The Fasting-month (Ramadán) came round in ‘Umar's time. Some people ran to the top of a hill,
ماه روزه گشت در عهد عمر ** بر سر کوهی دویدند آن نفر
In order to take (the appearance of) the new moon as a good omen, and one of them said, “Look, O ‘Umar, here is the new moon!”
تا هلال روزه را گیرند فال ** آن یکی گفت ای عمر اینک هلال
As ‘Umar did not see the moon in the sky, he said, “This moon has risen from thy phantasy.
چون عمر بر آسمان مه را ندید ** گفت کاین مه از خیال تو دمید
Otherwise, (since) I am a better seer of the heavens (than thou), how is it that I do not see the pure crescent?115
ور نه من بیناترم افلاک را ** چون نمیبینم هلال پاک را
Wet thy hand,” said he, “and rub it on thine eyebrow, and then look up towards the new moon.”
گفت تر کن دست و بر ابرو بمال ** آن گهان تو بر نگر سوی هلال
When he wetted his eyebrow, he did not see the moon. “O King,” he said, “there is no moon; it has disappeared.”
چون که او تر کرد ابرو مه ندید ** گفت ای شه نیست مه شد ناپدید
“Yes,” said ‘Umar, “the hair of thine eyebrow had become (curved) like a bow and shot at thee an arrow of opinion.”
گفت آری موی ابرو شد کمان ** سوی تو افکند تیری از گمان
When one hair became crooked, it waylaid him (hindered him from seeing truly), so that, making a false claim, he boasted to have seen the moon.
چون یکی مو کج شد او را راه زد ** تا به دعوی لاف دید ماه زد
Inasmuch as a crooked hair veils the sky, how will it be when all your members are crooked?120
موی کج چون پردهی گردون بود ** چون همه اجزات کج شد چون بود
Straighten your members by (the help of) the straight (the righteous). O you who (would) go straight, turn not your head aside from that threshold (where the righteous dwell).
راست کن اجزات را از راستان ** سر مکش ای راست رو ز آن آستان
Balance makes balance correct; balance also makes balance defective.
هم ترازو را ترازو راست کرد ** هم ترازو را ترازو کاست کرد
Whoever weighs the same (adopts the same standard) as the unrighteous falls into deficiency, and his understanding becomes dazed.
هر که با ناراستان هم سنگ شد ** در کمی افتاد و عقلش دنگ شد
Go, be hard on the infidels, sprinkle dust on (renounce) fondness for the strangers.
رو أشداء علی الکفار باش ** خاک بر دل داری اغیار پاش
Be as a sword upon the heads of the strangers: come, do not play foxy tricks, be a lion,125
بر سر اغیار چون شمشیر باش ** هین مکن روباه بازی شیر باش
In order that the friends (of God), moved by (righteous) jealousy, may not break with you, because those thorns (the wicked) are the enemies of this rose (the friend of God).
تا ز غیرت از تو یاران نگسلند ** ز آنکه آن خاران عدوی این گلند
Set fire to the wolves as (to) rue-seed, because those wolves are the enemies of Joseph.
آتش اندر زن به گرگان چون سپند ** ز آن که آن گرگان عدوی یوسفند
Iblís calls you “father's soul” (darling son)—beware (of him)! The accursed Devil (does that) in order that he may beguile you with (vain) words.
جان بابا گویدت ابلیس هین ** تا به دم بفریبدت دیو لعین
He practised the like imposture on your father: this black-faced one checkmated an Adam.
این چنین تلبیس با بابات کرد ** آدمی را این سیه رخ مات کرد
This crow is busy on the chessboard; look not you upon his game with an eye that is half-asleep,130
بر سر شطرنج چست است این غراب ** تو مبین بازی به چشم نیم خواب
Because he knows many formidable moves which will stick in your throat like a straw.
ز آن که فرزین بندها داند بسی ** که بگیرد در گلویت چون خسی
His straw will stay in your throat for years. What is that straw? Love of rank and wealth.
در گلو ماند خس او سالها ** چیست آن خس مهر جاه و مالها
Wealth is the straw, since in your throat, O infirm one, it is an obstacle (barrier) to the Water of Life.
مال خس باشد چو هست ای بیثبات ** در گلویت مانع آب حیات
If an artful enemy carry off your wealth, a robber will have carried off a robber.
گر برد مالت عدوی پر فنی ** ره زنی را برده باشد ره زنی
How a snake-catcher stole a snake from another snake-catcher.
دزدیدن مارگیر ماری را از مارگیری دیگر
A petty thief carried off a snake from a snake-catcher and in his folly was accounting it a prize.135
دزدکی از مارگیری مار برد ** ز ابلهی آن را غنیمت میشمرد
The snake-catcher escaped from the snake's bite; the man who had robbed him was miserably killed by the snake.
وارهید آن مارگیر از زخم مار ** مار کشت آن دزد او را زار زار