He was crying, “Woe and alas! Woe and alas!” even as the unbeliever in the depths of the tomb,
منتظر که کی شود این شب به سر ** یا برآید در گشادن بانگ در
Waiting to see when this night would come to an end, that the noise of the door in opening might rise (to his ear),
تا گریزد او چو تیری از کمان ** تا نبیند هیچ کس او را چنان 95
In order to flee like an arrow from the bow, (for fear) lest any one should see him in such a condition.
قصه بسیارست کوته می‌کنم ** باز شد آن در رهید از درد و غم
The story is long: I will shorten it. The door opened: he was delivered from grief and pain.
در حجره گشادن مصطفی علیه‌السلام بر مهمان و خود را پنهان کردن تا او خیال گشاینده را نبیند و خجل شود و گستاخ بیرون رود
How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
مصطفی صبح آمد و در را گشاد ** صبح آن گمراه را او راه داد
At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
در گشاد و گشت پنهان مصطفی ** تا نگردد شرمسار آن مبتلا
Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
تا برون آید رود گستاخ او ** تا نبیند درگشا را پشت و رو
But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
یا نهان شد در پس چیزی و یا ** از ویش پوشید دامان خدا 100
Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel).
صبغة الله گاه پوشیده کند ** پرده‌ی بی‌چون بر آن ناظر تند
The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
تا نبیند خصم را پهلوی خویش ** قدرت یزدان از آن بیشست بیش
So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
مصطفی می‌دید احوال شبش ** لیک مانع بود فرمان ربش
Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
تا که پیش از خبط بگشاید رهی ** تا نیفتد زان فضیحت در چهی
From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
لیک حکمت بود و امر آسمان ** تا ببیند خویشتن را او چنان 105
(Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded).
بس عداوتها که آن یاری بود ** بس خرابیها که معماری بود
There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
جامه خواب پر حدث را یک فضول ** قاصدا آورد در پیش رسول
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
که چنین کردست مهمانت ببین ** خنده‌ای زد رحمةللعالمین
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
که بیار آن مطهره اینجا به پیش ** تا بشویم جمله را با دست خویش
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
هر کسی می‌جست کز بهر خدا ** جان ما و جسم ما قربان ترا 110
Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.
ما بشوییم این حدث را تو بهل ** کار دستست این نمط نه کار دل
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
ای لعمرک مر ترا حق عمر خواند ** پس خلیفه کرد و بر کرسی نشاند
O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
ما برای خدمت تو می‌زییم ** چون تو خدمت می‌کنی پس ما چه‌ایم
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
گفت آن دانم و لیک این ساعتیست ** که درین شستن بخویشم حکمتیست
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
منتظر بودند کین قول نبیست ** تا پدید آید که این اسرار چیست 115
They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.
او به جد می‌شست آن احداث را ** خاص ز امر حق نه تقلید و ریا
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
که دلش می‌گفت کین را تو بشو ** که درین جا هست حکمت تو بتو
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”
سبب رجوع کردن آن مهمان به خانه‌ی مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن ساعت که مصطفی نهالین ملوث او را به دست خود می‌شست و خجل شدن او و جامه چاک کردن و نوحه‌ی او بر خود و بر سعادت خود
The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.