The rest of the Story of the Khwaja’s going to the village on the invitation of the countryman.
شاعر: رومی
وزن: فاعلاتن فاعلاتن فاعلن (رمل مسدس محذوف یا وزن مثنوی)
صنف: مثنوی
It (this digression) has passed beyond bounds: return, O valiant friend. The countryman, mark you, took the Khwaja to his house.
Put aside the story of the people of Saba: tell how the Khwaja came to the village.
The countryman used blandishments in ingratiating himself, until he made the Khwaja’s prudence crazy.
He ( the Khwaja) was distracted by message upon message, till the clear water of his prudence became turbid.
On the same side his children in approval (of the country-man’s invitation) were joyously striking up “Let us frolic and play,”
Like Joseph, whom by the wondrous (act of Divine) predestination (the words). “Let us frolic and play” carried off from his father’s shadow (protection).
That is not (joyful) play; nay, ‘tis play with one’s life, ‘tis cunning and deceit and contrivance of fraud.
Whatsoever would fling you asunder from the Friend, do not listen to it, for it holds loss, loss.
(Even) if the gain be a hundred hundredfold, do not accept it: do not, for the sake of the gold, break with the Treasurer, O dervish!
Hear how many a rebuke, hot and cold (kindly and severe), God addressed to the Companions of the Prophet,
Because, in a year of distress (famine), at the sound of the drum they (quitted) without tarrying (and) made void the Friday congregation,
“Lest” (so they said) “others should buy cheap and get the advantage over us in respect of those imported goods.”
The Prophet was left alone in prayer with two or three poor men firm (in their faith) and full of supplication.
He (God) said, “How did the drum and the pastime and a trading affair sunder you from a man of God?
Ye have dispersed (and run) madly towards the wheat, and left a Prophet standing (in prayer).
On account of the wheat ye sowed the seed of vanity and forsook that Messenger of God.
Companionship with him is better that pastime and riches: (look and ) see whom thou hast forsaken, rub an eye!
Verily, to your greed did not this become certain, that I am the Provider and the best of them that provide?”
He that giveth sustenance from Himself unto the wheat, how should He let thy acts of trust (in Him) be wasted?
For the sake of wheat thou hast become parted from Him who hath sent the wheat from Heaven.
