This quatrain by Omar Khayyam says:
“O friend, hear a word of truth from me:
Be with ruby wine and a silver-bodied beloved.
For the One who created this world cares not
For your fine mustache or my holy beard.”
ای دوست حقیقت شنو از من سخنی
با بادهٔ لعل باش و با سیم تنی
کهآنکس که جهان کرد فراغت دارد
از سبلت چون تویی و ریش چو منی
In these witty yet profound lines, Khayyam blends humor with philosophy.
He tells his friend to enjoy life, to drink the “ruby wine” and cherish beauty, because the Creator of this vast universe remains untouched by human rituals, pride, or appearances.
When he mocks “your mustache” and “my beard,” he’s pointing to the vanity of both the worldly and the religious, the proud man of pleasure and the pious ascetic.
Both think their way is favored, yet Khayyam reminds us that the divine is far beyond such trivialities.
Through his playful tone, he delivers a serious message:
Life is not about showing holiness or superiority, it’s about living honestly, joyfully, and free from pretense.
In his unique way, Khayyam laughs at human arrogance, and in that laughter, reveals a deeper truth.
