آن زمان کت امتحان مطلوب شد ** مسجد دین تو پر خروب شد
At the time when it is your object to make trial (of God), the mosque, namely, your religion, becomes filled with kharrúb (carob).
قصه‌ی مسجد اقصی و خروب و عزم کردن داود علیه‌السلام پیش از سلیمان علیه‌السلام بر بنای آن مسجد
Story of the Farther Mosque and the carob and how, before (the reign of) Solomon, on whom be peace, David, on whom be peace, resolved on building that Mosque.
چون درآمد عزم داودی به تنگ ** که بسازد مسجد اقصی به سنگ
When David's resolve that he would build the Farther Mosque with stone came to sore straits,
وحی کردش حق که ترک این بخوان ** که ز دستت برنیاید این مکان
God made a Revelation to him, saying, “Proclaim the abandonment of this (enterprise), for (the building of) this place will not be achieved by thy hand.
نیست در تقدیر ما آنک تو این ** مسجد اقصی بر آری ای گزین390
’Tis not in Our fore-ordainment that thou shouldst raise this Farther Mosque, O chosen one.”
گفت جرمم چیست ای دانای راز ** که مرا گویی که مسجد را مساز
He said, “O Knower of the secret, what is my crime, that Thou forbiddest me to construct the Mosque?”
گفت بی‌جرمی تو خونها کرده‌ای ** خون مظلومان بگردن برده‌ای
He (God) said, “Without (committing) a crime, thou hast wrought much bloodshed: thou hast taken upon thy neck (art responsible for) the blood of (many) persons who have suffered injustice;
که ز آواز تو خلقی بی‌شمار ** جان بدادند و شدند آن را شکار
For from (hearing) thy voice a countless multitude gave up the ghost and fell a prey to it (thy voice).
خون بسی رفتست بر آواز تو ** بر صدای خوب جان‌پرداز تو
Much blood has gone to the score of (is chargeable to) thy voice, to thy beautiful soul-ravishing song.”
گفت مغلوب تو بودم مست تو ** دست من بر بسته بود از دست تو395
He (David) said, “I was overpowered by Thee, drunken with Thee: my hand (power) was tied up by Thy hand.
نه که هر مغلوب شه مرحوم بود ** نه که المغلوب کالمعدوم بود
Was not every one that was overpowered by the King the object of (His) mercy? Was not he (excused on the ground that) ‘The overpowered is like the non-existent’?”