He is a cat keeping the fast and feigning to be asleep at fast-time for the purpose of (seizing) his ignorant prey.
کرده بدظن زین کژی صد قوم را ** کرده بدنام اهل جود و صوم را
By this unrighteousness he makes a hundred parties (of people) suspicious, he causes the generous and abstinent to be in ill repute.
فضل حق با این که او کژ می‌تند ** عاقبت زین جمله پاکش می‌کند 195
(But) notwithstanding that he weaves crookedly, in the end the grace of God will purge him of all this (hypocrisy).
سبق برده رحمتش وان غدر را ** داده نوری که نباشد بدر را
His (God's) mercy takes precedence (over His wrath) and bestows on that treachery (hypocrisy) a light that the full-moon does not possess.
کوششش را شسته حق زین اختلاط ** غسل داده رحمت او را زین خباط
God cleanses his effort of this contamination: the (Divine) Mercy washes him clean of this folly.
تا که غفاری او ظاهر شود ** مغفری کلیش را غافر شود
In order that His great forgivingness may be made manifest, a helmet (of forgiveness) will cover his (the hypocrite's) baldness.
آب بهر این ببارید از سماک ** تا پلیدان را کند از خبث پاک
The water rained from heaven, that it might cleanse the impure of their defilement.
پاک کردن آب همه پلیدیها را و باز پاک کردن خدای تعالی آب را از پلیدی لاجرم قدوس آمد حق تعالی
How the water cleanses all impurities and then is cleansed of impurity by God most High. Verily, God most High is exceeding holy.
آب چون پیگار کرد و شد نجس ** تا چنان شد که آب را رد کرد حس 200
When the water had done battle (in its task of ablution) and had been made dirty and had become such that the senses rejected it,
حق ببردش باز در بحر صواب ** تا به شستش از کرم آن آب آب
God brought it back into the sea of Goodness, that the Origin of the water might generously wash it (clean).
سال دیگر آمد او دامن‌کشان ** هی کجا بودی به دریای خوشان
Next year it came sweeping proudly along. “Hey, where hast thou been?” “In the sea of the pure.
من نجس زینجا شدم پاک آمدم ** بستدم خلعت سوی خاک آمدم
I went from here dirty; I have come (back) clean. I have received a robe of honour, I have come to the earth (again).
هین بیایید ای پلیدان سوی من ** که گرفت از خوی یزدان خوی من
Hark, come unto me, O ye polluted ones, for my nature hath partaken of the nature of God.
در پذیرم جمله‌ی زشتیت را ** چون ملک پاکی دهم عفریت را 205
I will accept all thy foulness: I will bestow on the demon purity like (that of) the angel.
چون شوم آلوده باز آنجا روم ** سوی اصل اصل پاکیها رو
When I become defiled, I will return thither: I will go to the Source of the source of purities.
دلق چرکین بر کنم آنجا ز سر ** خلعت پاکم دهد بار دگر
There I will pull the filthy cloak off my head: He will give me a clean robe once more.
کار او اینست و کار من همین ** عالم‌آرایست رب العالمین
Such is His work, and my work is the same: the Lord of all created beings is the beautifier of the world.”
گر نبودی این پلیدیهای ما ** کی بدی این بارنامه آب را
Were it not for these impurities of ours, how would the water have this glory?
کیسه‌های زر بدزدید از کسی ** می‌رود هر سو که هین کو مفلسی 210
It stole purses of gold from a certain One: (then) it runs in every direction, crying, “Where is an insolvent?”
یا بریزد بر گیاه رسته‌ای ** یا بشوید روی رو ناشسته‌ای
Either it sheds (the treasure) on a blade of grass that has grown, or it washes the face of one whose face is unwashed,
یا بگیرد بر سر او حمال‌وار ** کشتی بی‌دست و پا را در بحار
Or, porter-like, it takes on its head (surface) the ship that is without hand or foot (helplessly tossing) in the seas.
صد هزاران دارو اندر وی نهان ** زانک هر دارو بروید زو چنان
Hidden in it are myriads of salves, because every salve derives from it its nature and property.
جان هر دری دل هر دانه‌ای ** می‌رود در جو چو داروخانه‌ای
The soul of every pearl, the heart of every grain, goes into the river (for healing) as (into) a shop of salves.
زو یتیمان زمین را پرورش ** بستگان خشک را از وی روش 215
From it (comes) nourishment to the orphans of the earth; from it (comes) movement (growth) to them that are tied fast, the parched ones.
چون نماند مایه‌اش تیره شود ** هم‌چو ما اندر زمین خیره شود
When its stock (of spiritual grace) is exhausted, it becomes turbid: it becomes abject on the earth, as we are.
استعانت آب از حق جل جلاله بعد از تیره شدن
How the water, after becoming turbid, entreats God Almighty to succour it.
ناله از باطن برآرد کای خدا ** آنچ دادی دادم و ماندم گدا
(Then) from its interior it raises cries of lamentation, saying, “O God, that which Thou gavest (me) I have given (to others) and am left a beggar.
ریختم سرمایه بر پاک و پلید ** ای شه سرمایه‌ده هل من مزید
I poured the (whole) capital over pure and impure (alike): O King who givest the capital, is there any more?”
ابر را گوید ببر جای خوشش ** هم تو خورشیدا به بالا بر کشش
He (God) saith to the cloud, “Bear it (the water) to the delectable place; and thou too, O sun, draw it up aloft.”
راههای مختلف می‌راندش ** تا رساند سوی بحر بی‌حدش 220
He maketh it to go diverse ways, that He may bring it unto the boundless sea.
خود غرض زین آب جان اولیاست ** کو غسول تیرگیهای شماست
Verily, what is meant by this water is the spirit of the saints, which washes away your dark stains.
چون شود تیره ز غدر اهل فرش ** باز گردد سوی پاکی بخش عرش
When it is stained dark by (washing) the treason of the inhabitants of the earth, it returns to Him who endows Heaven with purity.
باز آرد زان طرف دامن کشان ** از طهارات محیط او درسشان
From yonder, trailing the skirt (of glory), it brings back to them lessons concerning the purities of the All-encompassing (God).
ز اختلاط خلق یاید اعتدال ** آن اسفر جوید که ارحنا یا بلال
Through mingling with the people (of the world) it falls sick and desires (to make) that journey, saying, “Revive us, O Bilál!
ای بلال خوش نوای خوش صهیل ** میذنه بر رو بزن طبل رحیل 225
O melodious sweet-voiced Bilál, go up into the minaret, beat the drum of departure.”
جان سفر رفت و بددن اندر قیام ** وقت رجعت زین سبب گوید سلام
Whilst the body is standing (in the ritual prayer), the spirit is gone on its journey: hence at the moment of return it says, “Salám!”
از تیمم وا رهاند جمله را ** وز تحری طالبان قبله را
(On its return to the world) it liberates all from performing the ablution with sand, and seekers of the qibla from endeavouring to ascertain the proper direction.
این مثل چون واسطه‌ست اندر کلام ** واسطه شرطست بهر فهم عام
This parable is like an intermediary in the discourse: an intermediary is required for the apprehension of the vulgar.