That (subject of my discourse) is not two camels; it is a single camel. Verbal expression is confined, the meaning (to be expressed) is very full.
آن دو اشتر نیست آن یک اشتر است ** تنگ آمد لفظ معنی بس پر است
The expression always fails to reach the meaning; hence the Prophet said, “(Whoso knows God), his tongue falters.”
لفظ در معنی همیشه نارسان ** ز آن پیمبر گفت قد کل لسان
Speech is (like) an astrolabe in (its) reckoning: how much does it know of the sky and the sun?—
نطق اصطرلاب باشد در حساب ** چه قدر داند ز چرخ و آفتاب
Especially, of that Sky whereof this heaven is (no more than) a blade of straw; (that Sky) of whose Sun the (terrestrial) sun is (but) a mote?3015
خاصه چرخی کاین فلک زو پرهای است ** آفتاب از آفتابش ذرهای است
Showing that there is in every soul the mischief of the Mosque of Opposition.
بیان آن که در هر نفسی فتنهی مسجد ضرار است
When it appeared that that was not a mosque, (but) was a house of intrigue and a trap laid by the Jews,
چون پدید آمد که آن مسجد نبود ** خانهی حیلت بد و دام جهود
The Prophet then gave the command (and said), “Rase it and make it a dumping-place for rubbish and ashes.”
پس نبی فرمود کان را بر کنید ** مطرحهی خاشاک و خاکستر کنید
The founder of the Mosque was false, like the Mosque (itself): ‘tis not munificence if you sprinkle grain upon a snare.
صاحب مسجد چو مسجد قلب بود ** دانهها بر دام ریزی نیست جود
The meat that catches the fish on the hook––such a morsel is neither bounty nor generosity.
گوشت کاندر شست تو ماهی رباست ** آن چنان لقمه نه بخشش نه سخاست
The Mosque of the people of Qubá, which was inanimate––he (the Prophet) did not admit to (equality with) it that which was not its equal.3020
مسجد اهل قبا کان بد جماد ** آن چه کفو او نبد راهش نداد
(Even) in the case of lifeless things such a wrong did not come to pass: the lord of justice (Mohammed) set fire to that unequal (and incongruous Mosque).
در جمادات این چنین حیفی نرفت ** زد در آن ناکفو امیر داد نفت