There is a good answer to this; if you hearken, you will relinquish unbelief and incline towards the (true) religion.
هست این را خوش جواب ار بشنوی ** بگذری از کفر و در دین بگروی
Remorse and humility occur at the time of illness: the time of illness is wholly wakefulness (of conscience).
حسرت و زاری گه بیماری است ** وقت بیماری همه بیداری است
At the time when you are becoming ill, you pray God to forgive your trespass;
آن زمان که میشوی بیمار تو ** میکنی از جرم استغفار تو
The foulness of your sin is shown to you, you resolve to come back to the (right) way;625
مینماید بر تو زشتی گنه ** میکنی نیت که باز آیم به ره
You make promises and vows that henceforth your chosen course (of action) will be nothing but obedience (to God):
عهد و پیمان میکنی که بعد از این ** جز که طاعت نبودم کار گزین
Therefore it has become certain that illness gives to you conscience and wakefulness.
پس یقین گشت این که بیماری ترا ** میببخشد هوش و بیداری ترا
Note, then, this principle, O thou that seekest the principle; every one who suffers pain has caught the scent (thereof):
پس بدان این اصل را ای اصل جو ** هر که را درد است او برده ست بو
The more wakeful any one is, the more full of suffering he is; the more aware (of God) he is, the paler he is in countenance.
هر که او بیدارتر پر دردتر ** هر که او آگاهتر رخ زردتر
If you are aware of His jabr (compulsion), where is your humility? Where is your feeling of (being loaded with) the chain of His jabbárí (almightiness)?630
گر ز جبرش آگهی زاریت کو ** بینش زنجیر جباریت کو
How should one make merry who is bound in chains? When does the captive in prison behave like the man who is free?
بسته در زنجیر چون شادی کند ** کی اسیر حبس آزادی کند