دید آنجا کاروانی بس بزرگ ** بر تف ریگ و ره صعب و سترگ
He saw there an exceeding great caravan on the scalding sand and (engaged in) a hard and terrible journey;
اشترانشان را زبان آویخته ** خلق اندر ریگ هر سو ریخته
The tongues of their camels hanging out, the people strown everywhere on the sand.
رحمش آمد گفت هین زوتر روید ** چند یاری سوی آن کثبان دوید3135
He took pity and said, “Hark, go at once, some of your comrades, and run to yonder sandhills,
گر سیاهی بر شتر مشک آورد ** سوی میر خود به زودی می‌برد
For a negro on camelback will (presently) bring a water-skin, (which) he is conveying with all speed to his master.
آن شتربان سیه را با شتر ** سوی من آرید با فرمان مر
Bring to me that negro camel-driver along with the camel by force, if need be.”
سوی کثبان آمدند آن طالبان ** بعد یکساعت بدیدند آنچنان
Those seekers approached the sandhills: after a short while they saw ’twas even so:
بنده‌ای می‌شد سیه با اشتری ** راویه پر آب چون هدیه‌بری
A negro slave was going with a camel, the water-skin filled with water, like one bearing a gift.
پس بدو گفتند می‌خواند ترا ** این طرف فخر البشر خیر الوری3140
Then they said to him, “The Pride of mankind, the Best of created beings, invites thee (to come) in this direction.”
گفت من نشناسم او را کیست او ** گفت او آن ماه‌روی قندخو
He said, “I do not know him: who is he?” He (the spokesman) said, “He is that moon-faced sweet-natured one.”
نوعها تعریف کردندش که هست ** گفت مانا او مگر آن شاعرست
They described to him the diverse qualities which exist (in the Prophet): he said, “Belike he is that poet (wizard)
که گروهی را زبون کرد او بسحر ** من نیایم جانب او نیم شبر
Who subdued a multitude by magic: I will not come half a span towards him.”
کش‌کشانش آوریدند آن طرف ** او فغان برداشت در تشنیع و تف
Dragging him along, they brought him thither: he raised an outcry in revilement and heat (of anger).
چون کشیدندش به پیش آن عزیز ** گفت نوشید آب و بردارید نیز3145
When they dragged him before that venerable one, he (the Prophet) said, “Drink ye the water and carry it away withal.”
جمله را زان مشک او سیراب کرد ** اشتران و هر کسی زان آب خورد
He satisfied the thirst of them all from that water-skin: the camels and every person drank of that water.
راویه پر کرد و مشک از مشک او ** ابر گردون خیره ماند از رشک او
From his (the negro's) water-skin he filled large and small water-skins: from jealousy of him the clouds in the sky were distraught.
این کسی دیدست کز یک راویه ** سرد گردد سوز چندان هاویه
Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that the burning glow of so many Hells (of thirst) should be cooled by a single water-skin?
این کسی دیدست کز یک مشک آب ** گشت چندین مشک پر بی اضطراب
Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that all these water-skins were filled from a single water-skin without trouble?
مشک خود روپوش بود و موج فضل ** می‌رسید از امر او از بحر اصل3150
The water-skin itself was a veil, and (in reality) at his (the Prophet's) command the waves of (Divine) bounty were coming (to them) from the Sea of origin.
آب از جوشش همی‌گردد هوا ** و آن هوا گردد ز سردی آبها
“Water by boiling is converted into air, and that air by cold is turned into water.”
بلک بی علت و بیرون زین حکم ** آب رویانید تکوین از عدم
Nay, (it is not so); without cause and beyond these maxims of (natural) philosophy the (Divine) act of bringing into existence produced the water from non-existence.
تو ز طفلی چون سببها دیده‌ای ** در سبب از جهل بر چفسیده‌ای
Inasmuch as you have observed (secondary) causes from your childhood, through ignorance you have stuck to the (secondary) cause.
با سببها از مسبب غافلی ** سوی این روپوشها زان مایلی
(Being occupied) with causes you are forgetful of the Causer: hence you are inclining towards these veils.
چون سببها رفت بر سر می‌زنی ** ربنا و ربناها می‌کنی3155
When (all secondary) causes are gone, you will beat your head and cry many a time, “O our Lord! O our Lord!”
رب می‌گوید برو سوی سبب ** چون ز صنعم یاد کردی ای عجب
The Lord will say, “Betake thyself to the (secondary) cause! How hast thou remembered My work? Oh, wonderful!”
گفت زین پس من ترا بینم همه ** ننگرم سوی سبب و آن دمدمه
He (the believer in secondary causes) says, “Henceforth I will behold Thee entirely: I will not look towards the cause and that deception (by which I was led astray).”