What authority should the pictures (phenomenal forms) desire to exercise over such an Artist for the purpose of testing Him?
چه تصرف کرد خواهد نقشها ** بر چنان نقاش بهر ابتلا
If it (the picture) has known and experienced any trial, is it not the case that the Artist brought that (trial) upon it?
امتحانی گر بدانست و بدید ** نی که هم نقاش آن بر وی کشید
Indeed, this form that He fashioned—what is it worth in comparison with the forms which are in His knowledge?
چه قدر باشد خود این صورت که بست ** پیش صورتها که در علم ویست
When the temptation to make this trial has come to you, know that ill fortune has come and smitten your neck.
وسوسه‌ی این امتحان چون آمدت ** بخت بد دان کمد و گردن زدت
When you feel such a temptation, at once, at once turn unto God and begin the prostration (in prayer).385
چون چنین وسواس دیدی زود زود ** با خدا گرد و در آ اندر سجود
Make the place of prostration wet with flowing tears and say, “O God, do Thou deliver me from this doubt!”
سجده گه را تر کن از اشک روان ** کای خدا تو وا رهانم زین گمان
At the time when it is your object to make trial (of God), the mosque, namely, your religion, becomes filled with kharrúb (carob).
آن زمان کت امتحان مطلوب شد ** مسجد دین تو پر خروب شد
Story of the Farther Mosque and the carob and how, before (the reign of) Solomon, on whom be peace, David, on whom be peace, resolved on building that Mosque.
قصه‌ی مسجد اقصی و خروب و عزم کردن داود علیه‌السلام پیش از سلیمان علیه‌السلام بر بنای آن مسجد
When David's resolve that he would build the Farther Mosque with stone came to sore straits,
چون درآمد عزم داودی به تنگ ** که بسازد مسجد اقصی به سنگ
God made a Revelation to him, saying, “Proclaim the abandonment of this (enterprise), for (the building of) this place will not be achieved by thy hand.
وحی کردش حق که ترک این بخوان ** که ز دستت برنیاید این مکان
’Tis not in Our fore-ordainment that thou shouldst raise this Farther Mosque, O chosen one.”390
نیست در تقدیر ما آنک تو این ** مسجد اقصی بر آری ای گزین