آنک سنت یا جماعت ترک کرد ** در چنین مسبع نه خون خویش خورد
He who has abandoned (the performance of) the Sunna with the (Moslem) community, has not he drunk his own blood (exposed himself to destruction) in such a haunt of wild beasts?
هست سنت ره جماعت چون رفیق ** بی‌ره و بی‌یار افتی در مضیق
The Sunna is the (safe) road, and the community are like (your) companions (on the road): without the road and without comrades you will fall into (sore) straits;
همرهی نه کو بود خصم خرد ** فرصتی جوید که جامه‌ی تو برد
(But) not the fellow-traveller who is an enemy to Reason and seeks an opportunity to carry off your clothes,
می‌رود با تو که یابد عقبه‌ای ** که تواند کردت آنجا نهبه‌ای
(And only) goes about with you in order to find a mountain-pass where he can plunder you!
یا بود اشتردلی چون دید ترس ** گوید او بهر رجوع از راه درس 505
Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road!
یار را ترسان کند ز اشتردلی ** این چنین همره عدو دان نه ولی
By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.
راه جان‌بازیست و در هر غیشه‌ای ** آفتی در دفع هر جان‌شیشه‌ای
The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
راه دین زان رو پر از شور و شرست ** که نه راه هر مخنث گوهرست
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.
در ره این ترس امتحانهای نفوس ** هم‌چو پرویزن به تمییز سبوس
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها 510
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.