سنگها اندر کف بو جهل بود ** گفت ای احمد بگو این چیست زود
There were some pebbles in the hand of Bú Jahl: “O Ahmad,” said he, “tell quickly what this is.
گر رسولی چیست در مشتم نهان ** چون خبر داری ز راز آسمان2155
If thou art the Messenger (of God), what is hidden in my fist? (Speak), since thou hast knowledge of the mysteries of Heaven.”
گفت چون خواهی بگویم کان چهاست ** یا بگویند آن که ما حقیم و راست
He said, “How dost thou wish (me to do)? Shall I say what those (hidden) things are, or shall they declare that I am truthful and right?”
گفت بو جهل این دوم نادرتر است ** گفت آری حق از آن قادرتر است
Bú Jahl said, “This second (thing) is more extraordinary.” “Yes,” said the Prophet, “(but) God hath greater power than that.”
از میان مشت او هر پاره سنگ ** در شهادت گفتن آمد بی‌‌درنگ
Without delay, from the middle of his (closed) fist every pebble began to pronounce the (Moslem's) profession of faith.
لا إله گفت و إلا الله گفت ** گوهر احمد رسول الله سفت
Each said, “There is no god” and (each) said, “except Allah”; (each) threaded the pearl of “Ahmad is the Messenger of Allah.”
چون شنید از سنگها بو جهل این ** زد ز خشم آن سنگها را بر زمین2160
When Bú Jahl heard this from the pebbles, in his anger he dashed those pebbles on the ground.
بقیه‌‌ی قصه‌‌ی مطرب و پیغام رسانیدن عمر به او آن چه هاتف آواز داد
The rest of the story of the minstrel, and how the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, conveyed to him the message spoken by the heavenly voice.
باز گرد و حال مطرب گوش دار ** ز آن که عاجز گشت مطرب ز انتظار
Turn back and hear the plight of the minstrel, for the minstrel had (now) become desperate from waiting (so long).
بانگ آمد مر عمر را کای عمر ** بنده‌‌ی ما را ز حاجت باز خر
The voice (of God) came to ‘Umar, saying, “O ‘Umar, redeem Our servant from want.
بنده‌‌ای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار2165
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید2170
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.
گفت حق فرمود ما را بنده‌‌ای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخنده‌‌ای است
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست2175
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.