The Devil is a wolf, and you are like Joseph: do not let go Jacob's skirt, O excellent one.
دیو گرگست و تو همچون یوسفی ** دامن یعقوب مگذار ای صفی
Generally the wolf seizes (his prey) at the moment when a year-old sheep strays alone by itself from the flock.500
گرگ اغلب آنگهی گیرا بود ** کز رمه شیشک به خود تنها رود
He who has abandoned (the performance of) the Sunna with the (Moslem) community, has not he drunk his own blood (exposed himself to destruction) in such a haunt of wild beasts?
آنک سنت یا جماعت ترک کرد ** در چنین مسبع نه خون خویش خورد
The Sunna is the (safe) road, and the community are like (your) companions (on the road): without the road and without comrades you will fall into (sore) straits;
هست سنت ره جماعت چون رفیق ** بیره و بییار افتی در مضیق
(But) not the fellow-traveller who is an enemy to Reason and seeks an opportunity to carry off your clothes,
همرهی نه کو بود خصم خرد ** فرصتی جوید که جامهی تو برد
(And only) goes about with you in order to find a mountain-pass where he can plunder you!
میرود با تو که یابد عقبهای ** که تواند کردت آنجا نهبهای
Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road!505
یا بود اشتردلی چون دید ترس ** گوید او بهر رجوع از راه درس
By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.
یار را ترسان کند ز اشتردلی ** این چنین همره عدو دان نه ولی
The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
راه جانبازیست و در هر غیشهای ** آفتی در دفع هر جانشیشهای