There was much debate, and the people became perplexed as to the beginning and end of this well-ordered celestial sphere.
گفت و گو بسیار گشت و خلق گیج ** در سر و پایان این چرخ پسیج
He (the pious man) said, ‘Friend, within me is a (decisive) proof: I have a (manifest) sign indicating the temporal origin of the sky.2850
گفت یارا در درونم حجتیست ** بر حدوث آسمانم آیتیست
I possess the certainty: for him that hath certain knowledge the token thereof is that he will go into the fire.
من یقین دارم نشانش آن بود ** مر یقیندان را که در آتش رود
Like the inmost feelings of love in lovers, that proof, (you must) know, does not come (to utterance) on the tongue.
در زبان میناید آن حجت بدان ** همچو حال سر عشق عاشقان
The inmost meaning of my words is not apparent, except (in) the pallor and haggardness of my face.
نیست پیدا سر گفت و گوی من ** جز که زردی و نزاری روی من
Tears and blood roll on my cheeks and become the proof of His (the Beloved's) comeliness and beauty.’
اشک و خون بر رخ روانه میدود ** حجت حسن و جمالش میشود
He (the philosopher) replied, ‘I do not deem these things to be such a proof as would be a manifest sign to the vulgar.’2855
گفت من اینها ندانم حجتی ** که بود در پیش عامه آیتی
He (the other) said, ‘When a base and a genuine coin boast, saying (to each other), “Thou art base; I am good and valuable,”
گفت چون قلبی و نقدی دم زنند ** که تو قلبی من تکویم ارجمند
Fire is the final test: (the test is) that these two rivals should be dropped into the fire.
هست آتش امتحان آخرین ** کاندر آتش در فتند این دو قرین
(Then) the vulgar and the elect will become acquainted with their (real) state and will advance from opinion and doubt to certain knowledge.
عام و خاص از حالشان عالم شوند ** از گمان و شک سوی ایقان روند
Water and fire, O (dear) soul, are the test for the pure and the base coin that is hidden.
آب و آتش آمد ای جان امتحان ** نقد و قلبی را که آن باشد نهان
Let me and thee, both of us, go into the fire and become a lasting proof for the perplexed.2860
تا من و تو هر دو در آتش رویم ** حجت باقی حیرانان شویم
Let me and thee, both of us, fall into the sea, for thou and I are a sign unto this multitude.’
تا من و تو هر دو در بحر اوفتیم ** که من و تو این کره را آیتیم
Even so they did and entered the fire: both cast themselves upon the heat of the fire.
همچنان کردند و در آتش شدند ** هر دو خود را بر تف آتش زدند
The God-proclaiming man who engaged in controversy was saved, while that bastard (impostor) was burnt in the fire.
از خدا گوینده مرد مدعی ** رست و سوزید اندر آتش آن دعی
Hear from the muezzin this announcement, to the confusion of the foolish transgressors,
از مذن بشنو این اعلام را ** کوری افزونروان خام را
That this name (Mohammed) has not been burnt (destroyed) by Death, since its bearer was a prince and most noble.2865
که نسوزیدست این نام از اجل ** کش مسمی صدر بودست و اجل
In the course of time hundreds of thousands of the veils of the unbelievers have been rent by this laying down of stakes.
صد هزاران زین رهان اندر قران ** بر دریده پردههای منکران
When they (the devout men and the philosopher) made the wager, the truth prevailed as regards immortality and evidentiary miracles and the answer (given to unbelievers).
چون گرو بستند غالب شد صواب ** در دوام و معجزات و در جواب
I perceived that he who spoke (in support) of the priority (of non-existence) and of the temporal origin of the celestial sphere was victorious and in the right.”
فهم کردم کانک دم زد از سبق ** وز حدوث چرخ پیروزست و حق
The unbeliever's argument is always shamefaced: where is a single sign that indicates the truth of that unbelief?
حجت منکر هماره زردرو ** یک نشان بر صدق آن انکار کو
Where in this world is (to be found) a single minaret in praise (honour) of the unbelievers, so that it should be a sign (of their veracity)?2870
یک مناره در ثنای منکران ** کو درین عالم که تا باشد نشان
Where is (to be found) a single pulpit where a preacher commemorates the life of an unbeliever?
منبری کو که بر آنجا مخبری ** یاد آرد روزگار منکری
The face of gold and silver coins, from (bearing) their (the prophets') names, is giving a token of this truth till the Resurrection.
روی دینار و درم از نامشان ** تا قیامت میدهد زین حق نشان
The dies of the kings are ever being changed: behold the die of Ahmad (Mohammed) till the end of the world.
سکهی شاهان همی گردد دگر ** سکهی احمد ببین تا مستقر