Thou art I and I am thou, O illustrious one: thou wert ‘Alí— how should I kill ‘Alí?
تو منی و من توام ای محتشم ** تو علی بودی علی را چون کشم
Thou hast committed a sin better than any act of piety, thou hast traversed Heaven in a single moment.”3830
معصیت کردی به از هر طاعتی ** آسمان پیمودهای در ساعتی
Very fortunate (was) the sin which the man committed: do not rose-leaves spring from a thorn?
بس خجسته معصیت کان کرد مرد ** نی ز خاری بر دمد اوراق ورد
Was not the sin of ‘Umar and his attempt on (the life of) the Prophet leading him to the gate of acceptance?
نی گناه عمر و قصد رسول ** میکشیدش تا به درگاه قبول
Was not Pharaoh because of the magic of the magicians drawing them (to himself), and did not (spiritual) fortune come to their aid?
نی به سحر ساحران فرعونشان ** میکشید و گشت دولت عونشان
Had it not been for their magic and denial (of Moses), who would have brought them to rebellious Pharaoh?
گر نبودی سحرشان و آن جحود ** کی کشیدیشان به فرعون عنود
How would they have seen the rod and the miracles? Disobedience (to God) became obedience, O disobedient people.3835
کی بدیدندی عصا و معجزات ** معصیت طاعت شد ای قوم عصات
God hath smitten the neck of despair, inasmuch as sin has become like obedience.
ناامیدی را خدا گردن زده است ** چون گنه مانند طاعت آمده ست
Since He changes evil acts (into good), He makes it (the disobedience) an act of obedience in despite of slanderers (devils).
چون مبدل میکند او سیئات ** طاعتیاش میکند رغم وشات
By this (mercy of God) the stoned (accursed) Devil is driven away and bursts with envy and is cloven asunder.
زین شود مرجوم شیطان رجیم ** و ز حسد او بطرقد گردد دو نیم
He strives to foster a sin (in us) and by means of that sin bring us into a pit;
او بکوشد تا گناهی پرورد ** ز آن گنه ما را به چاهی آورد
When he sees that the sin has become an act of obedience (to God), there comes round for him an unblest hour.3840
چون ببیند کان گنه شد طاعتی ** گردد او را نامبارک ساعتی
“Come in! I open the door to thee. Thou spattest (on me) and I give thee a present.
اندر آ من در گشادم مر ترا ** تف زدی و تحفه دادم مر ترا
Such things I am giving to the doer of iniquity: (thou seest) in what fashion I lay my head before the left foot.
مر جفاگر را چنینها میدهم ** پیش پای چپ چه سان سر مینهم
What then do I bestow on the doer of righteousness? Know thou, (I bestow) treasures and kingdoms everlasting.
پس وفاگر را چه بخشم تو بدان ** گنجها و ملکهای جاودان
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, said in the ear of the stirrup-holder of the Prince of the Faithful ‘Alí, may God honour his person, “I tell thee, ‘Alí will be slain by thy hand.”
گفتن پیغامبر علیه السلام به گوش رکابدار امیر المؤمنین علی علیه السلام که کشتن علی بر دست تو خواهد بودن خبرت کردم
I am such a man that the honey of my kindness did not become poison in wrath (even) against my murderer.
من چنان مردم که بر خونی خویش ** نوش لطف من نشد در قهر نیش
The Prophet said in the ear of my servant that one day he would sever this head of mine from my neck.3845
گفت پیغمبر به گوش چاکرم ** کاو برد روزی ز گردن این سرم
The Prophet by (Divine) inspiration informed my friend that in the end my destruction would be (wrought) by his hand.
کرد آگه آن رسول از وحی دوست ** که هلاکم عاقبت بر دست اوست
He (my friend) says, ‘Kill me first, in order that this hateful crime may not proceed from me.’
او همیگوید بکش پیشین مرا ** تا نیاید از من این منکر خطا
I say, ‘Since my death is (to come) from thee, how can I seek to evade the destiny (of God)?’
من همیگویم چو مرگ من ز تست ** با قضا من چون توانم حیله جست
He falls before me, saying, ‘O generous man, for God's sake cleave me in twain,
او همیافتد به پیشم کای کریم ** مر مرا کن از برای حق دو نیم
That this evil end may not come upon me, and that my soul may not burn (with grief) for (thee who art) its (very) life.’3850
تا نیاید بر من این انجام بد ** تا نسوزد جان من بر جان خود
I say, ‘Go: the Pen (of Divine ordainment) is dry; by that Pen many a (lofty) landmark is overthrown.
من همیگویم برو جف القلم ** ز آن قلم بس سر نگون گردد علم
There is no hatred of thee in my soul, because I do not regard this (act) as (proceeding) from thee.
هیچ بغضی نیست در جانم ز تو ** ز آن که این را من نمیدانم ز تو
Thou art God's instrument, God's hand is the (real) agent: how should I assail and oppose God's instrument?’”
آلت حقی تو فاعل دست حق ** چون زنم بر آلت حق طعن و دق