Religious Tolerance in Rumi's Poetry
In the path of seeking,
the wise and fools are the same.
In the faith of love,
the known and unknown are the same.
For the lover intoxicated
by the wine of mystical union with Beloved,
in his or her faith,
Muslims' Kaaba and Hindus' Temple of Idols
are the same.
در راه طلب عاقل و دیوانه یکیست
در شیوه عشق خویش و بیگانه یکیست
آنرا که شراب وصل جانان دادند
درمذهب او کعبه و بتخانه یکیست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Close your fault seeking eyes
and open your spiritual ones.
So you won't differentiate
between a Mosques or a Temple of Idols.
So you won't draw any distinction
between this believer or that believer.
بر بند دو چشم عیب بین را
بگشای دو چشم غیب دان را
تا مسجد و بتکده نماند
تا نشناسی این و آن را
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
There is a whole other world out there
beyond just Islam and Infidels.
I'm very interested
to get to know that world.
When Sufi mystics reach that realm,
they simply lay their heads down.
Because in that inclusive world
there is no room for Islam or Infidels.
از کفر و زاسلام برون صحراییست
ما را بمیان آنفضا، سوداییست
عارف چو بدان رسید سر را بنهد
نه کفر و نه اسلام و نه آنجا جاییست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Out beyond the worlds of Islam and Infidels,
there lies an egalitarian world
where no one is better, worse, or
more significant than the other.
If you're interested in moving
to that unique world,
you need to first leave you heart and soul
as deposit with its Soul Master!
بیرون ز جهان کفر و ایمان جاییست
کانجا نه مقام هر تر و رعناییست
جان باید داد و دل بشکرانه ی جان
آنرا که تمنای چنین مأواییست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
He (God) lives deep inside
the inner and outer parts of my heart,
every single part of my heart belongs to Him.
He (God) dwells deep inside my body,
my veins, and my blood,
every single part of my body belongs to Him.
How could there still be a place
for Islam or Infidels inside my heart,
if my entire being belongs to Him?
اندر دل من درون و بیرون همه اوست
اندر تن من جان و رگ و خون همه اوست
اینجای چگونه کفر و ایمان گنجد
بیچون باشد وجود من چون همه اوست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
If the presence of my Beloved
is felt in the Temple of Idols,
then it's a sin for me
going to Kaaba and circle around it.
If the fragrance of my Beloved
cannot be traced in Kaaba,
then I'd rather look around
for a Jewish Synagogue.
For the sake of tracing
the scent of my Beloved's union,
the Synagogue will be my Kaaba
from now on.
from now on.
در بتکده تا خیال معشوهٔ ما است
رفتن به طواف کعبه در عین خطا است
گر کعبه از او بوی ندارد کنشت است
با بوی وصال اوکنشت کعبهٔ ما است
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
I'm in love with Love
Because Love is my salvation.
I'm in love with Love
Someone else is a Muslim!
ما عاشق عشقیم که عشقست نجات
ما عاشق عشقیم و مسلمان دگراست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Your lover is certainly not a Muslim
because in the Religion of Love
There is no Islam or Infidels!
عاشق تو یقین دار که مسلمان نبود
درمذهب عشق کفرو ایمان نبود
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Muslims, Christians, Jews,
Zoroastrians, and Idol-worshipers,
We all journey in our own ways
Towards the Almighty Sultan (God).
مومن و ترسا، جهود و گبر و مغ
جمله را سوی آن سلطان الغ
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
The sign of my faith can only be traced
beyond Islam and Infidels.
I run away from Muslims' Sufi Orders
and know anything about Infidels' Zenar-belt! *
*Throughout the Islamic history, non-Muslims living in Islamdom or Islamic societies were forced to wear a green belt (Zenar-belt), a distinctive shawl or girdle, or a yellow badge (similar to Christians' Jewish badge) to be segregated and distinguished from Muslims.
از کفر و ز اسلام برون است نشانم
از فرقه گريزانم و زنار ندانم
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Religion of Love is different
from all other religions.
For true lovers of love,
God is their only religion.
مذهب عشق زمذهب ها جداست
عاشقان را مذهب و ملت خداست
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
Love is my religion and I'm alive
only because of Love.
Living as a typical Muslim believer
is a total disgrace for my body and soul!
دين من از عشق زنده بودن است
زندگى زين جان و تن ننگ من است
حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
If you journey upon the path without any vision,
You'll commit many major errors.
But if you solely rely on your sight,
You'll end up shooting yourself in the eye!
For those believers being turned away
From a Mosque or a Church,
Do you know where their Holy House of Worship
is actually at?!
رباعي حضرت مولانا جلال الدين بلخي رومي
بی دیده اگر راه روی عین خطاست
بر دیده اگر تکیه زدی تیر بلاست
در صومعه ومدرسه از راه مجاز
آنرا که نه جا است تو چه دانی که کجاست
