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"The Story of Sahuri"
A certain man was drumming at a
certain gate to announce the "Sahir"*:
'twas a court-house and the pavilion of a grandee.
(Whilst) he was beating his drum vigorously at midnight, some one said to
him, "O thou who art seeking (the means of)
support,
Firstly, give this call to the "Sahir" at
daybreak: midnight is not the time for
(making) this disturbance;
And secondly, observe, O man of vain desire, whether in fact there is any one
inside this house at midnight.
There is nobody here except demons and spirits: why art thou trifling thy
time away?
Thou art beating thy tambourine for the sake of an ear: where is the ear?
Intelligence is needed in order to know (thy purpose): where is the
intelligence?"
He replied, "You have said (your say): (now) hear the answer from your
(humble) servant, that you may not remain in be-
wilderment and confusion.
Although in your opinion this moment is midnight, in my view the dawn of
delight is near at hand.
In my sight every defeat has been turned to victory, in my eyes all nights
have been turned to day.
To you the water of the river Nile seems
blood; to me it is not blood, 'tis water, O noble man.
As for your saying, "There is nobody in this house and palace: why art
thou beating this drum?"
(I reply that) this (Moslem) people are giving (large) sums of gold for God's
sake, founding hundreds of pious institutions and mosques,
And, like intoxicated lovers, gladly risking their property and lives* on
their way to (perform) the distant Pilgrimage:
Do they ever say, "The House (Ka'ba) is
empty"? Nay, (they know that) the Lord of the House is the Spirit
invisible.
Do they (the pilgrims) ever say, "We are crying Labbayka
without (receiving) any response. Pray, why (is this)"?
Nay, the Divine blessing which causes (their cries of)
Labbayka is (in truth) a response (coming) from the
One (God) at every moment.
I know by intuition* that this pavilion and palace is the banquet of the
soul, and that its dust is an elixir.
I will strike my copper on its elixir unto everlasting in the mode of treble
and bass*.
That, from (my) playing the Sahir tune in this
fashion, the seas (of Divine mercy) may surge (and be roused) to scatter
(their) pearls and (lavish their) bounty.
Men hazard their lives in the line of battle and in fighting for the
Creator's sake.
One is like Job in tribulation; another like Jacob in patience.
Hundreds of thousands of people, thirsty and sorrowful, are doing some sore
toil for God's sake in desire (of pleasing Him).
I too, for the merciful Lord's sake and in hope of Him, am drumming the Sahir-call at the gate."
Mathnawi, VI, 846-55, 861-78
Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson
"The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin
Rumi
Published and Distributed by
The Trustees of The "E.J.W. Gibb Memorial"
Sahuri" -- the drum-caller for the sahir, in the early morning during the month of Ramadan)
"Sahir" -- The meal taken just before daybreak during
the month of Ramadan.
"Lives" -- Literally, "body".
"Intuition" -- Literally,
"scent."
"I will strike my copper,
etc...." -- I.e. "I will strike every chord (employ every means) in seeking
spiritual transmutation, like the
lute-player whose plectrum moves up and down the strings." The elixir
was supposed to turn copper into gold.
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