Whatever a man does, the ape at every moment does the same thing that he sees done by the man.
هر چه مردم می‌‌کند بوزینه هم ** آن کند کز مرد بیند دم‌‌به‌‌دم
He thinks, “I have acted like him”: how should that quarrelsome-looking one know the difference?
او گمان برده که من کژدم چو او ** فرق را کی داند آن استیزه رو
This one (the holy man) acts by the command (of God), and he (the apish imitator) for the sake of quarrelling (rivalry). Pour dust on the heads of those who have quarrelsome faces!
این کند از امر و او بهر ستیز ** بر سر استیزه رویان خاک ریز
That (religious) hypocrite joins in ritual prayer with the (sincere) conformist (only) for quarrelling's sake, not for supplication.285
آن منافق با موافق در نماز ** از پی استیزه آید نی نیاز
In prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and alms-giving the true believers are (engaged) with the hypocrite in (what brings) victory and defeat.
در نماز و روزه و حج و زکات ** با منافق مومنان در برد و مات
Victory in the end is to the true believers; upon the hypocrite (falls) defeat in the state hereafter.
مومنان را برد باشد عاقبت ** بر منافق مات اندر آخرت
Although both are intent on one game, in relation to each other they are (as far apart as) the man of Merv and the man of Rayy.
گر چه هر دو بر سر یک بازی‌‌اند ** هر دو با هم مروزی و رازی‌‌اند
Each one goes to his (proper) abiding-place; each one fares according to his name.
هر یکی سوی مقام خود رود ** هر یکی بر وفق نام خود رود
If he be called a true believer, his soul rejoices; and if (he be called) “hypocrite,” he becomes fierce and filled with fire (rage).290
مومنش خوانند جانش خوش شود ** ور منافق تیز و پر آتش شود
His (the true believer's) name is loved on account of its essence (which is true faith); this one's (the hypocrite's) name is loathed on account of its pestilent qualities.
نام او محبوب از ذات وی است ** نام این مبغوض از آفات وی است
(The four letters) mím and wáw and mím and nún do not confer honour: the word múmin (true believer) is only for the sake of denotation.
میم و واو و میم و نون تشریف نیست ** لفظ مومن جز پی تعریف نیست