The party (of guests) said, “O venerable Companion (of the Prophet), how didn't it burn, and how too did it become cleansed?”
قوم گفتند ای صحابی عزیز ** چون نسوزید و منقی گشت نیز
He replied, “Because Mustafá (Mohammed) often rubbed his hands and lips on this napkin.”
گفت زانک مصطفی دست و دهان ** بس بمالید اندرین دستارخوان
O heart afraid of the fire and torment (of Hell), draw nigh unto such a hand and lip as that!
ای دل ترسنده از نار و عذاب ** با چنان دست و لبی کن اقتراب
Since it (the Prophet's blessing) bestowed such honour upon a lifeless object, what things will it reveal to the soul of the lover!
چون جمادی را چنین تشریف داد ** جان عاشق را چه‌ها خواهد گشاد
Inasmuch as he (the Prophet) made the clods of the Ka‘ba the qibla (towards which the Moslems turn), do thou, O soul, be (as) the dust of holy men in (thy) war (against the flesh).3120
مر کلوخ کعبه را چون قبله کرد ** خاک مردان باش ای جان در نبرد
Afterwards they said to the maid-servant, “Wilt not thou tell (us) thine own feelings about all this?
بعد از آن گفتند با آن خادمه ** تو نگویی حال خود با این همه
Why didst thou (so) quickly cast it (into the oven) at his behest? I suppose he was acquainted with the secrets,
چون فکندی زود آن از گفت وی ** گیرم او بردست در اسرار پی
(But) why didst thou, mistress, throw such a precious napkin into the fire?”
این‌چنین دستارخوان قیمتی ** چون فکندی اندر آتش ای ستی
She answered, “I have confidence in the generous: I do not despair of their bounty.
What of a piece of cloth? If he bid me (myself) go without regret into the very essence of the fire,3125
میزری چه بود اگر او گویدم ** در رو اندر عین آتش بی ندم
I, from perfect confidence (in him), will fall (throw myself) in: I have great hope of them that are devoted to God.
اندر افتم از کمال اعتماد ** از عباد الله دارم بس امید
I will throw myself in, not (only) this napkin, because of my confidence in every generous one who knows the mystery.”
سر در اندازم نه این دستارخوان ** ز اعتماد هر کریم رازدان
O brother, apply thyself to this elixir: the faith of a man must not be less than the faith of a woman.
ای برادر خود برین اکسیر زن ** کم نباید صدق مرد از صدق زن
The heart of the man that is less than a woman is the heart that is less (in worth) than the belly.
آن دل مردی که از زن کم بود ** آن دلی باشد که کم ز اشکم بود
Story of the Prophet's, on whom be peace, coming to the aid of a caravan of Arabs who had been brought to sore straits by thirst and lack of water and had set their minds on death: (both) the camels and the people (of the caravan) had let their tongues drop out (of their mouths from exhaustion).
قصه‌ی فریاد رسیدن رسول علیه السلام کاروان عرب را کی از تشنگی و بی‌آبی در مانده بودند و دل بر مرگ نهاده شتران و خلق زبان برون انداخته
In that wadi (was) a company of Arabs: their water-skins had become dry from lack of rain:3130
اندر آن وادی گروهی از عرب ** خشک شد از قحط بارانشان قرب
A caravan amidst the desert in sore distress—they had rehearsed their own death.
در میان آن بیابان مانده ** کاروانی مرگ خود بر خوانده
Suddenly he who succours both worlds, Mustafá (Mohammed), appeared on the way, for help's sake.
ناگهانی آن مغیث هر دو کون ** مصطفی پیدا شد از ره بهر عون
He saw there an exceeding great caravan on the scalding sand and (engaged in) a hard and terrible journey;
دید آنجا کاروانی بس بزرگ ** بر تف ریگ و ره صعب و سترگ
The tongues of their camels hanging out, the people strown everywhere on the sand.
اشترانشان را زبان آویخته ** خلق اندر ریگ هر سو ریخته
He took pity and said, “Hark, go at once, some of your comrades, and run to yonder sandhills,3135
رحمش آمد گفت هین زوتر روید ** چند یاری سوی آن کثبان دوید
For a negro on camelback will (presently) bring a water-skin, (which) he is conveying with all speed to his master.
گر سیاهی بر شتر مشک آورد ** سوی میر خود به زودی می‌برد
Bring to me that negro camel-driver along with the camel by force, if need be.”
آن شتربان سیه را با شتر ** سوی من آرید با فرمان مر
Those seekers approached the sandhills: after a short while they saw ’twas even so:
سوی کثبان آمدند آن طالبان ** بعد یکساعت بدیدند آنچنان
A negro slave was going with a camel, the water-skin filled with water, like one bearing a gift.
بنده‌ای می‌شد سیه با اشتری ** راویه پر آب چون هدیه‌بری
Then they said to him, “The Pride of mankind, the Best of created beings, invites thee (to come) in this direction.”3140
پس بدو گفتند می‌خواند ترا ** این طرف فخر البشر خیر الوری