مینبینی صنع ربانیت را ** که کشید او موی پیشانیت را3680
Are not you beholding the action of your Lord, who dragged you (into existence) by the forelock,
تا کشیدت اندر این انواع حال ** که نبودت در گمان و در خیال
Until He drew you into (all) these various states (of being), which were not in your thought or fancy?
آن عدم او را هماره بنده است ** کار کن دیوا سلیمان زنده است
That non-existence is always His slave: work (in His service), O demon! Solomon is living.
دیو میسازد جفان کالجواب ** زهره نی تا دفع گوید یا جواب
The demon is making large bowls like watering-troughs: he dare not say a word in refusal or in retort.
خویش را بین چون همیلرزی ز بیم ** مر عدم را نیز لرزان دان مقیم
Look at yourself, how you are trembling with fear (of non-existence): know that nonexistence also is constantly trembling (lest God should bring it into existence).
ور تو دست اندر مناصب میزنی ** هم ز ترس است آن که جانی میکنی3685
And if you are grasping at (worldly) dignities, ’tis from fear too that you are suffering agony of spirit.
هر چه جز عشق خدای احسن است ** گر شکر خواری است آن جان کندن است
Except love of the most beauteous God everything, though (outwardly) it is (pleasant like) eating sugar, is (in truth) agony of spirit.
چیست جان کندن سوی مرگ آمدن ** دست در آب حیاتی نازدن
What is agony of spirit? To advance towards death and not grasp the Water of Life.
خلق را دو دیده در خاک و ممات ** صد گمان دارند در آب حیات
People fix both their eyes on earth and death: they have a hundred doubts concerning the Water of Life.
جهد کن تا صد گمان گردد نود ** شب برو ور تو بخسبی شب رود
Strive that the hundred doubts may become ninety (may decrease): go (towards God) in the night (of this world), for if you slumber, the night will go (from you).
در شب تاریک جوی آن روز را ** پیش کن آن عقل ظلمت سوز را3690
In the dark night seek that (shining) Day: put in front (follow) the darkness consuming Reason.
در شب بد رنگ بس نیکی بود ** آب حیوان جفت تاریکی بود
In the evil-coloured night there is much good: the Water of Life is the mate of darkness.
سر ز خفتن کی توان برداشتن ** با چنین صد تخم غفلت کاشتن
How is it possible to lift up the head from slumber, whilst you are sowing a hundred such seeds of slothfulness?
خواب مرده لقمهی مرده یار شد ** خواجه خفت و دزد شب بر کار شد
Slumber is dead (unlawful) food is dead; they are friends (to each other): the merchant fell asleep and the night-thief got to work.
تو نمیدانی که خصمانت کیاند ** ناریان خصم وجود خاکیاند
Do you not know who your enemies are? Those made of fire are enemies to the existence of those made of earth.
نار خصم آب و فرزندان اوست ** همچنان که آب خصم جان اوست3695
Fire is the enemy of water and its children, even as water is an enemy to the life of fire.
آب آتش را کشد زیرا که او ** خصم فرزندان آب است و عدو
Water kills fire because it is the enemy and foe of the children of water.
بعد از آن این نار نار شهوت است ** کاندر او اصل گناه و زلت است
To proceed, this fire is the fire of lust, wherein is the root of sin and error.
نار بیرونی به آبی بفسرد ** نار شهوت تا به دوزخ میبرد
The external fire may be quenched by some water, (but) the fire of lust is bringing (you) to Hell.
نار شهوت مینیارامد به آب ** ز انکه دارد طبع دوزخ در عذاب
The fire of lust is not allayed by water, because it has the (insatiable) nature of Hell in respect of (inflicting) torment.
نار شهوت را چه چاره نور دین ** نورکم اطفاء نار الکافرین3700
What is the remedy for the fire of lust? The light of the Religion: your (the Moslems') light is the (means of) extinguishing the fire of the infidels.
چه کشد این نار را نور خدا ** نور ابراهیم را ساز اوستا
What kills this fire? The Light of God. Make the light of Abraham your teacher,
تا ز نار نفس چون نمرود تو ** وارهد این جسم همچون عود تو
That this body of yours, which resembles wood (faggots), may be delivered from the fire of the Nimrod-like flesh (nafs).
شهوت ناری به راندن کم نشد ** او به ماندن کم شود بیهیچ بد
Fiery lust is not diminished by indulging it: it is diminished, without any escape (inevitably), by leaving it (ungratified).
تا که هیزم مینهی بر آتشی ** کی بمیرد آتش از هیزم کشی
So long as thou art laying faggots on a fire, how will the fire be extinguished by a carrier of faggots?
چون که هیزم باز گیری نار مرد ** ز انکه تقوی آب سوی نار برد3705
When thou withholdest the faggots, the fire dies out, because fear of God carries (as it were) water to the fire.
