“Dost thou desire,” said he, “to be made a date-palm, (so that) the people of the East and the West shall gather fruit from thee?
گفت خواهی که ترا نخلی کنند ** شرقی و غربی ز تو میوه چنند
Or that He (God) should make thee a cypress in yonder world, so that thou wilt remain everlastingly fresh and flourishing?”
یا در آن عالم حقت سروی کند ** تا تر و تازه بمانی تا ابد
It replied, “I desire that whereof the life is enduring for ever.” Hearken, O heedless one! Be not thou less than a piece of wood!
گفت آن خواهم که دایم شد بقاش ** بشنو ای غافل کم از چوبی مباش
He (the Prophet) buried that pillar in the earth, that it may be raised from the dead, like mankind, on the day of Resurrection,
آن ستون را دفن کرد اندر زمین ** تا چو مردم حشر گردد یوم دین
That (hence) thou mayst know that every one whom God has called (to Himself) remains disengaged from all the work of this world.2120
تا بدانی هر که را یزدان بخواند ** از همه کار جهان بیکار ماند
Whosoever hath his work and business from God, gains admission there and goes forth from (abandons worldly) work.
هر که را باشد ز یزدان کار و بار ** یافت بار آن جا و بیرون شد ز کار
He that hath no gift (portion) of spiritual mysteries, how should he believe in the complaining of inanimate things?
آن که او را نبود از اسرار داد ** کی کند تصدیق او نالهی جماد
He says “Yes,” not from his heart (but) for agreement's sake, lest people should say that he is a hypocrite (in his religion).
گوید آری نه ز دل بهر وفاق ** تا نگویندش که هست اهل نفاق
Unless there were knowers of the (Divine) command “Be!”, this doctrine (that inanimate things are capable of speech) would have been rejected in the world.
گر نیندی واقفان امر کن ** در جهان رد گشته بودی این سخن
Myriads of conformists and legalists are cast into doubt by a half-imagination,2125
صد هزاران ز اهل تقلید و نشان ** افکندشان نیم وهمی در گمان
For their conformity and their drawing evidence from logical proofs and all their wings and wing-feathers (every means which they employ in order to arrive at the truth) depend on opinion.
که به ظن تقلید و استدلالشان ** قایم است و جمله پر و بالشان
The vile Devil raises a doubt (in their minds): all these blind ones fall in headlong.
شبههای انگیزد آن شیطان دون ** در فتند این جمله کوران سر نگون
The leg of the syllogisers is of wood: a wooden leg is very infirm,
پای استدلالیان چوبین بود ** پای چوبین سخت بیتمکین بود
Unlike the Qutb (supreme saint) of the age, the possessor of (spiritual) vision, by whose steadfastness the mountain is made giddy-headed (amazed).
غیر آن قطب زمان دیدهور ** کز ثباتش کوه گردد خیرهسر
The blind man's leg is a staff, a staff, so that he may not fall headlong on the pebbles.2130
پای نابینا عصا باشد عصا ** تا نیفتد سر نگون او بر حصا
The cavalier that became (the cause of) victory for the army, who is he for (the army of) the religious? The Lord of (spiritual) sight.
آن سواری کاو سپه را شد ظفر ** اهل دین را کیست سلطان بصر
If, with (the aid of) a staff, the blind have seen their way, (yet) they are under the protection of the clear-sighted people.
با عصا کوران اگر ره دیدهاند ** در پناه خلق روشن دیدهاند
Were there no men of vision and (spiritual) kings, all the blind in the world would be dead.
گرنه بینایان بدندی و شهان ** جمله کوران مردهاندی در جهان
From the blind comes neither sowing nor reaping nor cultivation nor tradings and profit.
نی ز کوران کشت آید نه درود ** نه عمارت نه تجارتها و سود
If He (God) did not bestow mercy and grace upon you, the wood of your logical deduction would break.2135
گر نکردی رحمت و افضالتان ** در شکستی چوب استدلالتان
What is this staff? Inferences and (logical) demonstration. Who gave them (the blind) that staff? The all-seeing and almighty One.
این عصا چه بود قیاسات و دلیل ** آن عصا کی دادشان بینا جلیل
Since the staff has become a weapon of quarrel and attack, break that staff to pieces, O blind man!
چون عصا شد آلت جنگ و نفیر ** آن عصا را خرد بشکن ای ضریر
He gave you the staff that ye might approach (Him): with that staff ye struck even at Him in your anger.
او عصاتان داد تا پیش آمدید ** آن عصا از خشم هم بر وی زدید
O company of the blind, what are ye doing? Bring the seer between (you and God)!
حلقهی کوران به چه کار اندرید ** دیدبان را در میانه آورید
Lay hold of His skirt who gave thee the staff: consider what (dreadful) things Adam suffered from disobedience.2140
دامن او گیر کاو دادت عصا ** در نگر کادم چها دید از عصی