کس نداند مکر او الا خدا ** در خدا بگریز و وا ره زان دغا
None but God knows his cunning: take refuge with God and escape from that impostor.
مناظره‌ی مرغ با صیاد در ترهب و در معنی ترهبی کی مصطفی علیه‌السلام نهی کرد از آن امت خود را کی لا رهبانیة فی الاسلام
The bird's debate with the fowler concerning monasticism and about the meaning of the monasticism which Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, forbade his community to practise, saying, “There is no monkery in Islam.”
مرغ گفتش خواجه در خلوت مه‌ایست ** دین احمد را ترهب نیک نیست
The bird said to him, “O Khwája, don't stay in (monastic) seclusion: monasticism is not good in regard to the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed).
از ترهب نهی کردست آن رسول ** بدعتی چون در گرفتی ای فضول
The Prophet has forbidden monasticism: how have you embraced a heresy, O trifler?
جمعه شرطست و جماعت در نماز ** امر معروف و ز منکر احتراز 480
The conditions (imposed by Islam) are: (to take part in) the Friday worship and the public prayers, to enjoin good and shun evil,
رنج بدخویان کشیدن زیر صبر ** منفعت دادن به خلقان هم‌چو ابر
To bear patiently affliction caused by the ill-natured, and to confer benefit on (God's) creatures as (bounteously as) the clouds.
خیر ناس آن ینفع الناس ای پدر ** گر نه سنگی چه حریفی با مدر
O father, the best of the people is he who benefits the people: if you are not a stone, why are you consorting with the clod?
در میان امت مرحوم باش ** سنت احمد مهل محکوم باشد
Live amongst the community that is the object of (Divine) mercy: do not forsake the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed), be ruled (by his practice).”
گفت عقل هر که را نبود رسوخ ** پیش عاقل او چو سنگست و کلوخ
He (the fowler) replied, “Any one whose intelligence is infirm, he in the opinion of the intelligent is like a stone and clod.
چون حمارست آنک نانش امنیتست ** صحبت او عین رهبانیتست 485
One whose (only) wish is for bread resembles an ass: companionship with him is the essence of monkery.
زانک غیر حق همه گردد رفات ** کل آت بعد حین فهو آت
(Do not associate with him), for all except God crumbles away, (and) everything that is coming after a time will (inevitably) come.
حکم او هم حکم قبله‌ی او بود ** مرده‌اش خوان چونک مرده‌جو بود
His predicament is the same as that of his qibla (object of desire): call him ‘dead’ inasmuch as he seeks the dead.
هر که با این قوم باشد راهبست ** که کلوخ و سنگ او را صاحبست
Any one who lives with these (worldly) people is a monk, for his companions are (like) clods and stones.
خود کلوخ و سنگ کس را ره نزد ** زین کلوخان صد هزار آفت رسد
In sooth, (actual) clods and stones never waylaid (and ruined) any one, (while) from those clods come a hundred thousand corruptions.”
گفت مرغش پس جهاد آنگه بود ** کین چنین ره‌زن میان ره بود 490
The bird said to him, “(Well), then, the Jihád (spiritual war) is (waged) at the time when a brigand like this is on the road.
از برای حفظ و یاری و نبرد ** بر ره ناآمن آید شیرمرد
The valiant man enters on the unsafe road for the purpose of protecting and helping and fighting.
عرق مردی آنگهی پیدا شود ** که مسافر همره اعدا شود
The root (innate quality) of manhood (only) becomes apparent at the time when the traveller meets his enemies on the road.
چون نبی سیف بودست آن رسول ** امت او صفدرانند و فحول
Since the Messenger (of Allah) was the Prophet of the sword, (the people of) his community are heroes and champions.
مصلحت در دین ما جنگ و شکوه ** مصلحت در دین عیسی غار و کوه
In our religion the right thing is war and terror; in the religion of Jesus the right thing is (retirement to) cave and mountain.”
گفت آری گر بود یاری و زور ** تا به قوت بر زند بر شر و شور 495
He (the fowler) said, “Yes; if one has help (from God) and strength to make a mighty attack on evil and mischief.
چون نباشد قوتی پرهیز به ** در فرار لا یطاق آسان بجه
(But) when there is no strength, ’tis better to abstain: spring easily away in flight from what cannot be endured.”
گفت صدق دل بباید کار را ** ورنه یاران کم نیاید یار را
It (the bird) replied, “Firmness of heart is needed for achievement, but a (firm) friend does not lack friends.
Be a (firm) friend, that you may find friends innumerable; for without friends you will be left helpless.
دیو گرگست و تو هم‌چون یوسفی ** دامن یعقوب مگذار ای صفی
The Devil is a wolf, and you are like Joseph: do not let go Jacob's skirt, O excellent one.
گرگ اغلب آنگهی گیرا بود ** کز رمه شیشک به خود تنها رود 500
Generally the wolf seizes (his prey) at the moment when a year-old sheep strays alone by itself from the flock.
آنک سنت یا جماعت ترک کرد ** در چنین مسبع نه خون خویش خورد
He who has abandoned (the performance of) the Sunna with the (Moslem) community, has not he drunk his own blood (exposed himself to destruction) in such a haunt of wild beasts?