On Knowledge

Poem by REHMAN BABA

عالمان دي روښنايي ددې دنيا
عالمان دي د تمام جهان پېشوا

Lights in the world are those, who know,
Guides of mankind are those, who know

که څوک لار غواړي و خداى ته و رسول ته
عالمان دي ددې لارې رهنما

When looking for the road to God
And prophet, ask from those, who know

کيمياگر که د کيميا په طلب گرځي
همدمي د عالمانو ده کيميا

The alchemist in his research
Finds sympathy with those, who know

په مجلس  د عالمانو به سرۀ زر شي
که څوک کاڼى وي که لُوټه د صحرا

A desert stone will turn to gold
In company with those, who know

جاهلان دي په مثال د مرده گانو
عالمان دي په مثال د مسيحا

An ignorant is like a corpse,
Like Jesus Christ are those, who know

چې مرده يې له نفسه ژوندي کېږي
عالمان دي واړه هسې اوليا

For by His breath the dead arose,
The saintly breath of those, who know

هر سړى چې رتبه نۀ لري د علم
سړى نۀ دى خالي نقش دى گويا

Those are not humans, only shells,
The empty ones, who do not know

زه رحمان حلقه بگوش د هر عالم يم
که اعلٰى دى که اوسط دى که ادنىٰ

No matter to which low degree,
REHMAN will serve the ones, who know

(Translated by Jens Enevoldsen. The Nightingale of Peshawar: Selection from Rehman Baba. Published by InterLit Foundation, Peshawar)