Quatrain Three from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
قرآن که مهین کلام خوانند آنرا
گهگاه نه بر دوام خوانند آنرا
بر گرد پیاله آیتی هست مقیم
کاندر همه جا مدام خوانند آنرا
Description:
This poem seems to be playing with the idea of the Quran's presence in both sacred and secular contexts. The first two lines establish the Quran as a sacred text that is sometimes read, while the last two lines suggest that a particular verse or divine sign is always present, even in mundane activities like drinking.
Translation:
A more literal translation
They call the Quran the noble speech,
Sometimes reading it, sometimes not.
On every cup, a verse resides,
That’s read everywhere, all the time.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
The Quran, words divine and deep,
Is read at times, then laid to sleep.
Yet in each cup, a verse remains,
A constant echo through life’s domains.
A more contemporary and informal translation
They call the Quran the ultimate word,
Sometimes it’s read, sometimes unheard.
But every cup holds a hidden verse,
A constant reminder, for better or worse.
Quran که مهین کلام: This phrase directly translates to "the Quran, the noble speech." It refers to the Quran as a sacred text.
گهگاه نه بر دوام: This phrase means "sometimes, not continuously." It implies that the Quran is not always read consistently.