خس بس انبه بود بر جو چون حباب ** خس چو یکسو رفت پیدا گشت آب
The weeds lay very thick on the stream, like bubbles; when the weeds went aside, the water was revealed.
چونک دست عقل نگشاید خدا ** خس فزاید از هوا بر آب ما
Unless God loose the hand of the intellect, the weeds on our water are increased by sensual desire.
آب را هر دم کند پوشیده او ** آن هوا خندان و گریان عقل تو1830
Every moment they cover the water (more and more): that desire is laughing, and thy intellect is weeping;
چونک تقوی بست دو دست هوا ** حق گشاید هر دو دست عقل را
(But) when piety has chained the hands of desire, God looses the hands of the intellect.
پس حواس چیره محکوم تو شد ** چون خرد سالار و مخدوم تو شد
So, when the intellect becomes thy captain and master, the dominant senses become subject to thee.
حس را بی‌خواب خواب اندر کند ** تا که غیبیها ز جان سر بر زند
He (who is ruled by the intellect), without being asleep (himself), puts his senses to sleep, so that the unseen things may emerge from (the world of) the Soul.
هم به بیداری ببینی خوابها ** هم ز گردون بر گشاید بابها
Even in your waking state you will dream dreams, and the gates of Heaven withal will open (to you).
قصه‌ی خواندن شیخ ضریر مصحف را در رو و بینا شدن وقت قرائت
Story of the blind old man's reading the Qur’án in front (of him) and regaining his sight when he read.
دید در ایام آن شیخ فقیر ** مصحفی در خانه‌ی پیری ضریر1835
Once upon a time a dervish Shaykh saw a Qur’án in the house of a blind old man.
پیش او مهمان شد او وقت تموز ** هر دو زاهد جمع گشته چند روز
He became his guest in (the month) Tamúz: the two ascetics were together for several days.
گفت اینجا ای عجب مصحف چراست ** چونک نابیناست این درویش راست
He said (to himself), “Oh, I wonder what the Book is (here) for, as this righteous dervish is blind.”
اندرین اندیشه تشویشش فزود ** که جز او را نیست اینجا باش و بود
(Whilst he was occupied) in this reflection, his perplexity increased: (he said to himself), “No one lives here except him.
اوست تنها مصحفی آویخته ** من نیم گستاخ یا آمیخته
He is alone, (and yet) he has hung a Book (on the wall). I am not (so) unmannerly or muddled (in my wits)
تا بپرسم نه خمش صبری کنم ** تا به صبری بر مرادی بر زنم1840
As to ask (him the reason). Nay, hush! I will be patient, in order that by patience I may gain my object.”
صبر کرد و بود چندی در حرج ** کشف شد کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
He showed patience and was in a quandary for some time, (till at last) it (the secret) was disclosed, for patience is the key to joy (relief).
صبرکردن لقمان چون دید کی داود حلقه‌ها می‌ساخت از سال کردن با این نیت کی صبر از سال موجب فرج باشد
How Luqmán, when he saw David, on whom be peace, making (iron) rings, refrained from questioning him, with the intention that this act of self-control should be the cause of relief (from perplexity).
رفت لقمان سوی داود صفا ** دید کو می‌کرد ز آهن حلقه‌ها
Luqmán went to David, the pure of heart, and observed that he was making rings of iron,
جمله را با همدگر در می‌فکند ** ز آهن پولاد آن شاه بلند
(And) that the exalted King was casting all the steel rings into each other.
صنعت زراد او کم دیده بود ** درعجب می‌ماند وسواسش فزود
He had not seen the armourer's handicraft (before), (so) he remained in astonishment and his curiosity increased—
کین چه شاید بود وا پرسم ازو ** که چه می‌سازی ز حلقه تو بتو1845
“What can this be? I will ask him what he is making with the interfolded rings.”
باز با خود گفت صبر اولیترست ** صبر تا مقصود زوتر رهبرست
Again he said to himself, “Patience is better: patience is the quickest guide to the object of one's quest.”
چون نپرسی زودتر کشفت شود ** مرغ صبر از جمله پران‌تر بود
When you ask no question, the sooner will it (the secret) be disclosed to you: the bird, patience, flies faster than all (others);
ور بپرسی دیرتر حاصل شود ** سهل از بی صبریت مشکل شود
And if you ask, the more slowly will your object be gained: what is easy will be made difficult by your impatience.
چونک لقمان تن بزد هم در زمان ** شد تمام از صنعت داود آن
When Luqmán kept silence, straightway that (work of making rings) was finished by David's craftsmanship.
پس زره سازید و در پوشید او ** پیش لقمان کریم صبرخو1850
Then he fashioned a coat of mail and put it on in the presence of the noble and patient Luqmán.
گفت این نیکو لباسست ای فتی ** درمصاف و جنگ دفع زخم را
“This,” he said, “is an excellent garment, O young man, for warding off blows on the battle-field and in war.”
گفت لقمان صبر هم نیکو دمیست ** که پناه و دافع هر جا غمیست
Luqmán said, “Patience too is of good effect, for it is the protection and defence against pain everywhere.”
