این چنین کژ بازیی در جفت و طاق ** با نبی میباختند اهل نفاق
The Hypocrites played against the Prophet (just) such a crooked game at odd and even (as was played by Iblís against Mu‘áwiya),
کز برای عز دین احمدی ** مسجدی سازیم و بود آن مرتدی
Saying, “Let us build a mosque for the glory of the Mohammedan religion”; and that was (really) apostasy (on their part).
این چنین کژ بازیی میباختند ** مسجدی جز مسجد او ساختند
Such a crooked game were they playing: they built a mosque other than his mosque.
فرش و سقف و قبهاش آراسته ** لیک تفریق جماعت خواسته
They constructed (well) its floor and roof and dome, but they desired to disunite the (Moslem) community.
نزد پیغمبر به لابه آمدند ** همچو اشتر پیش او زانو زدند2830
They came to the Prophet with (guileful) entreaty: they knelt as camels before him,
کای رسول حق برای محسنی ** سوی آن مسجد قدم رنجه کنی
Saying, “O Messenger of God, wilt thou for kindness' sake give thyself the trouble (to walk) to that mosque,
تا مبارک گردد از اقدام تو ** تا قیامت تازه باد ایام تو
To the end that it may be made blessed by thy approach— may thy days flourish until the Resurrection!
مسجد روز گل است و روز ابر ** مسجد روز ضرورت وقت فقر
It is a mosque for muddy and cloudy days, a mosque for days of sore distress in times of poverty,
تا غریبی یابد آن جا خیر و جا ** تا فراوان گردد این خدمتسرا
That a (poor) stranger may get charity and room (to shelter) there, and that this house of service may be frequented,
تا شعار دین شود بسیار و پر ** ز انکه با یاران شود خوش کار مر2835
So that the rites of the Religion may be multiplied and abound; because a bitter plight is sweetened (by being shared) with friends.
ساعتی آن جایگه تشریف ده ** تزکیهی ما کن ز ما تعریف ده
Honour that place (by thy presence) for a short while: declare us to be sincere, and give a good account of us.
مسجد و اصحاب مسجد را نواز ** تو مهی ما شب دمی با ما بساز
Show favour to the mosque and its founders. Thou art the moon, we are the night: comply with us for a moment,
تا شود شب از جمالت همچو روز ** ای جمالت آفتاب جان فروز
In order that by thy beauty night may be made like day, O thou whose beauty is a soul-illumining sun.”
ای دریغا کان سخن از دل بدی ** تا مراد آن نفر حاصل شدی
Alas! would that those words had been from the heart, so that the desire of those folk might have been accomplished!
لطف کاید بیدل و جان در زبان ** همچو سبزهی تون بود ای دوستان2840
Courtesy that comes to the tongue without (sincerity of) heart and soul is like herbs on the ash-heap, O friends.
هم ز دورش بنگر و اندر گذر ** خوردن و بو را نشاید ای پسر
Look at them from afar and pass on: they are not fit for eating or smelling, O son.
سوی لطف بیوفایان هین مرو ** کان پل ویران بود نیکو شنو
Beware, do not go (incline) towards the courtesy of the faithless, for it is a ruined bridge: heed well (my warning).
گر قدم را جاهلی بر وی زند ** بشکند پل و آن قدم را بشکند
If a fool set foot on it, the bridge will break, and will shatter that foot of his.
هر کجا لشکر شکسته میشود ** او دو سه سست مخنث میبود
Wherever an army is routed, it is because of two or three effeminate weaklings.
در صف آید با سلاح او مردوار ** دل بر او بنهند کاینک یار غار2845
He (the poltroon) comes armed into the battle-line, like a man: they (the soldiers) put their trust in him, saying, “Here's the Comrade of the Cave.”
رو بگرداند چو بیند زخمها ** رفتن او بشکند پشت ترا
He turns his face (in flight) when he sees wounds: his going breaks your back.
این دراز است و فراوان میشود ** و آن چه مقصود است پنهان میشود
This (topic) is long and is expanding, and that which is aimed at is becoming hidden (from sight).
فریفتن منافقان پیغامبر را تا به مسجد ضرارش برند
How the Hypocrites cajoled the Prophet—God bless and save him!—that they might take him to the Mosque of Opposition.
بر رسول حق فسونها خواندند ** رخش دستان و حیل میراندند
They chanted spells over (spoke deceitful words to) the Messenger of God: they were driving (hard) the steed of cunning and craft.
آن رسول مهربان رحم کیش ** جز تبسم جز بلی ناورد پیش
The kind and compassionate Messenger proffered (in reply) nothing but smiles, nothing but “Yes.”
شکرهای آن جماعت یاد کرد ** در اجابت قاصدان را شاد کرد2850
He expressed (his) thanks to that company (deputation): he gladdened the envoys in (by) assent.
