از نبی بشنو ضلال رهروان ** که چشان کرد آن بلیس بد روان
Hear (learn) from the Qur’án the perdition of the wayfarers, what the evil-souled Iblís did unto them:
صد هزاران ساله راه از جاده دور ** بردشان و کردشان ادبار و عور
He carried them far—a journey of hundreds of thousands of years—from the Highway, and made them backsliders and naked (devoid of good works).
استخوانهاشان ببین و مویشان ** عبرتی گیر و مران خر سویشان2950
Behold their bones and their hair! Take warning, and drive not your ass towards them!
گردن خر گیر و سوی راه کش ** سوی رهبانان و ره دانان خوش
Seize the neck of your ass (the flesh) and lead him towards the Way, towards the good keepers and knowers of the Way.
هین مهل خر را و دست از وی مدار ** ز آن که عشق اوست سوی سبزهزار
Beware! do not let your ass go, and do not remove your hand from him, because his love is for the place where green herbs are plentiful.
گر یکی دم تو به غفلت واهلیش ** او رود فرسنگها سوی حشیش
If you carelessly leave him free for one moment, he will go (many) leagues in the direction of the herbage.
دشمن راه است خر مست علف ** ای که بس خر بنده را کرد او تلف
The ass is an enemy to the Way, (he is) madly in love with fodder: oh, many is the attendant on him that he has brought to ruin!
گر ندانی ره هر آن چه خر بخواست ** عکس آن کن خود بود آن راه راست2955
If you know not the Way, whatsoever the ass desires, do the contrary thereof: that, surely, will be the right Way.
شاوروهن پس آن گه خالفوا ** إن من لم یعصهن تالف
(The Prophet said), “Consult them (women), and then oppose (them in what they advise): he that disobeys them not will be ruined.”
با هوا و آرزو کم باش دوست ** چون یضلک عن سبیل الله اوست
Be not a friend to (sensual) passion and desire, since it leads you astray from the Way of God.
این هوا را نشکند اندر جهان ** هیچ چیزی همچو سایهی همرهان
Nothing in the world will break (mortify) this passion like the shadow (protection) of fellow-travellers.
وصیت کردن رسول صلی الله علیه و اله و سلم علی را علیه السلام که چون هر کسی به نوع طاعتی تقرب جوید به حق تو تقرب جوی به نصیحت عاقل و بندهی خاص تا از همه پیش قدم تر باشی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, enjoined ‘Alí—may God make his person honoured—saying, “When every one seeks to draw nigh to God by means of some kind of devotional act, do thou seek the favour of God by associating with His wise and chosen servant, that thou mayst be the first of all to arrive (to gain access to Him).”
گفت پیغمبر علی را کای علی ** شیر حقی پهلوانی پر دلی
The Prophet said to ‘Alí, “O ‘Alí, thou art the Lion of God, thou art a courageous knight,
لیک بر شیری مکن هم اعتماد ** اندر آ در سایهی نخل امید2960
But do not even rely upon thy lion-heartedness: come into the shade of the palm tree of hope.
اندر آ در سایهی آن عاقلی ** کش نداند برد از ره ناقلی
Come into the shade (protection) of the Sage whom no conveyer can carry off from the Way.
ظل او اندر زمین چون کوه قاف ** روح او سیمرغ بس عالی طواف
His shadow on the earth is like Mount Qáf, his spirit is (like) the Símurgh that circles (soars) exceedingly high.
گر بگویم تا قیامت نعت او ** هیچ آن را مقطع و غایت مجو
If I should tell of his qualities until the Resurrection, do not seek (expect) any conclusion and end to them.
در بشر رو پوش کرده ست آفتاب ** فهم کن و الله اعلم بالصواب
The (Divine) Sun has veiled Himself in Man: apprehend (this mystery), and God knows best what is right.
یا علی از جملهی طاعات راه ** بر گزین تو سایهی خاص اله2965
O ‘Alí, above all devotional acts in the Way (of God) do thou choose the shadow (protection) of the chosen favourite of God.
هر کسی در طاعتی بگریختند ** خویشتن را مخلصی انگیختند
Every one took refuge in some act of devotion and discovered for themselves some means of deliverance.
تو برو در سایهی عاقل گریز ** تا رهی ز آن دشمن پنهٱن ستیز
Go thou, take refuge in the shadow of the Sage, that thou mayst escape from the Enemy that opposes (thee) in secret.
از همه طاعات اینت بهتر است ** سبق یابی بر هر آن سابق که هست
Of all acts of devotion this is the best for thee: (thereby) thou wilt gain precedence over every one that has outstripped (the rest).”
چون گرفتت پیر هین تسلیم شو ** همچو موسی زیر حکم خضر رو
When the Pír has accepted thee, take heed, surrender thyself (to him): go, like Moses, under the authority of Khizr.
صبر کن بر کار خضری بینفاق ** تا نگوید خضر رو هذا فراق2970
Bear patiently whatever is done by a Khizr who is without hypocrisy, in order that Khizr may not say, “Begone, this is (our) parting.”
گر چه کشتی بشکند تو دم مزن ** گر چه طفلی را کشد تو مو مکن
Though he stave in the boat, do not speak a word; though he kill a child, do not tear thy hair.
دست او را حق چو دست خویش خواند ** تا يد الله فوق أيدیهم براند
God has declared that his (the Pír's) hand is as His own, since He gave out (the words) the Hand of God is above their hands.