Azrael Seizes the Clay for Adam
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 66 of 175: The sending of Azrael, the Angel of firm resolution and strong mind, to seize a handful of clay in order that the body of Adam, might be quickened (فرستادن عزرائیل ملک العزم و الحزم را علیه‌السلام ببر گرفتن حفنه‌ای خاک تا شود جسم آدم). Below, each of its 34 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The sending of Azrael, the Angel of firm resolution and strong mind, on whom be peace, to seize a handful of clay in order that the body of Adam, on whom be peace, might be quickened. فرستادن عزرائیل ملک العزم و الحزم را علیه‌السلام ببر گرفتن حفنه‌ای خاک تا شود جسم آدم چالاک عیله‌السلام و الصلوة
گفت یزدان زو عزرائیل را که ببین آن خاک پر تخییل را
Straightway God said to Azrael, “Behold the Earth full of vain imagination!
آن ضعیف زال ظالم را بیاب مشت خاکی هین بیاور با شتاب
Find that feeble unjust old crone: hark, fetch a handful of clay and make haste!”
رفت عزرائیل سرهنگ قضا سوی کره‌ی خاک بهر اقتضا
Azrael, the captain of the (Divine) Decree, went off towards the terrestrial globe for the purpose of requisition.
خاک بر قانون نفیر آغاز کرد داد سوگندش بسی سوگند خورد
The Earth, according to rule, began lamenting loudly: she adjured him, she swore many an oath,
کای غلام خاص و ای حمال عرش ای مطاع الامر اندر عرش و فرش
Crying, “O favourite youth (page-of-honour), O bearer of the Throne, O thou whose command is obeyed in heaven and earth,
رو به حق رحمت رحمن فرد رو به حق آنک با تو لطف کرد
Depart, for the sake of the mercy of the Merciful (God)! Depart, for the sake of Him who hath shown kindness unto thee!
حق شاهی که جز او معبود نیست پیش او زاری کس مردود نیست
(Depart), for the sake of that King who alone is worshipped and with whom no one’s lamentation is rejected!”
گفت نتوانم بدین افسون که من رو بتابم ز آمر سر و علن
He replied, “These conjurations cannot move me to avert my face from (disobey) the Giver of (all) commands secret or manifest.”
گفت آخر امر فرمود او به حلم هر دو امرند آن بگیر از راه علم
She said, “After all, He hath commanded forbearance: both (severity and forbearance) are commanded: take (choose) the latter on the ground of knowledge.”
گفت آن تاویل باشد یا قیاس در صریح امر کم جو التباس
He replied, “That would be an interpretation or an inference: do not seek to confuse the plain meaning of the command.
فکر خود را گر کنی تاویل به که کنی تاویل این نامشتبه
If thou interpret (alter) thine own thought (so as to make it agree with the command), ’tis better than that thou shouldst interpret (pervert) this unequivocal (command).
دل همی‌سوزد مرا بر لابه‌ات سینه‌ام پر خون شد از شورابه‌ات
My heart is burning (melting) at thy supplication, my bosom is filled with blood on account of thy salty tears.
نیستم بی‌رحم بل زان هر سه پاک رحم بیشستم ز درد دردناک
I am not pitiless; nay, I have greater pity than those three holy ones for the sorrow of the sorrowful.
گر طبانجه می‌زنم من بر یتیم ور دهد حلوا به دستش آن حلیم
If I am slapping an orphan, while a mild-natured person may put halwá (sweetmeat) in his hand,
این طبانجه خوشتر از حلوای او ور شود غره به حلوا وای او
Those slaps (of mine) are better (for him) than the other’s halwá; and if he be beguiled by the halwá, woe to him!
بر نفیر تو جگر می‌سوزدم لیک حق لطفی همی‌آموزدم
My heart is burning at thy lamentable cry, but God is teaching me (to know) a (great) kindness.
لطف مخفی در میان قهرها در حدث پنهان عقیق بی‌بها
The kindness concealed amidst cruelties, the priceless cornelian hidden in filth.
قهر حق بهتر ز صد حلم منست منع کردن جان ز حق جان کندنست
The cruelty done by God is better than a hundred clemencies of mine: to withhold the soul from God is agony to the soul.
بترین قهرش به از حلم دو کون نعم رب‌العالمین و نعم عون
His worst cruelty is better than the clemency of both worlds: how excellent is the Lord of created beings and how excellent (His) help!
لطفهای مضمر اندر قهر او جان سپردن جان فزاید بهر او
In His cruelty there are secret kindnesses: to surrender the soul for His sake increases (the life of) the soul.
هین رها کن بدگمانی و ضلال سر قدم کن چونک فرمودت تعال
Hark, dismiss suspicion and error: make thy head a foot (to hasten towards Him) since He hath bidden thee come.
آن تعال او تعالیها دهد مستی و جفت و نهالیها دهد
His ‘Come’ will give (thee) exaltations; it will give (thee) intoxication and (spiritual) brides and couches.
باری آن امر سنی را هیچ هیچ من نیارم کرد وهن و پیچ پیچ
In short, never, never can I weaken (the force of) that sublime command and complicate it (by prevarication).”
این همه بشنید آن خاک نژند زان گمان بد بدش در گوش بند
The wretched Earth heard all this (counsel), (but) in her ear was a plug arising from that evil suspicion.
باز از نوعی دگر آن خاک پست لابه و سجده همی‌کرد او چو مست
Once more in another fashion the lowly Earth made entreaty and prostrated herself, like a drunken man.
گفت نه برخیز نبود زین زیان من سر و جان می‌نهم رهن و ضمان
He said, “Nay, arise! There is no loss (to thee) from this (thing), I lay my head and life as a pledge and guarantee.
لابه مندیش و مکن لابه دگر جز بدان شاه رحیم دادگر
Do not think of entreating (me), do not make further entreaty except to that merciful and justice-dealing King.
بنده فرمانم نیارم ترک کرد امر او کز بحر انگیزید گرد
I am a slave to (His) command, I dare not neglect His command which raised dust from the sea.
جز از آن خلاق گوش و چشم و سر نشنوم از جان خود هم خیر و شر
Save from the Creator of ear and eye and head I will hear (accept) neither good nor evil not even from my own soul.
گوش من از گفت غیر او کرست او مرا از جان شیرین جان‌ترست
My ear is deaf to all words but His: He is dearer to me than my sweet soul.
جان ازو آمد نیامد او ز جان صدهزاران جان دهم او رایگان
The soul came from Him, not He from the soul: He bestows a hundred thousand souls free of cost.
جان کی باشد کش گزینم بر کریم کیک چه بود که بسوزم زو گلیم
Who is the soul that I should prefer her to the Gracious (God)? What is a flea that I should burn the blanket on account of it?
من ندانم خیر الا خیر او صم و بکم و عمی من از غیر او
I know no good but His good: I am deaf and dumb and blind to all but Him.
گوش من کرست از زاری‌کنان که منم در کف او هم‌چون سنان
My ear is deaf to those who make lamentation, for I am as the spear in His hand.
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