صبر را با حق قرین کرد ای فلان ** آخر والعصر را آگه بخوان
He (God) hath joined sabr (patience) with haqq (the real and permanent): O reader, recite attentively the end of (the Súra) Wa’l-‘asr.
صد هزاران کیمیا حق آفرید ** کیمیایی همچو صبر آدم ندید
God created hundreds of thousands of elixirs, (but) Man hath not seen an elixir like patience.
بقیه‌ی حکایت نابینا و مصحف
The remainder of the story of the blind man and his reading the Qur’án.
مرد مهمان صبرکرد و ناگهان ** کشف گشتش حال مشکل در زمان1855
The guest showed patience, and of a sudden the difficult case was unveiled to him all at once.
نیم‌شب آواز قرآن را شنید ** جست از خواب آن عجایب را بدید
At midnight he heard the sound of (recitation of) the Qur’án; he sprang up from sleep and beheld a marvel—
که ز مصحف کور می‌خواندی درست ** گشت بی‌صبر و ازو آن حال جست
That the blind man was reading correctly from the Qur’án. He became impatient and sought from him (an explanation of) that matter.
گفت آیا ای عجب با چشم کور ** چون همی‌خوانی همی‌بینی سطور
“Oh, wonderful!” he cried. “Thou with sightless eyes, how art thou reading, (how art thou) seeing the lines?
آنچ می‌خوانی بر آن افتاده‌ای ** دست را بر حرف آن بنهاده‌ای
Thou hast touched that which thou art reading: thou hast laid thy hand upon the words of that (passage).
اصبعت در سیر پیدا می‌کند ** که نظر بر حرف داری مستند1860
Thy finger, in motion, makes it evident that thou hast thine eye resting on the words.”
گفت ای گشته ز جهل تن جدا ** این عجب می‌داری از صنع خدا
He replied, “O thou who hast been separated from the body's ignorance, dost thou feel this wonder at the work of God?
من ز حق در خواستم کای مستعان ** بر قرائت من حریصم همچو جان
I begged of God, crying, ‘O Thou whose help is sought, I am (as) covetous of reading the Book as (I am) of life.
نیستم حافظ مرا نوری بده ** در دو دیده وقت خواندن بی‌گره
I do not know it by heart: at the time of reading it, bestow on my two eyes an untroubled light.
باز ده دو دیده‌ام را آن زمان ** که بگیرم مصحف و خوانم عیان
Give me back my eyes at that moment, so that I may take the Book and read it plain.’
آمد از حضرت ندا کای مرد کار ** ای بهر رنجی به ما اومیدوار1865
From the Divine Presence came the cry (in response): ‘O man of (devotional) work, O thou that hast hope of Me in every grief,
حسن ظنست و امیدی خوش ترا ** که ترا گوید بهر دم برتر آ
Thou hast the good thought (of Me) and the fair hope that at each moment bids thee mount higher.
هر زمان که قصد خواندن باشدت ** یا ز مصحفها قرائت بایدت
Whensoever thou intendest to read (the Qur’án) or wantest the lection from (different) copies,
من در آن دم وا دهم چشم ترا ** تا فرو خوانی معظم جوهرا
At that moment I will restore thine eye, in order that thou mayst read, O venerable being.’
همچنان کرد و هر آنگاهی که من ** وا گشایم مصحف اندر خواندن
Even so He did, and whenever I open the Book to read,
آن خبیری که نشد غافل ز کار ** آن گرامی پادشاه و کردگار1870
That all-knowing One who never becomes forgetful of His work, that honoured Sovereign and Maker,
باز بخشد بینشم آن شاه فرد ** در زمان همچون چراغ شب‌نورد
That incomparable King at once gives my sight back to me, like a lamp that makes an end of the (darkness of) night.”
زین سبب نبود ولی را اعتراض ** هرچه بستاند فرستد اعتیاض
On this account the saint has no objection (to raise against the Divine ordainment): whatsoever He (God) takes away, He sends compensation.
گر بسوزد باغت انگورت دهد ** در میان ماتمی سورت دهد
If He burn your vineyard, He will give you grapes; in the midst of mourning He will give you festivity.
آن شل بی‌دست را دستی دهد ** کان غمها را دل مستی دهد
To the handless paralytic He gives a hand, to the (person who is a) mine of grief He gives the (joyous) heart of an intoxicated one.
لا نسلم و اعتراض از ما برفت ** چون عوض می‌آید از مفقود زفت1875
(The feeling denoted by the words) “We will not submit” and (the desire to raise) objection have gone from us (saints), since there is coming a great recompense for what has been lost.
چونک بی آتش مرا گرمی رسد ** راضیم گر آتشش ما را کشد
Inasmuch as heat comes to me without fire, I am content if His fire kill me.
بی چراغی چون دهد او روشنی ** گر چراغت شد چه افغان می‌کنی
Inasmuch as He gives light without, any lamp—if your lamp is gone, why are you lamenting?
صفت بعضی اولیا کی راضی‌اند باحکام و لابه نکنند کی این حکم را بگردان
Description of some saints who are content with the (Divine) ordainments and do not beseech (God) to change this decree.