Hilal, the Hidden Servant of God
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 6, section 30 of 137: Story of Hilal, who was a devoted servant to God (قصه‌ی هلال کی بنده‌ی مخلص بود خدای را صاحب بصیرت بی‌تقلید پنهان شده در بندگی مخلوقان جهت). Below, each of its 7 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of Hilal, who was a devoted servant to God. (He was) possessed of spiritual insight and (in his religion) was not a mere imitator (of others). He had concealed himself in (the disguise of) being a slave to (God’s) creatures, not from helplessness but for good reason, as Luqmán and Joseph and others (did, who were slaves) in appearance. He was a groom in the service of a certain Amír, and that Amír was a Moslem, but (spiritually) blind. “The blind man knows that he has a mother, but he cannot conceive what she is like.” If, having this knowledge, he show reverence towards his mother, it is possible that he may gain deliverance from blindness, for (the Prophet has said that) when God wills good unto a servant (of His) He opens the eyes of his heart, that He may let him see the Invisible (World) with them. قصه‌ی هلال کی بنده‌ی مخلص بود خدای را صاحب بصیرت بی‌تقلید پنهان شده در بندگی مخلوقان جهت مصلحت نه از عجز چنانک لقمان و یوسف از روی ظاهر و غیر ایشان بنده‌ی سایس بود امیری را و آن امیر مسلمان بود اما چشم بسته داند اعمی که مادری دارد لیک چونی بوهم در نارد اگر با این دانش تعظیم این مادر کند ممکن بود کی از عمی خلاص یابد کی اذا اراد الله به عبد خیرا فتح عینی قلبه لیبصره بهما الغیب این راه ز زندگی دل حاصل کن کین زندگی تن صفت حیوانست
چون شنیدی بعضی اوصاف بلال بشنو اکنون قصه‌ی ضعف هلال
Since you have heard some of the (excellent) qualities of Bilál, now hear the story of the emaciation of Hilál.
از بلال او بیش بود اندر روش خوی بد را بیش کرده بد کشش
He was more advanced than Bilál in the Way (to God): he had mortified his evil nature more.
نه چو تو پس‌رو که هر دم پس‌تری سوی سنگی می‌روی از گوهری
(He was) not a backslider like you, for at every moment you are farther back: you are moving away from the state of the (precious) pearl towards the state of the (worthless) stone.
آن‌چنان کان خواجه را مهمان رسید خواجه از ایام و سالش بر رسید
Tis like the case of the guest who came to a certain Khwája: the Khwája inquired concerning his days and years.
گفت عمرت چند سالست ای پسر بازگو و در مدزد و بر شمر
He asked, “How many years hast thou lived, my lad? Say (it) out and don’t hide (it) away but count up (correctly).”
گفت هجده هفده یا خود شانزده یا که پانزده ای برادرخوانده
He replied, “Eighteen, seventeen, or sixteen, or fifteen, O adoptive brother.”
گفت واپس واپس ای خیره سرت باز می‌رو تا بکس مادرت
“(Go) backward, backward,” said he, “O giddy-headed one”; “keep going back usque ad cunnum matris tuae!” [“(Go) backward, backward,” said he, “O giddy-headed one”; “keep going back until (you return to) your mother’s vagina!”]
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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