Story Summary
Experience the moving Sufi parable of The Old Harpist, a Rumi story about an aging musician whose sincere prayer in a graveyard captures the heart of God.
In the time of Caliph Umar, there lived a harpist whose music once enchanted the world. As age withered his fingers and cracked his voice, his audience vanished and he fell into poverty. Desperate and lonely, he traveled to the cemetery of Medina, crying out to God, 'When I was young, I played for the people; today, I play for You alone.' He played his worn harp until he fell asleep in exhaustion. Meanwhile, Umar received a divine message in a dream to seek out a 'dear servant' in the graveyard. Finding the old man, Umar woke him with profound reverence and offered him comfort. Overwhelmed that God had heard his silent plea, the harpist wept and shattered his harp against a tombstone, realizing that even his music had become a veil between his soul and the Divine.
The Moral
Sincere devotion transcends worldly talent, and God hears the music of a broken heart when the ego is finally silenced.
“I played for the people when I was young; now I play for You, for You are the only one who listens to the broken.”
Fun Fact
This story is featured in the first book of Rumi's Masnavi, a collection of over 25,000 verses often referred to as the 'Persian Quran' for its deep spiritual insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Old Harpist?
It teaches that God values the sincerity of the heart over outward skill or worldly success. True devotion is found when one lets go of the ego and offers their actions solely to the Divine.
Who wrote the story of The Old Harpist?
The story is a famous parable found in the Masnavi, a masterpiece of Persian literature written by the 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, Jalaluddin Rumi.
Why did the harpist break his harp?
He broke it because he realized that even his music, which he loved, had become a distraction and a form of spiritual pride. He wanted to remove every barrier between his soul and the presence of God.
What role does Caliph Umar play in the story?
Umar acts as the divine messenger who validates the harpist's devotion. His presence demonstrates that God recognizes those who turn to Him in solitude, regardless of their social standing.
What does the graveyard symbolize in this Rumi parable?
The graveyard represents the death of worldly desires and the realization of mortality. It is a place of silence where the noise of the world ends and a true conversation with God begins.
How does the story define true prayer?
True prayer is depicted as a cry from the depths of the soul, stripped of vanity and the need for an audience. It is not about perfect performance but about the honesty of one’s spiritual longing.