For this questioning is the half of knowledge, and this ability (to ask questions) does not belong to every outsider.”
زآنک نیم علم آمد این سال ** هر برونی را نباشد آن مجال
Both question and answer arise from knowledge, just as the thorn and the rose from earth and water.
هم سال از علم خیزد هم جواب ** هم‌چنانک خار و گل از خاک و آب
Both perdition and salvation arise from knowledge, just as bitter and sweet (fruit) from moisture.3010
هم ضلال از علم خیزد هم هدی ** هم‌چنانک تلخ و شیرین از ندا
This hatred and love arise from acquaintance, and from wholesome food (arise both) sickness and (bodily) powers.
ز آشنایی خیزد این بغض و ولا ** وز غذای خویش بود سقم و قوی
That Kalím (Moses) became (like) an ignorant enquirer in order that he might make the ignorant acquainted with this mystery.
مستفید اعجمی شد آن کلیم ** تا عجمیان را کند زین سر علیم
Let us too feign ourselves to be ignorant thereof and elicit the answer to it (to the question) as (if we were) strangers (seeking information).
ما هم از وی اعجمی سازیم خویش ** پاسخش آریم چون بیگانه پیش
(Similarly) the ass-sellers became rivals to one another in order that they might open the way to the contract (of sale).
خرفروشان خصم یکدیگر شدند ** تا کلید قفل آن عقد آمدند
Then God spake unto him, saying, “O thou who possessest the most excellent (understanding), since thou hast asked (the question), come, hear the answer.3015
پس بفرمودش خدا ای ذولباب ** چون بپرسیدی بیا بشنو جواب
O Moses, sow some seed in the earth, that thou thyself mayst render justice to this (question).”
موسیا تخمی بکار اندر زمین ** تا تو خود هم وا دهی انصاف این
When Moses had sown and the seed-corn was complete (in growth) and its ears had gained beauty and symmetry,
چونک موسی کشت و شد کشتش تمام ** خوشه‌هااش یافت خوبی و نظام