Quatrain Three from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
قرآن که مهین کلام خوانند آنراگهگاه نه بر دوام خوانند آنرا
بر گرد پیاله آیتی هست مقیمکاندر 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.