‘Ah,’ said he, ‘how shall a man without insight pronounce judgement—an ignorant man (decide) between two who know?
گفت اه چون حکم راند بیدلی ** در میان آن دو عالم جاهلی
Those two adversaries are acquainted with their own case: what should the poor cadi know of those two tangles?
آن دو خصم از واقعهی خود واقفند ** قاضی مسکین چه داند ز آن دو بند
He is ignorant and unaware of their (real) state: how should he proceed (to give judgment) concerning their lives and property?’
جاهل است و غافل است از حالشان ** چون رود در خونشان و مالشان
He (the deputy) said, ‘The litigants know (the truth of their case) and (nevertheless) are unsound (prejudiced); you are ignorant (of the facts), but you are the luminary of the whole body (of Moslems),
گفت خصمان عالمند و علتی ** جاهلی تو لیک شمع ملتی
Because you have no prejudice to interfere (with your discernment), and that freedom (from prejudice) is light to the eyes;2750
ز انکه تو علت نداری در میان ** آن فراغت هست نور دیدهگان
While those two who know are blinded by their self-interest: prejudice has put their knowledge into the grave.
و آن دو عالم را غرضشان کور کرد ** علمشان را علت اندر گور کرد
Unprejudicedness makes ignorance wise; prejudice makes knowledge perverse and iniquitous.
جهل را بیعلتی عالم کند ** علم را علت کژ و ظالم کند
So long as you accept no bribe, you are seeing; when you act covetously, you are blind and enslaved.’
تا تو رشوت نستدی بینندهای ** چون طمع کردی ضریر و بندهای
I have turned my nature away from vain desire: I have not eaten delicious morsels.
از هوا من خوی را واکردهام ** لقمههای شهوتی کم خوردهام
My heart, which tastes (and distinguishes), has become bright (like a clear mirror): it really knows truth from falsehood.2755
چاشنی گیر دلم شد با فروغ ** راست را داند حقیقت از دروغ
How Mu‘áwiya—may God be well-pleased with him!— induced Iblís to confess.
به اقرار آوردن معاویه ابلیس را
Why did you awaken me? You are the enemy of wakefulness, O trickster.
تو چرا بیدار کردی مر مرا ** دشمن بیداریی تو ای دغا
You are like poppy-seeds: you put every one to sleep. You are like wine: you take away understanding and knowledge.
همچو خشخاشی همه خواب آوری ** همچو خمری عقل و دانش را بری
I have impaled you. Come, tell the truth, I know what is true: do not seek evasions.
چار میخت کردهام هین راست گو ** راست را دانم تو حیلتها مجو
I expect from every person (only) that of which by nature and disposition he is the owner.
من ز هر کس آن طمع دارم که او ** صاحب آن باشد اندر طبع و خو
I do not look for any sugar from vinegar; I do not take the catamite for a soldier.2760
من ز سرکه مینجویم شکری ** مر مخنث را نگیرم لشکری
I do not, like (idolatrous) infidels, seek (expect) from an idol that it should be God or even a sign from God.
همچو گبران من نجویم از بتی ** کاو بود حق یا خود از حق آیتی
I do not seek the smell of musk from dung; I do not seek dry bricks in river water.
من ز سرگین مینجویم بوی مشک ** من در آب جو نجویم خشت خشک
From Satan, who is other (than good), I do not look for this— that he should awaken me with good (intent).”
من ز شیطان این نجویم کاوست غیر ** که مرا بیدار گرداند به خیر
How Iblís told truly his hidden thought to Mu‘áwiya—may God be well-pleased with him!
راست گفتن ابلیس ضمیر خود را به معاویه
Iblís spoke many words of deceit and treachery, (but) the Amír hearkened not to him and strove (against him) and showed fortitude.
گفت بسیار آن بلیس از مکر و غدر ** میر از او نشنید کرد استیز و صبر
(At length), with the bitterest pangs he (Iblís) said: “O such-and-such, know that I awakened you for the purpose2765
از بن دندان بگفتش بهر آن ** کردمت بیدار میدان ای فلان
That you might join the congregation (of Moslems) in praying after the Prophet of high estate.
تا رسی اندر جماعت در نماز ** از پی پیغمبر دولت فراز
If the time of prayers had passed, this world would have become dark to you and without a gleam of light;
گر نماز از وقت رفتی مر ترا ** این جهان تاریک گشتی بیضیا
(And then) from disappointment and grief tears would have flowed from your two eyes in the fashion of (water from) water-skins,
از غبین و درد رفتی اشکها ** از دو چشم تو مثال مشکها
(Because) every one has delight in some act of devotion and consequently cannot bear to miss it (even) for a short while.
ذوق دارد هر کسی در طاعتی ** لاجرم نشکیبد از وی ساعتی
That disappointment and grief would have been (as) a hundred prayers: what is (ritual) prayer in comparison with the (spiritual) glow of humble supplication?”2770
آن غبین و درد بودی صد نماز ** کو نماز و کو فروغ آن نیاز
The excellence of the remorse felt by one who was sincere (in his devotion) for having missed the congregational prayers.