Even as there was a dense host (of infidels), (but) to the Prophet’s eye it seemed small,
همچنان که لشکر انبوه بود ** مر پیمبر را به چشم اندک نمود
So that the Prophet set upon them without (fear of) the danger; but if he had deemed (them) more (in number), he would have acted cautiously in that (affair).
تا بر ایشان زد پیمبر بیخطر ** ور فزون دیدی از آن کردی حذر
That was the Divine favour, and thou wert worthy of it, O Ahmad (Mohammed); else, thou wouldst have become faint-hearted.
آن عنایت بود و اهل آن بدی ** احمدا ور نه تو بد دل میشدی
God caused the outward and inward warfare to seem little to him and his Companions,2295
کم نمود او را و اصحاب و را ** آن جهاد ظاهر وباطن خدا
In order that He might make it easy for him to gain ease (success), and that he might turn away his face from difficulty (unsuccess).
تا میسر کرد یسری را بر او ** تا ز عسری او بگردانید رو
For him, (God’s) causing (the warfare) to seem little was victory, since God was his friend and taught him the way.
کم نمودن مر و را پیروز بود ** که حقش یار و طریق آموز بود
(But) he that hath not God for his victorious support, alas if the fierce lion seem to him a cat.
آن که حق پشتش نباشد از ظفر ** وای اگر گربش نماید شیر نر
Alas if from afar he see a hundred as one, so that in vain confidence he enters on the fray.
وای اگر صدرا یکی بیند ز دور ** تا به چالش اندر آید از غرور
He (God) causes a Prophet’s sword to seem a dart and makes the fierce lion appear as a cat,2300
ز آن نماید ذو الفقاری حربهای ** ز آن نماید شیر نر چون گربهای
To the end that the fool may fall boldly to fighting, and that He may catch them by this device;
تا دلیر اندر فتد احمق به جنگ ** و اندر آردشان بدین حیلت به چنگ
(And besides He is acting thus), in order that those dolts may have come towards the fire-temple by means of their own feet (by their own free will).
تا به پای خویش باشند آمده ** آن فلیوان جانب آتشکده
He is showing (what seems to you) a blade of straw, in order that you may quickly give a puff so as to make it vanish out of existence.
کاه برگی مینماید تا تو زود ** پف کنی کاو را برانی از وجود
Beware! for that straw has uprooted mountains: through it the world is weeping, while it (the straw) is in laughter.
هین که آن که کوهها بر کنده است ** زو جهان گریان و او در خنده است
He makes this river-water seem (only) up to the ankle, (but) a hundred such as Áj son of 'Unuq have ben drowned therein.2305
مینماید تا به کعب این آب جو ** صد چو عاج ابن عنق شد غرق او
He makes the wave of blood seem to him a mound of musk: He makes the bottom of the sea seem dry land.
مینماید موج خونش تل مشک ** مینماید قعر دریا خاک خشک
Blind Pharaoh deemed that sea dry, so that in (the pride of his) manhood and strength he drave into it.
خشک دید آن بحر را فرعون کور ** تا در او راند از سر مردی و زور
When he enters (it), he is at the bottom of the sea: how should the eye of Pharaoh be seeing?
چون در آید در تگ دریا بود ** دیدهی فرعون کی بینا بود
The eye is made seeing by meeting with God: how should God become the confidant of every fool?
دیده بینا از لقای حق شود ** حق کجا هم راز هر احمق شود
He (the fool) sees (what he thinks is) candy: it is, in sooth, deadly poison; he sees (what he thinks is) the road: it is, in sooth, the cry of the ghoul (luring him to destruction).2310
قند بیند خود شود زهر قتول ** راه بیند خود بود آن بانگ غول
O sky, in the tribulation of (these) latter days thou art revolving swiftly; pray, give (us) time (respite and relief).
ای فلک در فتنهی آخر زمان ** تیز میگردی بده آخر زمان
Thou art a keen dagger to assail us; thou art a poisoned lancet to bleed us.
خنجر تیزی تو اندر قصد ما ** نیش زهر آلودهای در فصد ما
O sky, learn mercy from the Mercy of God: do not, like a snake, inflict wounds on the hearts of ants.
ای فلک از رحم حق آموز رحم ** بر دل موران مزن چون مار زخم
By the truth of Him who hath set the wheel of thy sphere turning above this (earthly) abode,
حق آن که چرخهی چرخ ترا ** کرد گردان بر فراز این سرا
(We beseech thee to) revolve in another wise and show mercy, ere thou uproot us.2315
که دگرگون گردی و رحمت کنی ** پیش از آن که بیخ ما را بر کنی
(We beseech thee by) the truth of thy having fostered us at first, so that our (young) shoot grew up from (the nurture given by) water and earth;
حق آن که دایگی کردی نخست ** تا نهال ما ز آب و خاک رست