So in fear of the miracles of the prophets have the sceptics slunk away under the grass,
تا به ناموس مسلمانی زیاند ** در تسلس تا ندانی که کیاند
That they may live in hypocrisy with the reputation of being Moslems, and that you may not know who they are.
همچو قلابان بر آن نقد تباه ** نقره میمالند و نام پادشاه
Like counterfeiters, they smear the base coin with silver and (inscribe on it) the name of the King.
ظاهر الفاظشان توحید و شرع ** باطن آن همچو در نان تخم صرع2150
The outward form of their words is profession of the Divine Unity and the religion (of Islam): the inward meaning thereof is like darnel (?) seed in bread.
فلسفی را زهره نی تا دم زند ** دم زند دین حقش بر هم زند
The philosopher has not the stomach (courage) to breathe a word: if he utter a word, the true Religion will confound him.
دست و پای او جماد و جان او ** هر چه گوید آن دو در فرمان او
His hand and foot are inanimate, and whatever his spirit says (commands), those two are under its control.
با زبان گر چه که تهمت مینهند ** دست و پاهاشان گواهی میدهند
Albeit they (the sceptics) propound (reasons for) suspicion with their tongues, their hands and feet give testimony (against them).
اظهار معجزهی پیغامبر علیه السلام به سخن آمدن سنگ ریزه در دست ابو جهل و گواهی دادن سنگ ریزه بر حقیقت محمد علیه الصلاة و السلام
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, manifested a miracle by the speaking of the gravel in the hand of Abú Jahl—God's curse on him!—and by the gravel's bearing witness to the truth of Mohammed, on whom be God's blessing and peace.
سنگها اندر کف بو جهل بود ** گفت ای احمد بگو این چیست زود
There were some pebbles in the hand of Bú Jahl: “O Ahmad,” said he, “tell quickly what this is.
گر رسولی چیست در مشتم نهان ** چون خبر داری ز راز آسمان2155
If thou art the Messenger (of God), what is hidden in my fist? (Speak), since thou hast knowledge of the mysteries of Heaven.”
گفت چون خواهی بگویم کان چهاست ** یا بگویند آن که ما حقیم و راست
He said, “How dost thou wish (me to do)? Shall I say what those (hidden) things are, or shall they declare that I am truthful and right?”
گفت بو جهل این دوم نادرتر است ** گفت آری حق از آن قادرتر است
Bú Jahl said, “This second (thing) is more extraordinary.” “Yes,” said the Prophet, “(but) God hath greater power than that.”
از میان مشت او هر پاره سنگ ** در شهادت گفتن آمد بیدرنگ
Without delay, from the middle of his (closed) fist every pebble began to pronounce the (Moslem's) profession of faith.
لا إله گفت و إلا الله گفت ** گوهر احمد رسول الله سفت
Each said, “There is no god” and (each) said, “except Allah”; (each) threaded the pearl of “Ahmad is the Messenger of Allah.”
چون شنید از سنگها بو جهل این ** زد ز خشم آن سنگها را بر زمین2160
When Bú Jahl heard this from the pebbles, in his anger he dashed those pebbles on the ground.
بقیهی قصهی مطرب و پیغام رسانیدن عمر به او آن چه هاتف آواز داد
The rest of the story of the minstrel, and how the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, conveyed to him the message spoken by the heavenly voice.
باز گرد و حال مطرب گوش دار ** ز آن که عاجز گشت مطرب ز انتظار
Turn back and hear the plight of the minstrel, for the minstrel had (now) become desperate from waiting (so long).
بانگ آمد مر عمر را کای عمر ** بندهی ما را ز حاجت باز خر
The voice (of God) came to ‘Umar, saying, “O ‘Umar, redeem Our servant from want.
بندهای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار2165
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید2170
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.
گفت حق فرمود ما را بندهای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخندهای است
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست2175
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.
پس عمر گفتش مترس از من مرم ** کت بشارتها ز حق آوردهام
Then ‘Umar said to him, “Fear not, do not flee from me, for I have brought thee glad tidings from God.
چند یزدان مدحت خوی تو کرد ** تا عمر را عاشق روی تو کرد2180
How often has God praised thy disposition, so that He has made ‘Umar in love with thy face!
پیش من بنشین و مهجوری مساز ** تا به گوشت گویم از اقبال راز
Sit down beside me and do not make separation (between us), that I may say into thine ear the secret (message) from (the Divine) favour.
حق سلامت میکند میپرسدت ** چونی از رنج و غمان بیحدت
God sends thee greeting and asks thee how thou farest in thy distress and boundless sorrows.
نک قراضهی چند ابریشم بها ** خرج کن این را و باز اینجا بیا
Lo, here are some pieces of gold to pay for silk. Spend them and come back to this place.”
پیر لرزان گشت چون این را شنید ** دست میخایید و بر خود میتپید
The old man trembled when he heard this, biting his hand and quivering all over,
بانگ میزد کای خدای بینظیر ** بس که از شرم آب شد بیچاره پیر2185
Crying, “O God who hast no like!” inasmuch as the poor old man was melted with shame.
چون بسی بگریست و از حد رفت درد ** چنگ را زد بر زمین و خرد کرد
After he had wept long and his grief had gone beyond (all) bounds, he dashed his harp on the earth and broke it to bits.
گفت ای بوده حجابم از اله ** ای مرا تو راه زن از شاه راه
He said, “O thou (harp) that hast been to me a curtain (debarring me) from God, O thou (that hast been) to me a brigand (cutting me off) from the King's highway,
ای بخورده خون من هفتاد سال ** ای ز تو رویم سیه پیش کمال
O thou that hast drunk my blood for seventy years, O thou because of whom my face is black (disgraced) before (the Divine) perfection!
ای خدای با عطای با وفا ** رحم کن بر عمر رفته در جفا
Have mercy, O bounteous God who keepest faith, on a life passed in iniquity!
داد حق عمری که هر روزی از آن ** کس نداند قیمت آن در جهان2190
God gave (me) a life, the value of every single day whereof none in the world can know.
خرج کردم عمر خود را دمبهدم ** در دمیدم جمله را در زیر و بم
I have spent my life, breath by breath: I have breathed it all away in treble and bass.
آه کز یاد ره و پردهی عراق ** رفت از یادم دم تلخ فراق
Ah me, that in minding the (musical) mode and rhythm of ‘Iráq the bitter moment of parting (from this world) went out of my mind (was forgotten).
وای کز تری زیر افکند خرد ** خشک شد کشت دل من دل بمرد
Alas that from the liquid freshness of the minor zírafgand the seed sown in my heart dried up, and my heart died.
وای کز آواز این بیست و چهار ** کاروان بگذشت و بیگه شد نهار
Alas that from (my preoccupation with) the sound of these four-and-twenty (melodies) the caravan passed and the day grew late.”
ای خدا فریاد زین فریادخواه ** داد خواهم نه ز کس زین داد خواه2195
O God, help (me) against this (self of mine) that is seeking help (from Thee): I seek justice (redress) from no one (else, but only) from this justice-seeking (self).
داد خود از کس نیابم جز مگر ** ز آن که او از من به من نزدیکتر
I shall not get justice for myself from any one except, surely, from Him who is nearer to me than I;