The Fasting-month (Ramadán) came round in ‘Umar's time. Some people ran to the top of a hill,
ماه روزه گشت در عهد عمر ** بر سر کوهی دویدند آن نفر
In order to take (the appearance of) the new moon as a good omen, and one of them said, “Look, O ‘Umar, here is the new moon!”
تا هلال روزه را گیرند فال ** آن یکی گفت ای عمر اینک هلال
As ‘Umar did not see the moon in the sky, he said, “This moon has risen from thy phantasy.
چون عمر بر آسمان مه را ندید ** گفت کاین مه از خیال تو دمید
Otherwise, (since) I am a better seer of the heavens (than thou), how is it that I do not see the pure crescent?115
ور نه من بیناترم افلاک را ** چون نمیبینم هلال پاک را
Wet thy hand,” said he, “and rub it on thine eyebrow, and then look up towards the new moon.”
گفت تر کن دست و بر ابرو بمال ** آن گهان تو بر نگر سوی هلال
When he wetted his eyebrow, he did not see the moon. “O King,” he said, “there is no moon; it has disappeared.”
چون که او تر کرد ابرو مه ندید ** گفت ای شه نیست مه شد ناپدید
“Yes,” said ‘Umar, “the hair of thine eyebrow had become (curved) like a bow and shot at thee an arrow of opinion.”
گفت آری موی ابرو شد کمان ** سوی تو افکند تیری از گمان
When one hair became crooked, it waylaid him (hindered him from seeing truly), so that, making a false claim, he boasted to have seen the moon.
چون یکی مو کج شد او را راه زد ** تا به دعوی لاف دید ماه زد
Inasmuch as a crooked hair veils the sky, how will it be when all your members are crooked?120
موی کج چون پردهی گردون بود ** چون همه اجزات کج شد چون بود
Straighten your members by (the help of) the straight (the righteous). O you who (would) go straight, turn not your head aside from that threshold (where the righteous dwell).
راست کن اجزات را از راستان ** سر مکش ای راست رو ز آن آستان