There is a summons to the servant (of God) to lamentation five times a day— “come to (perform) the ritual prayer, and make lament.”
دعوت زاریست روزی پنج بار ** بنده را که در نماز آ و بزار
The muezzin's cry is “hasten to welfare,” and that welfare is this lamentation and petitioning.1600
نعره‌ی مذن که حیا عل فلاح ** وآن فلاح این زاری است و اقتراح
He whom Thou wishest to make sorrow-stricken—Thou dost bar against his heart the way to lamentation,
آن که خواهی کز غمش خسته کنی ** راه زاری بر دلش بسته کنی
In order that affliction may descend (upon him) without (there being) anything to repel it, when there is no intercessor (in the form) of humble entreaty;
تا فرو آید بلا بی‌دافعی ** چون نباشد از تضرع شافعی
And (on the other hand) Thou dost lead to humble entreaty the spirit of him whom Thou wishest to redeem from affliction.
وانک خواهی کز بلااش وا خری ** جان او را در تضرع آوری
Thou hast said in the Qur’án that (as regards) those peoples on which that heavy vengeance fell,
گفته‌ای اندر نبی که آن امتان ** که بریشان آمد آن قهر گران
’Twas because at that moment they would not make humble entreaty that the affliction might be averted from them;1605
چون تضرع می‌نکردند آن نفس ** تا بلا زیشان بگشتی باز پس
But since their hearts had been hardened, their sins appeared (to them) as obedient service (rendered to God).
لیک دلهاشان چون قاسی گشته بود ** آن گنههاشان عبادت می‌نمود
Until the sinner deems himself rebellious, how can tears run from his eye?
تا نداند خویش را مجرم عنید ** آب از چشمش کجا داند دوید
The Story of the people of Yúnus (Jonah), on whom be peace, is a demonstration and manifest proof that humble entreaty and lamentation avert affliction sent from Heaven. And God most High acts by free choice: therefore humble entreaty and reverence avail with Him. The philosophers, however, say that He acts by (the necessity of His) nature and as a cause, not by free choice: therefore humble entreaty (is useless, for it) cannot alter nature.
قصه‌ی قوم یونس علیه‌السلام بیان و برهان آنست کی تضرع و زاری دافع بلای آسمانیست و حق تعالی فاعل مختارست پس تضرع و تعظیم پیش او مفید باشد و فلاسفه گویند فاعل به طبع است و بعلت نه مختار پر تضرع طبع را نگرداند
When the affliction became visible to the people of Yúnus, a cloud full of fire departed (descended) from heaven.
قوم یونس را چو پیدا شد بلا ** ابر پر آتش جدا شد از سما