کی سیه گردد ز آتش روی خوب ** کاو نهد گلگونه از تقوی القلوب
How should the fire blacken the beauteous face (of a soul) which lays (on itself) rose colour (derived) from the fear of God that is in (men's) hearts?
آتش افتادن در شهر به ایام عمر
How a conflagration occurred in the city (Medina) in the days of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him.
آتشی افتاد در عهد عمر ** همچو چوب خشک میخورد او حجر
A conflagration occurred in the time of ‘Umar: it was devouring stones as though they were dry wood.
در فتاد اندر بنا و خانهها ** تا زد اندر پر مرغ و لانهها
It fell upon buildings and houses, until (at last) it darted at the wings and nests of birds.
نیم شهر از شعلهها آتش گرفت ** آب میترسید از آن و میشگفت
Half the city caught fire from the flames: water was afraid of it (the fire) and amazed.
مشکهای آب و سرکه میزدند ** بر سر آتش کسان هوشمند3710
Some intelligent persons were throwing skins of water and vinegar on the fire,
آتش از استیزه افزون میشدی ** میرسید او را مدد از بیحدی
(But) out of spite (obstinacy) the fire was increasing: aid was coming to it from One who is infinite.
خلق آمد جانب عمر شتاب ** کاتش ما مینمیرد هیچ از آب
The people came in haste to ‘Umar, saying, “Our fire will not be quenched at all by water.”
گفت آن آتش ز آیات خداست ** شعلهای از آتش بخل شماست
He said, “That fire is one of God's signs: ’tis a flame from the fire of your avarice.
آب بگذارید و نان قسمت کنید ** بخل بگذارید اگر آل منید
What are water and vinegar? Deal out bread (in charity), discard avarice if ye are my people (followers).”
خلق گفتندش که در بگشودهایم ** ما سخی و اهل فتوت بودهایم3715
The folk said to him, “We have opened our doors, we have been bountiful and devoted to generosity.”
گفت نان در رسم و عادت دادهاید ** دست از بهر خدا نگشادهاید
He replied, “Ye have given bread by rule and habit, ye have not opened your hands for the sake of God—
بهر فخر و بهر بوش و بهر ناز ** نه از برای ترس و تقوی و نیاز
(Only) for glory and for ostentation and for pride, not because of fear and piety and supplication.”
مال تخم است و به هر شوره منه ** تیغ را در دست هر ره زن مده
Wealth is seed, and do not lay it in every salty ground: do not put a sword in the hand of every highwayman.
اهل دین را باز دان از اهل کین ** همنشین حق بجو با او نشین
Distinguish the friends of the Religion (ahl-i Dín) from the enemies of God (ahl-i kín): seek the man that sits with God, and sit with him.
هر کسی بر قوم خود ایثار کرد ** کاغه پندارد که او خود کار کرد3720
Every one shows favour to his own folk: the fool (who shows favour to the foolish) thinks he has really done (good and religious) work.
خدو انداختن خصم در روی امیر المؤمنین علی علیه السلام و انداختن علی شمشیر را از دست
How an enemy spat in the face of the Prince of the Faithful, ‘Alí, may God honour his person, and how ‘Alí dropped the sword from his hand.
از علی آموز اخلاص عمل ** شیر حق را دان مطهر از دغل
Learn how to act sincerely from ‘Alí: know that the Lion of God (‘Alí) was purged of (all) deceit.
در غزا بر پهلوانی دست یافت ** زود شمشیری بر آورد و شتافت
In fighting against the infidels he got the upper hand of (vanquished) a certain knight, and quickly drew a sword and made haste (to slay him).
او خدو انداخت در روی علی ** افتخار هر نبی و هر ولی
He spat on the face of ‘Alí, the pride of every prophet and every saint;
آن خدو زد بر رخی که روی ماه ** سجده آرد پیش او در سجدهگاه
He spat on the countenance before which the face of the moon bows low in the place of worship.
در زمان انداخت شمشیر آن علی ** کرد او اندر غزایش کاهلی3725
‘Alí at once threw his sword away and relaxed (his efforts) in fighting him.
گشت حیران آن مبارز زین عمل ** وز نمودن عفو و رحمت بیمحل
That champion was astounded by this act and by his showing forgiveness and mercy without occasion.
گفت بر من تیغ تیز افراشتی ** از چه افکندی مرا بگذاشتی
He said, “You lifted your keen sword against me: why have you flung it aside and spared me?
آن چه دیدی بهتر از پیکار من ** تا شدی تو سست در اشکار من
What did you see that was better than combat with me, so that you have become slack in hunting me down?
آن چه دیدی که چنین خشمت نشست ** تا چنان برقی نمود و باز جست
What did you see, so that such anger as yours abated, and so that such a lightning flashed and (then) recoiled?