In this court of the Judge who pronounces the Decree we are (present) for the purpose of (making good) our claim (to fulfil the covenant signified by the words) “Am not I (your Lord)?” and “Yea”;
ما درین دهلیز قاضی قضا ** بهر دعوی الستیم و بلی
For we said, “Yea,” and (since we are) on trial our acts and words are the (necessary) witnesses and evidence of that (assent).175
که بلی گفتیم و آن را ز امتحان ** فعل و قول ما شهودست و بیان
Wherefore do we keep silence in the court of the Judge? Have not we come (here) to bear testimony?
از چه در دهلیز قاضی ای گواه ** حبس باشی ده شهادت از پگاه
How long, O witness, wilt thou remain under detention in the court of the Judge? Give thy testimony betimes.
چند در دهلیز قاضی ای گواه ** حبس باشی ده شهادت از بگاه
Thou hast been summoned hither that thou mayst give the testimony and show no disobedience;
زان بخواندندت بدین‌جا تا که تو ** آن گواهی بدهی و ناری عتو
(But) in thy obstinacy thou hast sat down and closed (both) hand and mouth in this confinement.
از لجاج خویشتن بنشسته‌ای ** اندرین تنگی کف و لب بسته‌ای
Until thou give that testimony, O witness, how wilt thou escape from this court?180
تا بندهی آن گواهی ای شهید ** تو ازین دهلیز کی خواهی رهید
’Tis the affair of a moment. Perform (thy duty) and run away: do not make a short matter long (tedious and irksome) to thyself.
یک زمان کارست بگزار و بتاز ** کار کوته را مکن بر خود دراز
As thou wilt, whether during a hundred years or in a moment, discharge this trust and acquit thyself (of it).
خواه در صد سال خواهی یک زمان ** این امانت واگزار و وا رهان
Explaining that (ritual) prayer and fasting and all (such) external things are witnesses to the inner light.
بیان آنک نماز و روزه و همه چیزهای برونی گواهیهاست بر نور اندرونی
This (ritual) prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and holy war are the attestation of the (inward) belief.
این نماز و روزه و حج و جهاد ** هم گواهی دادنست از اعتقاد
The giving of alms and presents and the abandonment of envy are the attestation of one's secret thoughts.
این زکات و هدیه و ترک حسد ** هم گواهی دادنست از سر خود
Dishes of food and hospitality are for the purpose of declaring that “we, O noble (guests), have become in true accord with you.”185
خوان و مهمانی پی اظهار راست ** کای مهان ما با شما گشتیم راست
Gifts and presents and offerings bear witness (saying implicitly), “I am pleased with thee.”
هدیه‌ها و ارمغان و پیش‌کش ** شد گواه آنک هستم با تو خوش
(If) any one exerts himself in (giving) money or in conjuration, what is (the meaning of) it? (He means to say), “I have a jewel within.
هر کسی کوشد به مالی یا فسون ** چیست دارم گوهری در اندرون
I have a jewel, namely, abstinence or generosity”: this alms-giving and fasting are witnesses in regard to both (these qualities).
گوهری دارم ز تقوی یا سخا ** این زکات و روزه در هر دو گوا
Fasting says (implicitly), “He has abstained from what is lawful: know (therefore) that he has no connexion with what is unlawful”;
روزه گوید کرد تقوی از حلال ** در حرامش دان که نبود اتصال
And his alms-giving said (implicitly), “He gives of his own property: how, then, should he steal from the religious?”190
وان زکاتش گفت کو از مال خویش ** می‌دهد پس چون بدزدد ز اهل کیش
If he act as a cutpurse (from self-interest), then the two witnesses are invalidated in the court of Divine justice.
گر بطراری کند پس دو گواه ** جرح شد در محکمه‌ی عدل اله
He is a fowler if he scatter grain not from mercy and munificence but in order to catch (the birds).
هست صیاد ار کند دانه نثار ** نه ز رحم و جود بل بهر شکار
He is a cat keeping the fast and feigning to be asleep at fast-time for the purpose of (seizing) his ignorant prey.