That only God can reckon the number of them—Arabs and Turks and Greeks and Kurds.665
کان عدد را هم خدا داند شمرد ** از عرب وز ترک و از رومی و کرد
They put his (grave's) earth on their heads; they deemed anguish for him to be the remedy for themselves.
خاک او کردند بر سرهای خویش ** درد او دیدند درمان جای خویش
During a month those multitudes over his grave made a way for blood from their eyes (shed tears of anguish).
آن خلایق بر سر گورش مهی ** کرده خون را از دو چشم خود رهی
How the people of Jesus—on him be peace!—asked the amírs, “Which one of you is the successor?”
طلب کردن امت عیسی علیه السلام از امرا که ولی عهد از شما کدام است
After a month the people said, “O chiefs, which of (the) amírs is designated in his place,
بعد ماهی خلق گفتند ای مهان ** از امیران کیست بر جایش نشان
That we may acknowledge him as our religious leader instead of him (the vizier), and give our hands and skirts into his hand?
تا به جای او شناسیمش امام ** دست و دامن را بدست او دهیم
Since the sun is gone and has branded us (left the brand of sorrow in our hearts), is not a lamp the (only) resource in his stead?670
چون که شد خورشید و ما را کرد داغ ** چاره نبود بر مقامش از چراغ
Since union with the beloved has vanished from before our eyes, we must needs have a vicar as a memorial of him (i.e. one who will recall him to our memory).
چون که شد از پیش دیده وصل یار ** نایبی باید از او مان یادگار
Since the rose is past and the garden ravaged, from whom shall we get the perfume of the rose? From rosewater.”
چون که گل بگذشت و گلشن شد خراب ** بوی گل را از که یابیم از گلاب
Inasmuch as God comes not into sight, these prophets are the vicars of God.
چون خدا اندر نیاید در عیان ** نایب حق‌‌اند این پیغمبران
Nay, I have said (this) wrongly; for if you suppose that the vicar and He who is represented by the vicar are two, it (such a thought) is bad, not good.
نه غلط گفتم که نایب با منوب ** گر دو پنداری قبیح آید نه خوب