آن چنان کس را بباید چون زنان ** دور بودن از مصاف و از سنان
Such a one must stay, like women, far off from the battle-field and the spears.
صوفیی آن صوفیی این اینت حیف ** آن ز سوزن کشته این را طعمه سیف 3805
That one a Súfí and this one (too) a Súfí! Here's a pity! That one is killed by a needle, while the sword is this one's food.
نقش صوفی باشد او را نیست جان ** صوفیان بدنام هم زین صوفیان
He (the false Súfí) is (only) the figure of a Súfí: he has no soul (life); accordingly, the (true) Súfís get a bad name from Súfís such as these.
بر در و دیوار جسم گل‌سرشت ** حق ز غیرت نقش صد صوفی نبشت
Upon the door and wall of the body moulded of clay God, in His jealousy, traced the figures of a hundred Súfís (of this sort),
تا ز سحر آن نقشها جنبان شود ** تا عصای موسوی پنهان شود
To the end that by means of magic those figures should move and that Moses' rod should be hidden.
نقشها را میخورد صدق عصا ** چشم فرعونیست پر گرد و حصا
The truth of the rod swallows up the figures, (but) the Pharaoh-like eye is filled with dust and gravel (and cannot see).
صوفی دیگر میان صف حرب ** اندر آمد بیست بار از بهر ضرب 3810
Another Súfí entered the battle-line twenty times for the purpose of fighting
با مسلمانان به کافر وقت کر ** وانگشت او با مسلمانان به فر
Along with the Moslems when they attacked the infidels; he did not fall back with the Moslems in their retreat.
زخم خورد و بست زخمی را که خورد ** بار دیگر حمله آورد و نبرد
He was wounded, but he bandaged the wound which he had received, and once more advanced to the charge and combat,
تا نمیرد تن به یک زخم از گزاف ** تا خورد او بیست زخم اندر مصاف
In order that his body might not die cheaply at one blow and that he might receive twenty blows in the battle.
حیفش آمد که به زخمی جان دهد ** جان ز دست صدق او آسان رهد
To him it was anguish that he should give up his soul at one blow and that his soul should escape lightly from the hand of his fortitude.
حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص و آرزوی نفس و وسوسه‌ی نفس کی چون می‌اندازی به خندق باری به یک‌بار بینداز تا خلاص یابم کی الیاس احدی الراحتین او گفته کی این راحت نیز ندهم
Story of the (spiritual) warrior who every day used to take one dirhem separately from a purse containing (pieces of) silver and throw it into a ditch (full of water) for the purpose of thwarting the greed and cupidity of his fleshly soul; and how his soul tempted him, saying, “Since you are going to throw (this money) into the ditch, at least throw it away all at once, so that I may gain deliverance, for despair is one of the two (possible) reliefs”; and how he replied, “I will not give thee this relief either.”
آن یکی بودش به کف در چل درم ** هر شب افکندی یکی در آب یم 3815
A certain man had forty dirhems in his hand: every night he would throw one (of them) into the sea-water,
تا که گردد سخت بر نفس مجاز ** در تانی درد جان کندن دراز
In order that the long agony suffered in (the process of) deliberation might become grievous to the illusory soul.
با مسلمانان بکر او پیش رفت ** وقت فر او وا نگشت از خصم تفت
He (the valiant Súfí) advanced with the Moslems to attack (the infidels), (but) in the hour of retreat he did not fall back in haste before the enemy.
زخم دیگر خورد آن را هم ببست ** بیست کرت رمح و تیر از وی شکست
He was wounded again, (but) he bound up those (wounds) too: twenty times were the spears and arrows (of the enemy) broken by him.
بعد از آن قوت نماند افتاد پیش ** مقعد صدق او ز صدق عشق خویش
After that no strength remained (in him): his fell forward (and expired in) the seat of truth because his love was true.
صدق جان دادن بود هین سابقوا ** از نبی برخوان رجال صدقوا 3820
Truth consists in giving up the soul (to God). Hark, try to outstrip (the others) in the race! Recite from the Qur’án (the words) men who have been true.
این همه مردن نه مرگ صورتست ** این بدن مر روح را چون آلتست
All this dying is not the death of the (physical) form: this body is (only) like an instrument for the spirit.
ای بسا خامی که ظاهر خونش ریخت ** لیک نفس زنده آن جانب گریخت
Oh, there is many a raw (imperfect) one whose blood was shed externally, but whose living fleshly soul escaped to yonder side.
آلتش بشکست و ره‌زن زنده ماند ** نفس زنده‌ست ارچه مرکب خون فشاند
Its instrument was shattered, but the brigand was left alive: the fleshly soul is living though that on which it rode has bled to death.
اسپ کشت و راه او رفته نشد ** جز که خام و زشت و آشفته نشد
His (the rider's) horse was killed before his road was traversed: he became naught but ignorant and wicked and miserable.