فضل طاعت را نجستندی از او ** عیب ظاهر را بجستندی که کو
They were not seeking from him excellence of piety; they were inquiring where lay the outward defect.
مو به مو و ذره ذره مکر نفس ** میشناسیدند چون گل از کرفس
Hair by hair, speck by speck, they were recognising the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul as (plainly as the difference of) the rose from parsley.
موشکافان صحابه هم در آن ** وعظ ایشان خیره گشتندی به جان370
Even the hair-splitters (the most scrupulous) of the Companions used to become distraught in spirit at the (Prophet's) admonition to them (the inquirers).
متابعت نصارا وزیر را
How the Christians followed the vizier.
دل بدو دادند ترسایان تمام ** خود چه باشد قوت تقلید عام
The Christians all gave their hearts to him: what (how great), indeed, is the strength of the (blind) conformity of the vulgar!
در درون سینه مهرش کاشتند ** نایب عیساش میپنداشتند
They planted love of him within their breasts, they were regarding him as the vicar of Jesus.
او به سر دجال یک چشم لعین ** ای خدا فریادرس نعم المعین
He inwardly (in reality) was the accursed one-eyed Antichrist. O God, do Thou (hear and) answer the cry (of those in trouble) —what a good helper art Thou!
صد هزاران دام و دانه ست ای خدا ** ما چو مرغان حریص بینوا
O God, there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are as greedy foodless birds.
دمبهدم ما بستهی دام نویم ** هر یکی گر باز و سیمرغی شویم375
From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare, though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Símurgh.
میرهانی هر دمی ما را و باز ** سوی دامی میرویم ای بینیاز
Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!
ما در این انبار گندم میکنیم ** گندم جمع آمده گم میکنیم
We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.
مینیندیشیم آخر ما به هوش ** کین خلل در گندم است از مکر موش
(Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of the mouse?
موش تا انبار ما حفره زده ست ** وز فنش انبار ما ویران شده ست
Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn has been ravaged by its guile,
اول ای جان دفع شر موش کن ** وانگهان در جمع گندم جوش کن380
O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse, and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn.
بشنو از اخبار آن صدر الصدور ** لا صلاة تم الا بالحضور
Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”
گر نه موشی دزد در انبار ماست ** گندم اعمال چل ساله کجاست
If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?
ریزه ریزه صدق هر روزه چرا ** جمع میناید در این انبار ما
Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?
بس ستارهی آتش از آهن جهید ** و ان دل سوزیده پذرفت و کشید
Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;
لیک در ظلمت یکی دزدی نهان ** مینهد انگشت بر استارگان385
But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,
میکشد استارگان را یک به یک ** تا که نفروزد چراغی از فلک
Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.
گر هزاران دام باشد در قدم ** چون تو با مایی نباشد هیچ غم
Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.
هر شبی از دام تن ارواح را ** میرهانی میکنی الواح را
Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).
میرهند ارواح هر شب زین قفس ** فارغان، نه حاکم و محکوم کس
The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.