The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).
خر نخواندت اسپ خواندت ذوالجلال ** اسپ تازی را عرب گوید تعال
Mustafá (Mohammed) was God's stable-overseer for the beasts, (which are) the iniquitous carnal soul.2005
میر آخر بود حق را مصطفی ** بهر استوران نفس پر جفا
Moved by lovingkindness, He (God) said, “Say, ‘ta‘álaw (come ye), to the end that I may train you: I am the trainer.’”
قل تعالوا گفت از جذب کرم ** تا ریاضتتان دهم من رایضم
(The Prophet said), “Since I have trained the carnal souls, I have suffered many kicks from these beasts.
نفسها را تا مروض کردهام ** زین ستوران بس لگدها خوردهام
Wherever there is one fond of training, he hath no means of avoiding kicks.
هر کجا باشد ریاضتبارهای ** از لگدهااش نباشد چارهای
Of necessity the most affliction falls on the prophets, for ’tis an affliction to give training to the raw (ignorant).
لاجرم اغلب بلا بر انبیاست ** که ریاضت دادن خامان بلاست
Ye are stumbling along: at my word (in obedience to my command) go at a jog-trot, that ye may become gentle and be suitable for the king to ride.2010
سکسکانید از دمم یرغا روید ** تا یواش و مرکب سلطان شوید
The Lord said, ‘Say, Come ye, say, Come ye, O beasts that have shied away from discipline.
قل تعالوا قل تعالو گفت رب ** ای ستوران رمیده از ادب
If they come not, O Prophet, be not grieved: be not full of hatred on account of those twain without steadfastness.’”
گر نیایند ای نبی غمگین مشو ** زان دو بیتمکین تو پر از کین مشو
The ears of some are deaf to these (cries of) ta‘álaw: every beast hath a different stable.
گوش بعضی زین تعالواها کرست ** هر ستوری را صطبلی دیگرست
Some are put to flight by this call: the stall of every horse is separate.
منهزم گردند بعضی زین ندا ** هست هر اسپی طویلهی او جدا
Some are chagrined by this story, for every bird hath a separate cage.2015
منقبض گردند بعضی زین قصص ** زانک هر مرغی جدا دارد قفص
Even the angels too were not peers: for this reason they formed diverse ranks in Heaven.
خود ملایک نیز ناهمتا بدند ** زین سبب بر آسمان صف صف شدند
Children, though they are at one (the same) school, surpass each other in (their) lessons.
کودکان گرچه به یک مکتب درند ** در سبق هر یک ز یک بالاترند
Sense-perceptions are possessed by Easterner and Westerner, (but) the function of sight belongs to the ocular sense (alone).
مشرقی و مغربی را حسهاست ** منصب دیدار حس چشمراست
Though a hundred thousand ears be arrayed in rank, they all are in need of the clear eye.
صد هزاران گوشها گر صف زنند ** جمله محتاجان چشم روشناند
Again, the ranks of ears have a (special) function in respect of hearing the (words of the) Spirit and the Traditions (of the Prophet) and the Revelation.2020
باز صف گوشها را منصبی ** در سماع جان و اخبار و نبی
A hundred thousand eyes do not possess that avenue (faculty): no eye is acquainted with hearing.
صد هزاران چشم را آن راه نیست ** هیچ چشمی از سماع آگاه نیست
Similarly, enumerate each sense, one by one: each one is removed from (incapable of doing) the work of another.
همچنین هر حس یک یک میشمر ** هر یکی معزول از آن کار دگر
The five external and the five internal senses are (arrayed) in ten ranks in the standing posture of the (angels) ranked (for worship of God).
پنج حس ظاهر و پنج اندرون ** ده صفاند اندر قیام الصافون
Any one who (disobediently) draws back from the rank of (the true) religion will go into the rank that is behind.
هر کسی کو از صف دین سرکشست ** میرود سوی صفی کان واپسست
Do not make little of the (Divine) Word ta‘álaw (come ye): this Word is an exceedingly great elixir.2025
تو ز گفتار تعالوا کم مکن ** کیمیای بس شگرفست این سخن
If a copper (a base person) turn away in repugnance from your saying (this Word), by no means withhold the elixir from him.
گر مسی گردد ز گفتارت نفیر ** کیمیا را هیچ از وی وام گیر
If his magician-like soul has bound (cast a spell upon) him at the present time, (yet) your saying will profit him in his latter end.
این زمان گر بست نفس ساحرش ** گفت تو سودش کند در آخرش
O slave (of God), say, Come ye, say, Come ye: take heed, for verily God inviteth unto the (Abode of) Peace.
قل تعالوا قل تعالوا ای غلام ** هین که ان الله یدعوا للسلام