نیک بنگر اندرین ای محتجب ** که دعا را بست حق در استجب
Consider this well, O thou who art veiled (by worldliness), that God hath tied “invocation” to “I will answer.”
هر که را دل پاک شد از اعتلال ** آن دعااش می‌رود تا ذوالجلال2305
Whosoever's heart is purged of infirmity, his invocation will go unto the Lord of glory.
باز شرح کردن حکایت آن طالب روزی حلال بی کسب و رنج در عهد داود علیه السلام و مستجاب شدن دعای او
Explaining further the story of him who in the time of David, on whom be peace, sought to receive (from God) lawful means of livelihood without working or taking trouble, and how his prayer was answered favourably.
یادم آمد آن حکایت کان فقیر ** روز و شب می‌کرد افغان و نفیر
The story has come into my mind how that poor man used to moan and lament day and night,
وز خدا می‌خواست روزی حلال ** بی شکار و رنج و کسب و انتقال
And beg of God a lawful means of livelihood without pursuit and trouble and work and movement (from one place to another).
پیش ازین گفتیم بعضی حال او ** لیک تعویق آمد و شد پنج‌تو
We have formerly related a part of what happened to him, but hindrance intervened and became fivefold.
هم بگوییمش کجا خواهد گریخت ** چون ز ابر فضل حق حکمت بریخت
(Now) too we shall tell( the rest of) it. Whither will it (the story) flee, since wisdom has poured (on us) from the clouds of God’s bounty?
صاحب گاوش بدید و گفت هین ** ای بظلمت گاو من گشته رهین2310
The owner of the cow espied him and said “Hey, O you to whose unrighteousness my cow has fallen a prey,
هین چراکشتی بگو گاو مرا ** ابله طرار انصاف اندر آ
Hey, tell (me) why did you kill my cow? Fool! Cutpurse! Deal fairly (with me).”
گفت من روزی ز حق می‌خواستم ** قبله را از لابه می‌آراستم
He said, “I was begging God for daily bread and preparing aqibla(for myself) of supplication.
آن دعای کهنه‌ام شد مستجاب ** روزی من بود کشتم نک جواب
That ancient prayer of mine was answered (by God). She (the cow) was my portion of daily bread: I killed her. Behold the answer (to your question)!”
او ز خشم آمد گریبانش گرفت ** چند مشتی زد به رویش ناشکفت
He (the owner of the cow) came angrily and seized his collar; having lost patience, he struck him in the face with his fist several times.
رفتن هر دو خصم نزد داود علیه السلام
How both the adversaries went to David, on whom be peace.
می‌کشیدش تا به داود نبی ** که بیا ای ظالم گیج غبی2315
He led him to the Prophet David, saying, “Come, O you crazy fool and criminal!
حجت بارد رها کن ای دغا ** عقل در تن آور و با خویش آ
Drop (this) silly argument, O impostor; let (some) intelligence into your body and come to your senses!
این چه می‌گویی دعا چه بود مخند ** بر سر و و ریش من و خویش ای لوند
What is this that you are saying? What is the prayer (you speak of)? Do not laugh at my head and beard and your own (too), O scoundrel!”
گفت من با حق دعاها کرده‌ام ** اندرین لابه بسی خون خورده‌ام
He (the poor man) said, “I have offered (many) prayers to God, I have borne much toil and pain in this supplication.
من یقین دارم دعا شد مستجاب ** سر بزن بر سنگ ای منکرخطاب
I possess the certainty (that) the prayer has been answered. Dash your head against the stones, O foul-spoken one!”
گفت گرد آیید هین یا مسلمین ** ژاژ بینید و فشار این مهین2320
He cried, “Hey, gather round, O Moslems! Behold the drivel and raving of this imbecile!
ای مسلمانان دعا مال مرا ** چون از آن او کند بهر خدا
O Moslems, for God’s sake, how should prayer make my property belong to him?
گر چنین بودی همه عالم بدین ** یک دعا املاک بردندی بکین
If it were so, by means of a single prayer of this kind the whole world would carry off (one another’s) possessions by force.
گر چنین بودی گدایان ضریر ** محتشم گشته بدندی و امیر
If it were so, the blind beggars would have become grandees and princes;
روز و شب اندر دعااند و ثنا ** لابه‌گویان که تو ده‌مان ای خدا
(For) they are (engaged) day and night in invocation and praise (of God), uttering entreaties and crying, ‘O God, do Thou give unto us!
تا تو ندهی هیچ کس ندهد یقین ** ای گشاینده تو بگشا بند این2325
Unless Thou give, assuredly no one will give (us anything): O Opener, do Thou open the lock of this (bounty)!’
مکسب کوران بود لابه و دعا ** جز لب نانی نیابند از عطا
Supplication and prayer is the means whereby the blind earn their livelihood, (yet) they get no gift but a crust of bread.”
خلق گفتند این مسلمان راست‌گوست ** وین فروشنده‌ی دعاها ظلم‌جوست
The people said, “This Moslem speaks the truth, and this prayer-monger is one who seeks to act unjustly.
این دعا کی باشد از اسباب ملک ** کی کشید این را شریعت خود بسلک
How should this prayer be a means of acquiring property? When forsooth did the religious Law enter this on the roll?