مینمود آن مکر ایشان پیش او ** یک به یک ز آن سان که اندر شیر مو
Their deceit was apparent to him, point by point, in the same way as hairs in milk.
موی را نادیده میکرد آن لطیف ** شیر را شاباش میگفت آن ظریف
That courteous one feigned not to see the hairs: that polite one said “Bravo!” to the milk.
صد هزاران موی مکر و دمدمه ** چشم خوابانید آن دم ز ان همه
Myriad hairs of deceit and fraud (he beheld), and at that time he closed his eyes to it all.
راست میفرمود آن بحر کرم ** بر شما من از شما مشفقترم
That ocean of bounty spoke truly (when he said), “I am kinder unto you than you (yourselves are).
من نشسته بر کنار آتشی ** با فروغ و شعلهی بس ناخوشی2855
I am seated at the edge of a fire with an exceedingly unpleasant blaze and flame;
همچو پروانه شما آن سو دوان ** هر دو دست من شده پروانه ران
Ye are hastening towards it like moths, (while) both my hands have become moth-flaps (to beat you off).”
چون بر آن شد تا روان گردد رسول ** غیرت حق بانگ زد مشنو ز غول
When the Prophet had resolved to set out (to the Mosque), the jealousy of God cried, “Do not hearken to the ghoul!
کاین خبیثان مکر و حیلت کردهاند ** جمله مقلوب است آنچ آوردهاند
For these wicked men have used deceit and cunning: what they have put forward is entirely the reverse (of the truth).
قصد ایشان جز سیه رویی نبود ** خیر دین کی جست ترسا و جهود
Their intent was nothing but (to bring) black shame (upon thee): when have Christians or Jews sought the welfare of the (true) Religion?
مسجدی بر جسر دوزخ ساختند ** با خدا نرد دغاها باختند2860
They (the Hypocrites) have built a mosque upon Hell's bridge: they have played the game of trickery with God.
قصدشان تفریق اصحاب رسول ** فضل حق را کی شناسد هر فضول
Their aim is to cause disunion amongst the Companions of the Prophet: how should any vain fool understand the grace of God?
تا جهودی را ز شام اینجا کشند ** که به وعظ او جهودان سر خوشند
(They have built the Mosque) in order that they may fetch hither a Jew from Syria, with whose preaching the Jews are intoxicated.”
گفت پیغمبر که آری لیک ما ** بر سر راهیم و بر عزم غزا
The Prophet said (to the Hypocrites), “Yes (I will do as ye wish), but (just now) we are intending to march and starting on a campaign.
زین سفر چون باز گردم آن گهان ** سوی آن مسجد روان گردم روان
As soon as I return from this expedition, I will then set out to that Mosque at once.”
دفعشان کرد و به سوی غزو تاخت ** با دغایان از دغا نردی بباخت2865
He (thus) put them off and hurried to the field of war: he played a game of trickery with the tricksters.
چون بیامد از غزا باز آمدند ** چنگ اندر وعدهی ماضی زدند
When he came back from the campaign, they returned and laid hold of (demanded the fulfilment of) the past promise.
گفت حقش ای پیمبر فاش گو ** غدر را ور جنگ باشد باش گو
God said to him, “O Prophet, proclaim the excuse (pretence and dissimulation), and if war be (the consequence), say, ‘Let it be!’”
گفت ای قوم دغل خامش کنید ** تا نگویم رازهاتان تن زنید
He (the Prophet) said, “Ye are exceedingly bad-hearted and hostile. Hush, lest I tell your secret thoughts.”
چون نشانی چند از اسرارشان ** در بیان آورد بد شد کارشان
When he had declared (to them) a few indications of their inmost thoughts, they were in evil plight.
قاصدان زو باز گشتند آن زمان ** حاش لله حاش لله دم زنان2870
Thereupon the envoys turned back from him crying, “God forfend! God forfend!”
هر منافق مصحفی زیر بغل ** سوی پیغمبر بیاورد از دغل
Every Hypocrite, by way of fraud, brought a Qur’án under his arm to the Prophet,
بهر سوگندان که ایمان جنتی است ** ز انکه سوگندان کژان را سنتی است
In order to take oaths—for oaths are a shield; (this they did) because (taking) oaths is a custom followed by the wicked.
چون ندارد مرد کژ در دین وفا ** هر زمانی بشکند سوگند را
Since the wicked man does not keep faith in (matters of) religion, he will break (his) oath at any time.
راستان را حاجت سوگند نیست ** ز انکه ایشان را دو چشم روشنی است
The righteous have no need of (taking) oath, because they have two clear (discerning) eyes.
نقض میثاق و عهود از احمقی است ** حفظ ایمان و وفا کار تقی است2875
Breach of compacts and covenants is (the result) of stupidity; keeping of oaths and faithfulness (to one's word) is the practice of him that fears God.