The fire of lust is not allayed by water, because it has the (insatiable) nature of Hell in respect of (inflicting) torment.
نار شهوت مینیارامد به آب ** ز انکه دارد طبع دوزخ در عذاب
What is the remedy for the fire of lust? The light of the Religion: your (the Moslems') light is the (means of) extinguishing the fire of the infidels.3700
نار شهوت را چه چاره نور دین ** نورکم اطفاء نار الکافرین
What kills this fire? The Light of God. Make the light of Abraham your teacher,
چه کشد این نار را نور خدا ** نور ابراهیم را ساز اوستا
That this body of yours, which resembles wood (faggots), may be delivered from the fire of the Nimrod-like flesh (nafs).
تا ز نار نفس چون نمرود تو ** وارهد این جسم همچون عود تو
Fiery lust is not diminished by indulging it: it is diminished, without any escape (inevitably), by leaving it (ungratified).
شهوت ناری به راندن کم نشد ** او به ماندن کم شود بیهیچ بد
So long as thou art laying faggots on a fire, how will the fire be extinguished by a carrier of faggots?
تا که هیزم مینهی بر آتشی ** کی بمیرد آتش از هیزم کشی
When thou withholdest the faggots, the fire dies out, because fear of God carries (as it were) water to the fire.3705
چون که هیزم باز گیری نار مرد ** ز انکه تقوی آب سوی نار برد
How should the fire blacken the beauteous face (of a soul) which lays (on itself) rose colour (derived) from the fear of God that is in (men's) hearts?
کی سیه گردد ز آتش روی خوب ** کاو نهد گلگونه از تقوی القلوب
How a conflagration occurred in the city (Medina) in the days of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him.
آتش افتادن در شهر به ایام عمر
A conflagration occurred in the time of ‘Umar: it was devouring stones as though they were dry wood.
آتشی افتاد در عهد عمر ** همچو چوب خشک میخورد او حجر
It fell upon buildings and houses, until (at last) it darted at the wings and nests of birds.
در فتاد اندر بنا و خانهها ** تا زد اندر پر مرغ و لانهها
Half the city caught fire from the flames: water was afraid of it (the fire) and amazed.
نیم شهر از شعلهها آتش گرفت ** آب میترسید از آن و میشگفت
Some intelligent persons were throwing skins of water and vinegar on the fire,3710
مشکهای آب و سرکه میزدند ** بر سر آتش کسان هوشمند
(But) out of spite (obstinacy) the fire was increasing: aid was coming to it from One who is infinite.
آتش از استیزه افزون میشدی ** میرسید او را مدد از بیحدی
The people came in haste to ‘Umar, saying, “Our fire will not be quenched at all by water.”
خلق آمد جانب عمر شتاب ** کاتش ما مینمیرد هیچ از آب
He said, “That fire is one of God's signs: ’tis a flame from the fire of your avarice.
گفت آن آتش ز آیات خداست ** شعلهای از آتش بخل شماست
What are water and vinegar? Deal out bread (in charity), discard avarice if ye are my people (followers).”
آب بگذارید و نان قسمت کنید ** بخل بگذارید اگر آل منید
The folk said to him, “We have opened our doors, we have been bountiful and devoted to generosity.”3715
خلق گفتندش که در بگشودهایم ** ما سخی و اهل فتوت بودهایم
He replied, “Ye have given bread by rule and habit, ye have not opened your hands for the sake of God—
گفت نان در رسم و عادت دادهاید ** دست از بهر خدا نگشادهاید
(Only) for glory and for ostentation and for pride, not because of fear and piety and supplication.”
بهر فخر و بهر بوش و بهر ناز ** نه از برای ترس و تقوی و نیاز
Wealth is seed, and do not lay it in every salty ground: do not put a sword in the hand of every highwayman.
مال تخم است و به هر شوره منه ** تیغ را در دست هر ره زن مده
Distinguish the friends of the Religion (ahl-i Dín) from the enemies of God (ahl-i kín): seek the man that sits with God, and sit with him.
اهل دین را باز دان از اهل کین ** همنشین حق بجو با او نشین
Every one shows favour to his own folk: the fool (who shows favour to the foolish) thinks he has really done (good and religious) work.3720
هر کسی بر قوم خود ایثار کرد ** کاغه پندارد که او خود کار کرد
How an enemy spat in the face of the Prince of the Faithful, ‘Alí, may God honour his person, and how ‘Alí dropped the sword from his hand.
خدو انداختن خصم در روی امیر المؤمنین علی علیه السلام و انداختن علی شمشیر را از دست
Learn how to act sincerely from ‘Alí: know that the Lion of God (‘Alí) was purged of (all) deceit.
از علی آموز اخلاص عمل ** شیر حق را دان مطهر از دغل
In fighting against the infidels he got the upper hand of (vanquished) a certain knight, and quickly drew a sword and made haste (to slay him).
در غزا بر پهلوانی دست یافت ** زود شمشیری بر آورد و شتافت
He spat on the face of ‘Alí, the pride of every prophet and every saint;
او خدو انداخت در روی علی ** افتخار هر نبی و هر ولی