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
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.
راه دین زان رو پر از شور و شرست ** که نه راه هر مخنث گوهرست
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
در ره این ترس امتحانهای نفوس ** همچو پرویزن به تمییز سبوس
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.510
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
گیرم آن گرگت نیابد ز احتیاط ** بی ز جمعیت نیابی آن نشاط