Just as you would extract the scorpion’s sting in order that it might be saved from being killed,
آن چنان که نیش کژدم بر کنی ** تا که یابد او ز کشتن ایمنی
(Or) pull out the venomous fang of a snake, in order that the snake might escape from the calamity of being stoned (to death).
بر کنی دندان پر زهری ز مار ** تا رهد مار از بلای سنگسار
Nothing will slay the fleshly soul except the shadow (protection) of the Pír: grasp tightly the skirt of that slayer of the flesh.
هیچ نکشد نفس را جز ظل پیر ** دامن آن نفس کش را سخت گیر
When you grasp (it) tightly, that is (done by) the aid of Him (God): whatever strength comes into you is (the effect of) His drawing (you towards Him).
چون بگیری سخت آن توفیق هوست ** در تو هر قوت که آید جذب اوست
Know that true is (the text) thou didst not throw when thou threwest: whatsoever the soul soweth is from the Soul of the soul.2530
ما رمیت إذ رمیت راست دان ** هر چه کارد جان بود از جان جان
He is the One that takes the hand (to help), and (He is) burden-bearing (long-suffering): have hope, from moment to moment, of (receiving) that breath (of inspiration) from Him.
دست گیرنده وی است و بردبار ** دمبهدم آن دم از او امید دار
‘Tis no harm if you have remained long without Him: you have read that He is long in gripping (sinners), (though) gripping (them) tight.
If you desire the explanation of this union and friendship, read thoughtfully (the Súra) Wa’l-Duhá (By the Morn).
گر تو خواهی شرح این وصل و ولا ** از سر اندیشه میخوان و الضحی
And if you say that evils too are from Him, (that is true), but how is it a defect in His grace?2535
ور تو گویی هم بدیها از وی است ** لیک آن نقصان فضل او کی است
(His) bestowing that evil is even His perfection: I will tell you a parable (in illustration), O respected one.
آن بدی دادن کمال اوست هم ** من مثالی گویمت ای محتشم
A painter made two kinds of pictures––beautiful pictures and pictures devoid of beauty.
کرد نقاشی دو گونه نقشها ** نقشهای صاف و نقشی بیصفا
He painted Joseph and fair-formed houris, he painted ugly afreets and devils.
نقش یوسف کرد و حور خوش سرشت ** نقش عفریتان و ابلیسان زشت
Both kinds of pictures are (evidence of) his mastery: those (ugly ones) are not (evidence of) his ugliness; they are (evidence of) his bounty.
هر دو گونه نقش استادی اوست ** زشتی او نیست آن رادی اوست
He makes the ugly of extreme ugliness––it is invested with all (possible) uglinesses––2540
زشت را در غایت زشتی کند ** جمله زشتیها به گردش بر تند
In order that the perfection of his skill may be displayed, (and that) the denier of his mastery may be put to shame.
تا کمال دانشش پیدا شود ** منکر استادیش رسوا شود
And if he cannot make the ugly, he is deficient (in skill) hence He (God) is the Creator of (both) the infidel and the sincere (faithful).
ور نداند زشت کردن ناقص است ** زین سبب خلاق گبر و مخلص است
From this point of view, then, (both) infidelity and faith are bearing witness to His Lordliness, and both are bowing down in worship.
پس از این رو کفر و ایمان شاهدند ** بر خداوندیش و هر دو ساجدند
But know that the faithful (believer) bows down willingly, because he is seeking (God’s) pleasure and aiming (at that).
لیک مومن دان که طوعا ساجد است ** ز انکه جویای رضا و قاصد است
The infidel too is a worshipper of God, (though) unwillingly; but his aim is (directed towards) another object of desire.2545
هست کرها گبر هم یزدان پرست ** لیک قصد او مرادی دیگر است
(It is true that) he keeps the King’s fortress in good repair; but he is claiming to be in command.
قلعه‌ای سلطان عمارت میکند ** لیک دعوی امارت میکند
He has become a rebel, to the intent that it may be his domain; (but) verily, in the end the fortress comes to be the King’s.
گشته یاغی تا که ملک او بود ** عاقبت خود قلعه سلطانی شود
The faithful believer keeps that fortress in good repair for the sake of the King, not for place (and power).
مومن آن قلعه برای پادشاه ** میکند معمور نه از بهر جاه
The ugly one (the infidel) says, “O King who createst the ugly, Thou art able for (able to create) the beautiful as well as the despicable (and) ugly.”
زشت گوید ای شه زشت آفرین ** قادری بر خوب و بر زشت مهین
The beautiful one (the faithful believer) says, “O King of beauty and comeliness, Thou hast made me free from defects.”2550
خوب گوید ای شه حسن و بها ** پاک گردانیدیم از عیبها
How the Prophet, God bless and save him, gave injunctions to the sick man and taught him to pray.
وصیت کردن پیغامبر صلی الله علیه و آله مر آن بیمار را و دعا آموزانیدنش