Why Did You Not Visit Me When Sick?
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 47 of 113: How the high God revealed to Moses, (the words), “Wherefore didst not thou visit Me in sickness?” (وحی کردن حق تعالی به موسی علیه السلام که چرا به عیادت من نیامدی). Below, each of its 22 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the high God revealed to Moses, on whom be peace, (the words), “Wherefore didst not thou visit Me in sickness?” وحی کردن حق تعالی به موسی علیه السلام که چرا به عیادت من نیامدی
آمد از حق سوی موسی این عتاب
کای طلوع ماه دیده تو ز جیب
To Moses there came from God this reproach: “O thou who hast seen the rising of the moon from thy bosom,
مشرقت کردم ز نور ایزدی
من حقم رنجور گشتم نامدی
Thou whom I have made (radiant as) the place of sunrise by (illumining thee with) the Divine Light! I am God, I fell sick, thou camest not.”
گفت سبحانا تو پاکی از زیان
این چه رمز است این بکن یا رب بیان
Moses said, “O Thou transcendent in Thy glory, Thou art clear of loss (defect). What mystery is this? Explain this, O Lord!”
باز فرمودش که در رنجوریم
چون نپرسیدی تو از روی کرم
God said unto him again, “Wherefore in My sickness didst not thou kindly ask after Me?”
گفت یا رب نیست نقصانی تو را
عقل گم شد این سخن را بر گشا
He answered, “O Lord, Thou hast no imperfection. (My) understanding is lost: unfold (the meaning of) these words.”
گفت آری بنده خاص گزین
گشت رنجور او منم نیکو ببین
God said, “Yea; a favourite and chosen slave (of Mine) fell sick. I am he. Consider well!
هست معذوریش معذوری من
هست رنجوریش رنجوری من
His excusability (infirmity) is My excusability, his sickness is My sickness.”
هر که خواهد همنشینی خدا
تا نشیند در حضور اولیا
Whoever wishes to sit with God, let him sit in the presence of the saints.
از حضور اولیا گر بسکلی
تو هلاکی ز آن که جزوی بیکلی
If you are broken off (divided) from the presence of the saints, you are in perdition, because you are a part without the whole.
هر که را دیو از کریمان وابرد
بیکسش یابد سرش را او خورد
Whomsoever the Devil cuts off from the noble (saints), he finds him without any one (to help him), and he devours his head.
یک بدست از جمع رفتن یک زمان
مکر دیو است بشنو و نیکو بدان
To go for one moment a single span apart from the community (of saints) is (a result of) the Devil’s guile. Hearken, and know (it) well.
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