این بنا ز آب و گل مرده بدست ** وان بنا از طاعت زنده شدست
This edifice has been (made) of dead water and earth, while that edifice has arisen from living piety.
این به اصل خویش ماند پرخلل ** وان به اصل خود که علمست و عمل
This (edifice) resembles its foundation (which is) full of defect, and that (edifice resembles) its foundation, which is knowledge and action.
هم سریر و قصر و هم تاج و ثیاب ** با بهشتی در سال و در جواب
Both throne and palace and crown and robes are (engaged) in question and reply (conversation) with the inhabitant of Paradise.
فرش بی‌فراش پیچیده شود ** خانه بی‌مکناس روبیده شود
The carpet (there) is folded without the farrash (carpet- spreader); the house (Paradise) is swept without the broom.
خانه‌ی دل بین ز غم ژولیده شد ** بی‌کناس از توبه‌ای روبیده شد480
Behold the house of the heart: it was disordered by (worldly) cares: without sweeper it was swept (clean) by a (vow of) repentance.
تخت او سیار بی‌حمال شد ** حلقه و در مطرب و قوال شد
Its throne moved along without carrier; its door-ring and door became (sweet-sounding like) musician and singer.
هست در دل زندگی دارالخلود ** در زبانم چون نمی‌آید چه سود
The life of the everlasting Abode (Paradise) exists in the heart: since it comes not on to my tongue, what is the use (of my attempting to describe it)?
چون سلیمان در شدی هر بامداد ** مسجد اندر بهر ارشاد عباد
When Solomon went into the Mosque every morning to guide the servants (of God) in the right way,
پند دادی گه بگفت و لحن و ساز ** گه به فعل اعنی رکوعی یا نماز
He would give exhortation, sometimes by speech and melody and harmony, sometimes by act—I mean, a bowing or (service of) prayer.
پند فعلی خلق را جذاب‌تر ** که رسد در جان هر باگوش و کر485
The exhortation of act draws people more powerfully, for it reaches the soul of every one that hath hearing and (also) the deaf.
اندر آن وهم امیری کم بود ** در حشم تاثیر آن محکم بود
In that (kind of exhortation) the conceit of princedom is less (than in the other kind): the impression made by it upon the (prince’s) followers is strong.
قصه‌ی آغاز خلافت عثمان رضی الله عنه و خطبه‌ی وی در بیان آنک ناصح فعال به فعل به از ناصح قوال به قول
Story of the beginning of the Caliphate of ‘Uthmán, may God be well-pleased with him, and his sermon expounding that the doer who exhorts by deeds is better than the speaker who exhorts by words.
قصه‌ی عثمان که بر منبر برفت ** چون خلافت یافت بشتابید تفت
The story (told) of ‘Uthmán is that he mounted the pulpit: when he obtained the Caliphate, he made hot haste (to mount it).
منبر مهتر که سه‌پایه بدست ** رفت بوبکر و دوم پایه نشست
(’Twas) the pulpit of the Chief (Mohammed), which had three steps: Abú Bakr went and seated himself on the second step.
بر سوم پایه عمر در دور خویش ** از برای حرمت اسلام و کیش
‘Umar, in his reign, (sat) on the third step in order to show reverence for Islam and the (true) Religion.
دور عثمان آمد او بالای تخت ** بر شد و بنشست آن محمودبخت490
(When) the reign of ‘Uthmán arrived, he, that man of praised (blessed) fortune, went up on to the top of the throne (pulpit) and seated himself.
پس سالش کرد شخصی بوالفضول ** که آن دو ننشستند بر جای رسول
Then a person given to idle meddling questioned him, saying, “Those two did not sit in the Prophet's place:
پس تو چون جستی ازیشان برتری ** چون برتبت تو ازیشان کمتری
How, then, hast thou sought to be higher than they, when thou art inferior to them in rank?”
گفت اگر پایه‌ی سوم را بسپرم ** وهم آید که مثال عمرم
He replied, “If I tread on the third step, it will be imagined that I resemble ‘Umar;
بر دوم پایه شوم من جای‌جو ** گویی بوبکرست و این هم مثل او
(And if) I seek a seat on the second step, thou wilt say, ‘’Tis (the seat of) Abú Bakr, and (therefore) this one too is like him.’
هست این بالا مقام مصطفی ** وهم مثلی نیست با آن شه مرا495
This top (of the pulpit) is the place of Mustafá (Mohammed): no one will imagine that I am like that (spiritual) King.”
بعد از آن بر جای خطبه آن ودود ** تا به قرب عصر لب‌خاموش بود
Afterwards, (seated) in the preaching-place, that loving man kept silence till near the (time of the) afternoon-prayer.
زهره نه کس را که گوید هین بخوان ** یا برون آید ز مسجد آن زمان
None dared to say “Come now, preach!” or to go forth from the mosque during that time.
هیبتی بنشسته بد بر خاص و عام ** پر شده نور خدا آن صحن و بام
An awe had settled (descended) on high and low (alike): the court and roof (of the mosque) had become filled with the Light of God.
هر که بینا ناظر نورش بدی ** کور زان خورشید هم گرم آمدی
Whoever possessed vision was beholding His Light; the blind man too was being heated by that Sun.
پس ز گرمی فهم کردی چشم کور ** که بر آمد آفتابی بی‌فتور500
Hence, by reason of the heat, the blind man's eye was perceiving that there had arisen a Sun whose strength faileth not.