- He replied, “I have seen (experienced) goodness from these folk: for this reason I have chosen to pray for them.
- گفت نیکویی ازینها دیده‌ام ** من دعاشان زین سبب بگزیده‌ام
- They wrought so much wickedness and injustice and oppression that they cast (drove) me forth from evil into good.
- خبث و ظلم و جور چندان ساختند ** که مرا از شر به خیر انداختند
- Whenever I turned my face towards this world, I suffered blows and beating from them,
- هر گهی که رو به دنیا کردمی ** من ازیشان زخم و ضربت خوردمی
- And took refuge from the blows Yonder: the wolves were always bringing me back into the (right) Way.
- کردمی از زخم آن جانب پناه ** باز آوردندمی گرگان به راه
- Inasmuch as they contrived the means of my (spiritual) welfare, it behoves me to pray for them, O intelligent one.” 90
- چون سبب‌ساز صلاح من شدند ** پس دعاشان بر منست ای هوشمند
- The servant (of God) complains to God of pain and smart: he makes a hundred complaints of his pain.
- بنده می‌نالد به حق از درد و نیش ** صد شکایت می‌کند از رنج خویش
- God says, “After all, grief and pain have made thee humbly entreating and righteous.
- حق همی گوید که آخر رنج و درد ** مر ترا لابه کنان و راست کرد
- Make this complaint of the bounty that befalls thee and removes thee far from My door and makes thee an outcast.”
- این گله زان نعمتی کن کت زند ** از در ما دور و مطرودت کند
- In reality every foe (of yours) is your medicine: he is an elixir and beneficial and one that seeks to win your heart;
- در حقیقت هر عدو داروی تست ** کیمیا و نافع و دلجوی تست
- For you flee away from him into solitude and would fain implore help of God's grace. 95
- که ازو اندر گریزی در خلا ** استعانت جویی از لطف خدا
- Your friends are really enemies, for they make you far from the (Divine) Presence and occupied (with them).
- در حقیقت دوستانت دشمن‌اند ** که ز حضرت دور و مشغولت کنند
- There is an animal whose name is ushghur (porcupine): it is (made) stout and big by blows of the stick.
- هست حیوانی که نامش اشغرست ** او به زخم چوب زفت و لمترست
- The more you cudgel it, the more it thrives: it grows fat on blows of the stick.
- تا که چوبش می‌زنی به می‌شود ** او ز زخم چوب فربه می‌شود
- Assuredly the true believer's soul is a porcupine, for it is (made) stout and fat by the blows of tribulation.
- نفس مومن اشغری آمد یقین ** کو به زخم رنج زفتست و سمین
- For this reason the tribulation and abasement (laid) upon the prophets is greater than (that laid upon) all the (other) creatures in the world, 100
- زین سبب بر انبیا رنج و شکست ** از همه خلق جهان افزونترست
- So that their souls became stouter than (all other) souls; for no other class of people suffered that affliction.
- تا ز جانها جانشان شد زفت‌تر ** که ندیدند آن بلا قوم دگر
- The hide is afflicted by the medicine (tan-liquor), (but) it becomes sweet like Tá’if leather;
- پوست از دارو بلاکش می‌شود ** چون ادیم طایفی خوش می‌شود
- And if he (the tanner) did not rub the bitter and acrid (liquor) into it, it would become fetid, unpleasant, and foul-smelling.
- ورنه تلخ و تیز مالیدی درو ** گنده گشتی ناخوش و ناپاک بو
- Know that Man is an untanned hide, made noisome and gross by humours.
- آدمی را پوست نامدبوغ دان ** از رطوبتها شده زشت و گران
- Give (him) bitter and acrid (discipline) and much rubbing (tribulation), that he may become pure and lovely and exceedingly strong; 105
- تلخ و تیز و مالش بسیار ده ** تا شود پاک و لطیف و با فره
- But if you cannot (mortify yourself), be content, O cunning one, if God give you tribulation without choice (on your part),
- ور نمی‌توانی رضا ده ای عیار ** گر خدا رنجت دهد بی‌اختیار
- For affliction (sent) by the Friend is (the means of) your being purified: His knowledge is above your contrivance.
- که بلای دوست تطهیر شماست ** علم او بالای تدبیر شماست
- The affliction becomes sweet (to the sufferer) when he sees happiness: the medicine becomes sweet (to the sick man) when he regards health.
- چون صفا بیند بلا شیرین شود ** خوش شود دارو چو صحت‌بین شود
- He sees victory for himself in the very essence of checkmate; therefore he says, “Kill me, O trusty ones!”
- برد بیند خویش را در عین مات ** پس بگوید اقتلونی یا ثقات
- This policeman became a (source of) profit in respect of another, but he became reprobate in respect of himself. 110
- این عوان در حق غیری سود شد ** لیک اندر حق خود مردود شد