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
The gardener lops the harmful bough, in order that the date-palm may gain (tallness of) stature and goodness.
باغبان ز آن میبرد شاخ مضر ** تا بیابد نخل قامتها و بر
The expert (gardener) digs up the weeds from the garden, in order that his garden and fruit may look flourishing.
میکند از باغ دانا آن حشیش ** تا نماید باغ و میوه خرمیش
The physician extracts bad teeth, in order that the beloved (patient) may be saved from pain and sickness.3870
میکند دندان بد را آن طبیب ** تا رهد از درد و بیماری حبیب
Advantages, then, are (concealed) within defects: for martyrs there is life in death.
بس زیادتها درون نقصهاست ** مر شهیدان را حیات اندر فناست
When the (martyr's) throat has been cut that swallowed the daily bread, (the spiritual blessings implied in the text) receiving the (Divine) bounty, rejoicing, shall be delicious (to him).
چون بریده گشت حلق رزق خوار ** یرزقون فرحین شد گوار
When the throat of an animal is cut duly (in the manner prescribed by law), there grows (from it) the throat of man, and its excellence is increased (thereby).
حلق حیوان چون بریده شد به عدل ** حلق انسان رست و افزون گشت فضل