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
The Moon (the Prophet) is saying to earth and cloud and shadow, “I was a man, but it is revealed to me (that your God is one God).
ماه میگوید به خاک و ابر و فی ** من بشر بودم ولی یوحی الی
Like you, I was dark in my nature: the Sun's revelation gave me such a light as this.3660
چون شما تاریک بودم در نهاد ** وحی خورشیدم چنین نوری بداد
I have a certain darkness in comparison with the (spiritual) suns, (but) I have light for the darknesses of (human) souls.
ظلمتی دارم به نسبت با شموس ** نور دارم بهر ظلمات نفوس
I am faint (less bright than the Sun) in order that thou mayst be able to bear (my beams), for thou art not the man for (a man who can bear) the most radiant Sun.
ز آن ضعیفم تا تو تابی آوری ** که نه مرد آفتاب انوری