From this point of view, Ahmad (Mohammed) said in talk, “The excellence of men is hidden in the tongue.”
زین قبل فرمود احمد در مقال ** در زبان پنهان بود حسن رجال
People's intellects differ in their original nature, (though) according to the Mu‘tazilites they are (originally) equal and the difference in intellects arises from the acquisition of knowledge.
عقول خلق متفاوتست در اصل فطرت و نزد معتزله متساویست تفاوت عقول از تحصیل علم است
You must hear (and believe) in accordance with the Sunnís (that) the difference in (people's) intellects was original,
اختلاف عقلها در اصل بود ** بر وفاق سنیان باید شنود
In contradiction to the doctrine of the Mu‘tazilites, who hold that (all) intellects were originally equal,1540
بر خلاف قول اهل اعتزال ** که عقول از اصل دارند اعتدال
(And who maintain that) experience and teaching makes them more or less, so that it makes one person more knowing than another.
تجربه و تعلیم بیش و کم کند ** تا یکی را از یکی اعلم کند
This is false, because the counsel of a boy who has not experience in any course of action—
باطلست این زانک رای کودکی ** که ندارد تجربه در مسلکی
From that small child sprang up a thought (which) the old man with a hundred experiences did not smell out (detect and apprehend) at all.
بر دمید اندیشه‌ای زان طفل خرد ** پیر با صد تجربه بویی نبرد
Truly, the superiority that is from (any one's) nature is even better than the superiority that is (the result of) endeavour and reflection.
خود فزون آن به که آن از فطرتست ** تا ز افزونی که جهد و فکرتست
Tell (me), is the gift of God better, or (is it better) that a lame person should (learn to) walk smoothly (without stumbling)?1545
تو بگو داده‌ی خدا بهتر بود ** یاکه لنگی راهوارانه رود
How the boys made the teacher imagine (that he was ill).
در وهم افکندن کودکان اوستاد را
Day broke, and those boys, (intent) on this thought, came from their homes to the shop (school).
روز گشت و آمدند آن کودکان ** بر همین فکرت ز خانه تا دکان
They all stood outside, waiting for that resolute fellow to go in first,
جمله استادند بیرون منتظر ** تا درآید اول آن یار مصر