`âshiq-ân-râ jost-o jô az khwêsh nêst
dar jahân jôyanda joz ô bêsh nêst
în jahân-o ân jahân yak gawhar-ast
dar Haqîqat kufr-o dîn-o kêsh nêst
ay dam-at `îsà, dam az dûrî ma-zan
man ghulâm-é ân-ke dûr-andêsh nêst
gar be-gôy-î pas raw-am nay pas ma-raw
w-ar be-gô-î pêsh, nay rah pêsh nêst
dast be-goshâ dâman-é khwad-râ be-gîr
marham-é în rîsh joz în rêsh nêst
juzw-é darvêsh-and jumla nêk-o bad
har kî na-b’w-ad ô chon-în, darwêsh nêst
har ke az jâ raft jây-é ô dil-ast
ham-chô dil andar jahân jâyê-sh nêst
Ghazal 4251
For the lovers,there is no seeking (done) by themselves,
(for) there is no additional seeker in the world other than Him.
This world and the next are a single substance; in reality,
there is no unbelief, religion or faith.
O you whose breath (is like that of) Jesus! Don’t breath from
(such) a distance! I am the admirer of the one who is not far-thinking.
If you say, “I’ll go behind,” Don’t go! (There’s) no behind.
(And) if you say, “[I’ll go] ahead,” No! There’s no way ahead.
Open (your) hand [and be generous], (and) grab (the hem of)
your own robe9 [and be merciful]. (For) there is no bandage for this wound except this garment.
All good and bad (qualities) are parts of the dervishes; whoever is
not like this, is not a dervish.
Whoever has gone beyond “place,” his (only) place is the heart —
such a heart for which there is no place in the world!
SOURCE: The Dîwân-é Kabîr of Jalaluddin Rumi. Translated from the Persian by Ibrahim Gamard
