The meat that catches the fish on the hook––such a morsel is neither bounty nor generosity.
گوشت کاندر شست تو ماهی رباست ** آن چنان لقمه نه بخشش نه سخاست
The Mosque of the people of Qubá, which was inanimate––he (the Prophet) did not admit to (equality with) it that which was not its equal.3020
مسجد اهل قبا کان بد جماد ** آن چه کفو او نبد راهش نداد
(Even) in the case of lifeless things such a wrong did not come to pass: the lord of justice (Mohammed) set fire to that unequal (and incongruous Mosque).
در جمادات این چنین حیفی نرفت ** زد در آن ناکفو امیر داد نفت
Therefore (a fortiori) in the case of the (human) essences, which are the foundation of all fundamentals, know that there (too) there are differences and divisions.
پس حقایق را که اصل اصلهاست ** دان که آن جا فرقها و فصلهاست
Neither is his (one man’s) life like his (another man’s) life, nor is his death like his death.
نه حیاتش چون حیات او بود ** نه مماتش چون ممات او بود
Never deem his (this one’s) grave like his (that one’s) grave. How indeed shall I describe the difference (between them) in that (other) world?
گور او هرگز چو گور او مدان ** خود چه گویم حال فرق آن جهان
Put thy work to the touchstone, O man of work, lest thou build the Mosque of the Opposers.3025
بر محک زن کار خود ای مرد کار ** تا نسازی مسجد اهل ضرار
Thou has mocked, then, at those Mosque-makers; (but) when thou considerest (carefully), thou thyself hast been one of them.
بس بر آن مسجد کنان تسخر زدی ** چون نظر کردی تو خود ز یشان بدی
Story of the Indian who quarrelled with his friend over a certain action and was not aware that he too was afflicted with (guilty of) it.
حکایت هندو که با یار خود جنگ میکرد بر کاری و خبر نداشت که او هم بدان مبتلاست
Four Indians went into a mosque: they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves for worship's sake.
چار هندو در یکی مسجد شدند ** بهر طاعت راکع و ساجد شدند
Each one performed the takbír (following) upon a niyyat, and began to pray with lowliness and contrition.
هر یکی بر نیتی تکبیر کرد ** در نماز آمد به مسکینی و درد
(When) the muezzin came, from one of them fell a remark— “O muezzin, have you given the call to prayers? Is it time?”
موذن آمد از یکی لفظی بجست ** کای موذن بانگ کردی وقت هست
The second Indian said on the spur of the moment, “Hey, you have spoken, and (so) your prayer is null.”3030
گفت آن هندوی دیگر از نیاز ** هی سخن گفتی و باطل شد نماز
The third one said to the second, “O uncle, why do you rail at him? Tell yourself (how to behave).”
آن سوم گفت آن دوم را ای عمو ** چه زنی طعنه بر او خود را بگو
Said the fourth, “Praise be to God that I have not fallen into the pit (of error), like those three persons.”
آن چهارم گفت حمد الله که من ** در نیفتادم به چه چون آن سه تن
Hence the prayers of all the four were marred; and the fault-finders went astray more (than he who made the original mistake).
پس نماز هر چهاران شد تباه ** عیب گویان بیشتر گم کرده راه
Oh, happy the soul that saw its own fault, and if any one told (found) a fault, wished eagerly (to take) that (fault) upon itself!—
ای خنک جانی که عیب خویش دید ** هر که عیبی گفت آن بر خود خرید
Because half of him (every man) has always belonged to the realm of faults, and the other half of him to the realm of the Unseen.3035
ز انکه نیم او ز عیبستان بده ست ** و آن دگر نیمش ز غیبستان بده ست
Since you have ten sores on your head, you must apply the plaster to yourself.
چون که بر سر مر ترا ده ریش هست ** مرهمت بر خویش باید کار بست
Finding fault with one's self is the (right) remedy for him (who is at fault); when he has become broken (contrite), it is (then) the (proper) occasion for (obeying the Prophet's injunction), “Have pity.”
عیب کردن ریش را داروی اوست ** چون شکسته گشت جای ارحمواست
(Even) if you have not the same fault, be not secure; maybe, that fault will afterwards become notorious in you.
گر همان عیبت نبود ایمن مباش ** بو که آن عیب از تو گردد نیز فاش
You have not heard from God (the comforting words) Do not fear: why, then, have you deemed yourself secure and happy?
لا تخافوا از خدا نشنیدهای ** پس چه خود را ایمن و خوش دیدهای
For years Iblís lived in good renown; (afterwards) he was disgraced: mark what is (the meaning of) his name.3040
سالها ابلیس نیکو نام زیست ** گشت رسوا بین که او را نام چیست
His eminence was famed throughout the (celestial) world; (then) his fame turned to infamy—oh, alas for him!
در جهان معروف بد علیای او ** گشت معروفی بعکس ای وای او
Do not seek fame till you are secure: wash your face of fear, then show your face.
تا نه ای ایمن تو معروفی مجو ** رو بشو از خوف پس بنمای رو
Until your (own) beard grows, my good man, do not jeer at another whose chin is smooth.
تا نروید ریش تو ای خوب من ** بر دگر ساده ز نخ طعنه مزن