- Where (in what position) is one that praises the king in his presence, compared with one that is shamefaced in absence (from him)?
- کو که مدح شاه گوید پیش او ** تا که در غیبت بود او شرم رو
- The governor of a fortress who, on the border of the kingdom, far from the sultan and the shadow (protection) of the sultanate, 3635
- قلعه داری کز کنار مملکت ** دور از سلطان و سایهی سلطنت
- Guards the fortress from enemies and will not sell it for boundless riches,
- پاس دارد قلعه را از دشمنان ** قلعه نفروشد به مال بیکران
- Who, though absent from the king on the outskirt of the frontiers, keeps faith (with him) like one who is present—
- غایب از شه در کنار ثغرها ** همچو حاضر او نگه دارد وفا
- He in the king's sight is better than the rest who are serving in his presence and ready to devote their lives.
- پیش شه او به بود از دیگران ** که به خدمت حاضرند و جان فشان
- Therefore half an atom of regard to one's duty in absence is better than a hundred thousand fold observance thereof in presence.
- پس به غیبت نیم ذرهی حفظ کار ** به که اندر حاضری ز آن صد هزار
- Obedience (to God) and faith are praiseworthy now; after death, when all is plainly shown, they will be spurned. 3640
- طاعت و ایمان کنون محمود شد ** بعد مرگ اندر عیان مردود شد
- “Inasmuch as the unseen and the absent and the veil are better, close thy lips, and the lip is better silent.
- چون که غیب و غایب و رو پوش به ** پس لبان بر بند لب خاموش به
- O brother, refrain from speech: God himself will make manifest the knowledge that is with Him (in His possession).
- ای برادر دست وا دار از سخن ** خود خدا پیدا کند علم لدن
- Witness enough for the sun is its face: what thing is the greatest witness (of all)? God.”
- بس بود خورشید را رویش گواه ** أی شیء أعظم الشاهد إله
- “Nay, speak I will, since both God and the angels and the men of learning are allied in setting forth (this truth).
- نه بگویم چون قرین شد در بیان ** هم خدا و هم ملک هم عالمان
- God and the angels and those learned in the sciences (of divinity) bear witness that there is no Lord except Him who endureth for ever.” 3645
- یشهد الله و الملک و اهل العلوم ** إنه لا رب إلا من یدوم
- Since God hath given testimony, who are the angels, that they should be associated in the testimony?
- چون گواهی داد حق که بود ملک ** تا شود اندر گواهی مشترک
- (They are associated) because unsound (weak) eyes and hearts cannot support the radiance and presence of the Sun,
- ز آن که شعشاع حضور آفتاب ** بر نتابد چشم و دلهای خراب
- Like a bat, which cannot bear the glow of the sun and abandons hope.
- چون خفاشی کاو تف خورشید را ** بر نتابد بگسلد اومید را
- Know, then, that the angels, as we also, are helpers (co-witnesses)—displayers of the sun in heaven—
- پس ملایک را چو ما هم یار دان ** جلوه گر خورشید را بر آسمان
- Who say, “We have derived (our) light from a Sun, we have shone upon the weak, like vicegerents (of a mighty King).” 3650
- کاین ضیا ما ز آفتابی یافتیم ** چون خلیفه بر ضعیفان تافتیم
- Like the new moon or the moon three days old or the full moon, every angel has (a particular) perfection and light and (spiritual) worth.
- چون مه نو یا سه روزه یا که بدر ** مرتبهی هر یک ملک در نور و قدر
- Every angel, according to their (different) degrees, has (a portion of) that radiance, consisting of three or four (pairs of) luminous wings,
- ز اجنحهی نور ثلاث او رباع ** بر مراتب هر ملک را آن شعاع
- Just as the wings of human intellects, amongst which there is great difference (in quality).
- همچو پرهای عقول انسیان ** که بسی فرق است شان اندر میان
- Hence the associate of every human being in good and evil is that angel who resembles him or her.
- پس قرین هر بشر در نیک و بد ** آن ملک باشد که مانندش بود
- Since the eye of the dim-sighted man could not bear the sunlight, the star became a candle to him, that he might find the way. 3655
- چشم اعمش چون که خور را بر نتافت ** اختر او را شمع شد تا ره بیافت
- How the Prophet, on whom be peace, said to Zayd, “Do not tell this mystery more plainly than this, and take care to comply (with the religious law).”
- گفتن پیغامبر علیه السلام مر زید را که این سر را فاش تر از این مگو و متابعت نگاه دار
- The Prophet said, “My Companions are (like) the stars, a candle to travellers (on the Way), and meteors to be cast at the devils.”
- گفت پیغمبر که اصحابی نجوم ** رهروان را شمع و شیطان را رجوم
- If every one had the eye and the strength to receive light from the sun of heaven,
- هر کسی را گر بدی آن چشم و زور ** کاو گرفتی ز آفتاب چرخ نور
- O base man, how would the star be needed to demonstrate the (existence of) sunlight?
- کی ستاره حاجت استی ای ذلیل ** که بدی بر نور خورشید او دلیل