God has made reputation (to be like) a hundred maunds' weight of iron: oh, many a one is bound in the unseen chain!3240
کرده حق ناموس را صد من حدید ** ای بسا بسته به بند ناپدید
Pride and infidelity have barred that Way (of repentance) in such wise that he (the sinner) cannot utter a sigh.
کبر و کفر آن سان ببست آن راه را ** که نیارد کرد ظاهر آه را
He (God) said, “(We have put on their necks) shackles (chin-high), and thereby they are forced to lift up their heads”: those shackles are not (put) on us from outside.
گفت اغلالا فهم به مقمحون ** نیست آن اغلال بر ما از برون
“(And We have put) behind them a barrier, and We have made a covering (of darkness) over them”: he is not seeing the barrier in front (of him) and behind.
خلفهم سدا فأغشیناهم ** می‌‌نبیند بند را پیش و پس او
The barrier that arose has the appearance of open country: he does not know that it is the barrier of the Divine destiny.
رنگ صحرا دارد آن سدی که خاست ** او نمی‌‌داند که آن سد قضاست
Your (earthly) beloved is a barrier to the face of the (Divine) Beloved: your (worldly) guide is a barrier to the words of the (true spiritual) guide.3245
شاهد تو سد روی شاهد است ** مرشد تو سد گفت مرشد است
Oh, many are the infidels that have a passionate longing for the Religion (Islam): their chain (stumbling-block) is reputation and pride in this and that (object of desire).
ای بسا کفار را سودای دین ** بندشان ناموس و کبر آن و این
The chain is hidden. but ’tis worse than iron: the iron chain is cut in pieces by the axe.
بند پنهان لیک از آهن بتر ** بند آهن را کند پاره تبر
The iron chain can be removed: none knows how to cure the invisible chain.
بند آهن را توان کردن جدا ** بند غیبی را نداند کس دوا
If a man is stung by a wasp, at that moment his nature is intent on a means of removing (the pain),
مرد را زنبور اگر نیشی زند ** طبع او آن لحظه بر دفعی تند