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.
کافرک را هیکلی بد یادگار ** یاوه دید آن را و گشت او بی‌قرار
The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
گفت آن حجره که شب جا داشتم ** هیکل آنجا بی‌خبر بگذاشتم
He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”
گر چه شرمین بود شرمش حرص برد ** حرص اژدرهاست نه چیزیست خرد 120
Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing.
از پی هیکل شتاب اندر دوید ** در وثاق مصطفی و آن را بدید
In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
کان یدالله آن حدث را هم به خود ** خوش همی‌شوید که دورش چشم بد
That Hand of God, cheerfully washing the filth by himself— far from him be the evil eye!
هیکلش از یاد رفت و شد پدید ** اندرو شوری گریبان را درید
The amulet vanished from his mind, and a great rapture arose in him: he tore his collar,
می‌زد او دو دست را بر رو و سر ** کله را می‌کوفت بر دیوار و در
Smiting his face and head with both hands, beating his pate against wall and door,