Then Solomon saw that a new plant had grown, like an ear of corn, in a nook (of the Mosque).
پس سلیمان دید اندر گوشهای ** نوگیاهی رسته همچون خوشهای
He saw a very uncommon plant, green and fresh: its green ness took away the light from (dazzled) the sight.
دید بس نادر گیاهی سبز و تر ** میربود آن سبزیش نور از بصر
Then that herb at once saluted him: he answered it (returned its salutation) and marvelled at its beauty.1375
پس سلامش کرد در حال آن حشیش ** او جوابش گفت و بشکفت از خوشیش
I said, “What is thy name? Say (it) without mouth.” It said, ‘‘It is ‘carob,’ O king of the world.’’
گفت نامت چیست برگو بیدهان ** گفت خروبست ای شاه جهان
He said, “What special property is (resides) in thee?” It replied, “(Where) I have grown, the place becomes desolate.
گفت اندر تو چه خاصیت بود ** گفت من رستم مکان ویران شود
I, who am carob (kharrub), am the ruin (kharàb) of the abode: I am the destroyer of the building (made) of this water and clay.”
من که خروبم خراب منزلم ** هادم بنیاد این آب و گلم
Then at that moment Solomon immediately understood that the appointed term (of his life) was come and that the (hour of) departure would (soon) appear.
پس سلیمان آن زمان دانست زود ** که اجل آمد سفر خواهد نمود
He said, “So long as I exist, assuredly this Mosque will not be damaged by the banes of the earth.1380
گفت تا من هستم این مسجد یقین ** در خلل ناید ز آفات زمین
Whilst I am (here) and my existence continues, how should the Farther Mosque become riven with cracks (fall into decay)?”
تا که من باشم وجود من بود ** مسجداقصی مخلخل کی شود
Know, then, that without doubt the ruin of our mosque does not occur except after our death.
پس که هدم مسجد ما بیگمان ** نبود الا بعد مرگ ما بدان
The mosque is the heart to which the body bows down: wherever the mosque is, the bad companion is the carob.
مسجدست آن دل که جسمش ساجدست ** یار بد خروب هر جا مسجدست
When love for a bad companion has grown in you, beware, flee from him and do not converse (with him).
یار بد چون رست در تو مهر او ** هین ازو بگریز و کم کن گفت وگو
Tear it up by the root, for if it shoot up its head it wilt demolish (both) you and your mosque.1385
برکن از بیخش که گر سر بر زند ** مر ترا و مسجدت را بر کند
O lover, your carob is falseness: why do you creep, like children, towards the false?
عاشقا خروب تو آمد کژی ** همچو طفلان سوی کژ چون میغژی
Know yourself a sinner and calf yourself a sinner—do not be afraid—so that that Master may not steal (secretly take away) the lesson from you.
خویش مجرم دان و مجرم گو مترس ** تا ندزدد از تو آن استاد درس
When you say, “I am ignorant; give (me) instruction,” such fair-dealing is better than (a false) reputation.
چون بگویی جاهلم تعلیم ده ** این چنین انصاف از ناموس به
Learn from your father (Adam), O clear-browed man: he said heretofore, “O our Lord” and “We have done wrong.”
از پدر آموز ای روشنجبین ** ربنا گفت و ظلمنا پیش ازین
He made no excuse, nor did he invent falsehood nor lift up the banner of deceit and evasion.1390
نه بهانه کرد و نه تزویر ساخت ** نه لوای مکر و حیلت بر فراخت
That Iblís, on the other hand, began to dispute, saying, “I was red-faced (honourable): Thou hast made me yellow (disgraced).
باز آن ابلیس بحث آغاز کرد ** که بدم من سرخ رو کردیم زرد
The colour is Thy colour: Thou art my dyer, Thou art the origin of my sin and bane and brand.”
رنگ رنگ تست صباغم توی ** اصل جرم و آفت و داغم توی
Beware! Recite (the text) because Thou hast seduced me, in order that you may not become a necessitarian and may not weave untruth.
هین بخوان رب بما اغویتنی ** تا نگردی جبری و کژ کم تنی
How long will you leap up the tree of necessitarianism and lay your free-will aside,
بر درخت جبر تا کی بر جهی ** اختیار خویش را یکسو نهی
Like that Iblís and his progeny, (engaged) in battle and argument with God?1395
همچو آن ابلیس و ذریات او ** با خدا در جنگ و اندر گفت و گو
How should there be compulsion when you are trailing your skirt (sweeping along) into sin with such complacence?
چون بود اکراه با چندان خوشی ** که تو در عصیان همی دامن کشی
Does any one under compulsion walk so complacently? Does any one, having lost his way’, go dancing (gleefully) like that?
آنچنان خوش کس رود در مکرهی ** کس چنان رقصان دود در گمرهی