In that (kind of exhortation) the conceit of princedom is less (than in the other kind): the impression made by it upon the (prince’s) followers is strong.
اندر آن وهم امیری کم بود ** در حشم تاثیر آن محکم بود
Story of the beginning of the Caliphate of ‘Uthmán, may God be well-pleased with him, and his sermon expounding that the doer who exhorts by deeds is better than the speaker who exhorts by words.
قصهی آغاز خلافت عثمان رضی الله عنه و خطبهی وی در بیان آنک ناصح فعال به فعل به از ناصح قوال به قول
The story (told) of ‘Uthmán is that he mounted the pulpit: when he obtained the Caliphate, he made hot haste (to mount it).
قصهی عثمان که بر منبر برفت ** چون خلافت یافت بشتابید تفت
(’Twas) the pulpit of the Chief (Mohammed), which had three steps: Abú Bakr went and seated himself on the second step.
منبر مهتر که سهپایه بدست ** رفت بوبکر و دوم پایه نشست
‘Umar, in his reign, (sat) on the third step in order to show reverence for Islam and the (true) Religion.
بر سوم پایه عمر در دور خویش ** از برای حرمت اسلام و کیش
(When) the reign of ‘Uthmán arrived, he, that man of praised (blessed) fortune, went up on to the top of the throne (pulpit) and seated himself.490
دور عثمان آمد او بالای تخت ** بر شد و بنشست آن محمودبخت
Then a person given to idle meddling questioned him, saying, “Those two did not sit in the Prophet's place:
پس سالش کرد شخصی بوالفضول ** که آن دو ننشستند بر جای رسول
How, then, hast thou sought to be higher than they, when thou art inferior to them in rank?”
پس تو چون جستی ازیشان برتری ** چون برتبت تو ازیشان کمتری
He replied, “If I tread on the third step, it will be imagined that I resemble ‘Umar;
گفت اگر پایهی سوم را بسپرم ** وهم آید که مثال عمرم
(And if) I seek a seat on the second step, thou wilt say, ‘’Tis (the seat of) Abú Bakr, and (therefore) this one too is like him.’
بر دوم پایه شوم من جایجو ** گویی بوبکرست و این هم مثل او
This top (of the pulpit) is the place of Mustafá (Mohammed): no one will imagine that I am like that (spiritual) King.”495
هست این بالا مقام مصطفی ** وهم مثلی نیست با آن شه مرا