم بفریبدت دیو لعین
Iblís calls you “father’s soul” (darling son) beware (of him)! The accursed Devil (does that) in order that he may beguile you with (vain) words.
این چنین تلبیس با بابات کرد
آدمی را این سیه رخ مات کرد
He practised the like imposture on your father: this black-faced one checkmated an Adam.
بر سر شطرنج چست است این غراب
تو مبین بازی به چشم نیم خواب
This crow is busy on the chessboard; look not you upon his game with an eye that is half-asleep,
ز آن که فرزین بندها داند بسی
که بگیرد در گلویت چون خسی
Because he knows many formidable moves which will stick in your throat like a straw.
در گلو ماند خس او سالها
چیست آن خس مهر جاه و مالها
His straw will stay in your throat for years. What is that straw? Love of rank and wealth.
مال خس باشد چو هست ای بیثبات
در گلویت مانع آب حیات
Wealth is the straw, since in your throat, O infirm one, it is an obstacle (barrier) to the Water of Life.
گر برد مالت عدوی پر فنی
ره زنی را برده باشد ره زنی
If an artful enemy carry off your wealth, a robber will have carried off a robber.
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