Tales from Rumi

Moses and the Shepherd

Moses saw a shepherd on the way, who was saying, “O God who choosest as Thou wilt,

Where art Thou, that I may become Thy servant and sew Thy shoes and comb Thy head?

That I may wash Thy clothes and kill Thy lice and bring milk to Thee, O worshipful One;

That I may kiss Thy little hand and rub Thy little feet and sweep Thy little room at bedtime.”

On hearing these foolish words, Moses said, “Man, to whom are you speaking!”

He answered, “To Him who created us and brought this earth and heaven to sight.”

“Hark!” said Moses, “you are a very wicked man: indeed you are no true believer, you have become an infidel.

What babble is this? What blasphemy and raving? Stuff some cotton into your mouth!

The stench of your blasphemy hath made the whole world stink: your blasphemy hath torn the mantle of religion to rags.

Shoes and socks are fitting for you, but how are such things right for the Lord of glory?

Truly the friendship of a fool is enmity: the high God is not in want of suchlike service.”

The shepherd said, “O Moses, thou hast closed my mouth and thou hast burned my soul with contrition.”

He rent his garment, heaved a sigh, turned in haste towards the desert and went his way.

A Revelation came to Moses from God – “Thou hast parted My servant from Me.

Wert thou sent as prophet to unite, or wert thou sent to sever?

I have bestowed on everyone a particular mode of worship, I have given everyone a peculiar form of expression.

In regard to him these words were praiseworthy, in regard to thee blameworthy: honey for him, poison for thee.

The idiom of Hindustan is excellent in the Hindus, the idiom of Sind is excellent in the people of Sind.

I look not at tongue and speech, I look at the spirit and the inward feeling.

I gaze into the heart to see whether it be lowly, though the words uttered be not lowly.

Enough of phrases and conceptions and metaphors! I want burning, burning: become familiar with that burning!

Light up a fair of love in thy soul, burn all the thought and expression away!

O Moses, they that know the conventions are of one sort, they whose souls and spirits burn are of another sort.”

The Religion of Love is apart from all religions. The lovers of God have no religion but God alone.

(from Tales of Mystic Meaning: Selections from the Mathnawi of Jalal-ud-Din Rumi – Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson)