If thou art the Messenger (of God), what is hidden in my fist? (Speak), since thou hast knowledge of the mysteries of Heaven.”2155
گر رسولی چیست در مشتم نهان ** چون خبر داری ز راز آسمان
He said, “How dost thou wish (me to do)? Shall I say what those (hidden) things are, or shall they declare that I am truthful and right?”
گفت چون خواهی بگویم کان چهاست ** یا بگویند آن که ما حقیم و راست
Bú Jahl said, “This second (thing) is more extraordinary.” “Yes,” said the Prophet, “(but) God hath greater power than that.”
گفت بو جهل این دوم نادرتر است ** گفت آری حق از آن قادرتر است
Without delay, from the middle of his (closed) fist every pebble began to pronounce the (Moslem's) profession of faith.
از میان مشت او هر پاره سنگ ** در شهادت گفتن آمد بیدرنگ
Each said, “There is no god” and (each) said, “except Allah”; (each) threaded the pearl of “Ahmad is the Messenger of Allah.”
لا إله گفت و إلا الله گفت ** گوهر احمد رسول الله سفت
When Bú Jahl heard this from the pebbles, in his anger he dashed those pebbles on the ground.2160
چون شنید از سنگها بو جهل این ** زد ز خشم آن سنگها را بر زمین
The rest of the story of the minstrel, and how the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, conveyed to him the message spoken by the heavenly voice.
بقیهی قصهی مطرب و پیغام رسانیدن عمر به او آن چه هاتف آواز داد
Turn back and hear the plight of the minstrel, for the minstrel had (now) become desperate from waiting (so long).
باز گرد و حال مطرب گوش دار ** ز آن که عاجز گشت مطرب ز انتظار
The voice (of God) came to ‘Umar, saying, “O ‘Umar, redeem Our servant from want.
بانگ آمد مر عمر را کای عمر ** بندهی ما را ز حاجت باز خر
We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
بندهای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).2165
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.2170
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
گفت حق فرمود ما را بندهای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخندهای است
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.2175
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
Then ‘Umar said to him, “Fear not, do not flee from me, for I have brought thee glad tidings from God.
پس عمر گفتش مترس از من مرم ** کت بشارتها ز حق آوردهام