Read› Daftar 5› The story of the dervish who, in Herat, saw the decorated slaves of the Amid of Khorasan on Arab horses, wearing brocade robes and richly embroidered hats, and other finery. He asked, 'Which emirs are these, and what kings?' He was told, 'These are not emirs; these are the slaves of the Amid of Khorasan.' He turned his face to the sky and said, 'O God, teach the Amid how to raise slaves!' (There, the revenue collector is called Amid.)› beyt 3200
M5:3200 — وقت صحت جمله یارند و حریف / وقت درد و غم به جز حق کو الیف
M5:3200
Meaning · به زبانِ تو — Your language · AI
This couplet observes that while people will flock to you when you are well and successful, only God remains as a true, intimate friend when you are suffering.
This verse serves as the core principle summarizing the preceding lines' warning against superficial relationships. Rumi has just cautioned the reader about fair-weather friends who offer no real substance and are not true lovers of one's soul. He contrasts these 'lovers of a few days' with the unseen, genuine lovers who are connected to the divine.
The couplet makes this contrast stark and universal. 'Health' (ṣiḥḥat) here means more than just physical well-being; it implies prosperity, success, and social standing—times when one is an attractive companion. In such periods, friends and rivals (ḥarīf) abound. However, the true test of companionship is 'pain and sorrow' (dard o gham). In these moments of trial, which strip away all pretense, these worldly friends vanish. The question 'where is an intimate (alīf)?' is rhetorical, asserting that no one is left.
The only constant, unfailing presence is God (Ḥaqq), the ultimate Reality and Truth. He is the sole true 'intimate'—a friend who not only remains but whose presence is most deeply felt precisely in moments of affliction. The subsequent verses will urge the reader to remember this pain, as it is the very thing that reveals the singular, unwavering friendship of the Divine.
- حریف
- A complex term meaning companion, associate, partner, but also rival or adversary. Here, it encompasses the broad category of people who engage with you in daily life and commerce, often with a competitive edge.
- حق
- Literally 'Truth' or 'Reality'. One of the names of God in Islam and a key term in Sufism, referring to God as the ultimate, sole Reality. Here, it stands for God Himself.
- الیف
- An intimate, a close and familiar friend, a confidant. From the same Arabic root as 'ulfat' (familiarity, intimacy). It implies a deeper, more heartfelt connection than 'yār' (friend).
Discussion — Ask about this beyt — answered from the Masnavi, every verse cited
Your conversation stays on this device unless you share it.
What readers asked0
No questions shared yet — yours could be the first.