The infidels in contending (for equality with the prophets and saints) have the nature of an ape: the (evil) nature is a canker within the breast.
هر چه مردم می‌‌کند بوزینه هم ** آن کند کز مرد بیند دم‌‌به‌‌دم
Whatever a man does, the ape at every moment does the same thing that he sees done by the man.
او گمان برده که من کژدم چو او ** فرق را کی داند آن استیزه رو
He thinks, “I have acted like him”: how should that quarrelsome-looking one know the difference?
این کند از امر و او بهر ستیز ** بر سر استیزه رویان خاک ریز
This one (the holy man) acts by the command (of God), and he (the apish imitator) for the sake of quarrelling (rivalry). Pour dust on the heads of those who have quarrelsome faces!
آن منافق با موافق در نماز ** از پی استیزه آید نی نیاز285
That (religious) hypocrite joins in ritual prayer with the (sincere) conformist (only) for quarrelling's sake, not for supplication.
در نماز و روزه و حج و زکات ** با منافق مومنان در برد و مات
In prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and alms-giving the true believers are (engaged) with the hypocrite in (what brings) victory and defeat.
مومنان را برد باشد عاقبت ** بر منافق مات اندر آخرت
Victory in the end is to the true believers; upon the hypocrite (falls) defeat in the state hereafter.
گر چه هر دو بر سر یک بازی‌‌اند ** هر دو با هم مروزی و رازی‌‌اند
Although both are intent on one game, in relation to each other they are (as far apart as) the man of Merv and the man of Rayy.
هر یکی سوی مقام خود رود ** هر یکی بر وفق نام خود رود
Each one goes to his (proper) abiding-place; each one fares according to his name.
مومنش خوانند جانش خوش شود ** ور منافق تیز و پر آتش شود290
If he be called a true believer, his soul rejoices; and if (he be called) “hypocrite,” he becomes fierce and filled with fire (rage).
نام او محبوب از ذات وی است ** نام این مبغوض از آفات وی است
His (the true believer's) name is loved on account of its essence (which is true faith); this one's (the hypocrite's) name is loathed on account of its pestilent qualities.
میم و واو و میم و نون تشریف نیست ** لفظ مومن جز پی تعریف نیست
(The four letters) mím and wáw and mím and nún do not confer honour: the word múmin (true believer) is only for the sake of denotation.
گر منافق خوانی‌‌اش این نام دون ** همچو کژدم می‌‌خلد در اندرون
If you call him (the true believer) hypocrite, this vile name is stinging (him) within like a scorpion.
گرنه این نام اشتقاق دوزخ است ** پس چرا در وی مذاق دوزخ است
If this name is not derived from Hell, then why is there the taste of Hell in it?
زشتی آن نام بد از حرف نیست ** تلخی آن آب بحر از ظرف نیست295
The foulness of that ill name is not from the letters; the bitterness of that sea-water is not from the vessel (containing it).
حرف ظرف آمد در او معنی چو آب ** بحر معنی عنده أم الکتاب
The letters are the vessel: therein the meaning is (contained) like water; (but) the sea of the meaning is (with God)—with Him is the Ummu ’l-Kitáb.
بحر تلخ و بحر شیرین در جهان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان
In this world the bitter sea and the sweet sea (are divided)— between them is a barrier which they do not seek to cross.
وانگه این هر دو ز یک اصلی روان ** بر گذر زین هر دو رو تا اصل آن
Know that both these flow from one origin. Pass on from them both, go (all the way) to their origin!
زر قلب و زر نیکو در عیار ** بی‌‌محک هرگز ندانی ز اعتبار
Without the touchstone you will never know in the assay adulterated gold and fine gold by (using your own) judgement.
هر که را در جان خدا بنهد محک ** هر یقین را باز داند او ز شک300
Any one in whose soul God shall put the touchstone, he will distinguish every certainty from doubt.
در دهان زنده خاشاکی جهد ** آن گه آرامد که بیرونش نهد
A piece of rubbish jumps into the mouth of a living man, and only when he ejects it is he at ease.
در هزاران لقمه یک خاشاک خرد ** چون در آمد حس زنده پی ببرد
When, amongst thousands of morsels (of food), one little piece of rubbish entered (his mouth), the living man's sense (of touch or taste) tracked it down.
حس دنیا نردبان این جهان ** حس دینی نردبان آسمان
The worldly sense is the ladder to this world; the religious sense is the ladder to Heaven.
صحت این حس بجویید از طبیب ** صحت آن حس بخواهید از حبیب
Seek ye the well-being of the former sense from the physician; beg ye the well-being of the latter sense from the Beloved.
صحت این حس ز معموری تن ** صحت آن حس ز تخریب بدن305
The health of the former arises from the flourishing state of the body; the health of the latter arises from the ruin of the body.
راه جان مر جسم را ویران کند ** بعد از آن ویرانی آبادان کند
The spiritual way ruins the body and, after having ruined it, restores it to prosperity:
کرد ویران خانه بهر گنج زر ** وز همان گنجش کند معمورتر
Ruined the house for the sake of the golden treasure, and with that same treasure builds it better (than before);
آب را ببرید و جو را پاک کرد ** بعد از آن در جو روان کرد آب خورد
Cut off the water and cleansed the river-bed, then caused drinking-water to flow in the river-bed;
پوست را بشکافت و پیکان را کشید ** پوست تازه بعد از آتش بردمید
Cleft the skin and drew out the iron point (of the arrow or spear)—then fresh skin grew over it (the wound);
قلعه ویران کرد و از کافر ستد ** بعد از آن بر ساختش صد برج و سد310
Rased the fortress and took it from the infidel, then reared thereon a hundred towers and ramparts.
کار بی‌‌چون را که کیفیت نهد ** این که گفتم هم ضرورت می‌‌دهد
Who shall describe the action of Him who hath no like? This that I have said (is what) the present necessity is affording.
گه چنین بنماید و گه ضد این ** جز که حیرانی نباشد کار دین
Sometimes it (the action of God) appears like this and sometimes the contrary of this: the work of religion is naught but bewilderment.
نی چنان حیران که پشتش سوی اوست ** بل چنین حیران و غرق و مست دوست
(I mean) not one bewildered in such wise that his back is (turned) towards Him; nay, but one bewildered (with ecstasy) like this and drowned (in God) and intoxicated with the Beloved.