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
He (the knight) said, “For what reason, then, is retaliation (sanctioned)?” “’Tis from God, too,” said ‘Alí, “and that is a hidden mystery.
گفت او پس آن قصاص از بهر چیست ** گفت هم از حق و آن سر خفی است
If He takes offence at His own act, (yet) He causes gardens (of good) to grow from that taking offence.3855
گر کند بر فعل خود او اعتراض ** ز اعتراض خود برویاند ریاض
It beseems Him to take offence at His own act, inasmuch as in vengeance and mercy He is One.
اعتراض او را رسد بر فعل خود ** ز آن که در قهر است و در لطف او احد
In this city of phenomena He is the Prince; in (all) the realms (of the world) He is the Ruler.
اندر این شهر حوادث میر اوست ** در ممالک مالک تدبیر اوست
If He breaks His own instrument, He mends that which has become broken.”
آلت خود را اگر او بشکند ** آن شکسته گشته را نیکو کند
Recognise, O noble sir, the indication of (the text), (Whatever) verse We shall cancel or cause to be forgotten, followed by We shall bring a better.
رمز ننسخ آیه او ننسها ** نأت خیرا در عقب میدان مها
Every (religious) law that God has cancelled—He has taken away grass and brought roses in exchange.3860
هر شریعت را که حق منسوخ کرد ** او گیا برد و عوض آورد ورد
Night cancels the business of day: behold an inanimateness (inertia) that enlightens the intellect!
شب کند منسوخ شغل روز را ** بین جمادی خرد افروز را
Again, night is cancelled by the light of day, so that the inanimateness is consumed by that fire-kindling one.
باز شب منسوخ شد از نور روز ** تا جمادی سوخت ز آن آتش فروز
Although that sleep and rest are darkness, is not the Water of Life within the darkness?
گر چه ظلمت آمد آن نوم و سبات ** نی درون ظلمت است آب حیات
Did not minds become refreshed in that darkness? Did not a pause (in recitation) become the source of (increased beauty in) the voice?
نی در آن ظلمت خردها تازه شد ** سکتهای سرمایهی آوازه شد
For contraries are manifested by means of contraries: in the black core (of the heart) He (God) created the light (of love).3865
که ز ضدها ضدها آمد پدید ** در سویدا روشنایی آفرید
The wars of the Prophet became the pivot (determining cause) of peace: the peace of this latter age was (produced) from those wars.
جنگ پیغمبر مدار صلح شد ** صلح این آخر زمان ز آن جنگ بد
That heart-ravisher cut off hundreds of thousands of heads, in order that the heads of the (whole) world's people might win security.
صد هزاران سر برید آن دلستان ** تا امان یابد سر اهل جهان