He is the scissors for (cutting off) enmities and wranglings, he is the decider of the quarrels and disputes of the two litigants.
هست او مقراض احقاد و جدال ** قاطع جن دو خصم و قیل و قال
His spells put the Devil in the bottle, his legal ruling makes dissensions cease.
دیو در شیشه کند افسون او ** فتنهها ساکن کند قانون او
When the covetous adversary sees the scales (of justice), he abandons rebelliousness and becomes submissive;
چون ترازو دید خصم پر طمع ** سرکشی بگذارد و گردد تبع
But if there are no scales, (even) though you give him more (than his fair share) his shrewdness will never be satisfied with the portion (allotted to him).”
ور ترازو نیست گر افزون دهیش ** از قسم راضی نگردد آگهیش
The cadi is a mercy (bestowed by God) and the means of removing strife: he is a drop from the ocean of the justice of the Resurrection.1495
هست قاضی رحمت و دفع ستیز ** قطرهای از بحر عدل رستخیز
Though the drop be small and short of foot, (yet) by it the purity of the ocean’s water is made manifest.
قطره گرچه خرد و کوتهپا بود ** لطف آب بحر ازو پیدا بود
If you keep the (outer) veil (coat of the inward eye) free from dust, you will see the Tigris in a single drop (of water).
از غبار ار پاک داری کله را ** تو ز یک قطره ببینی دجله را
The parts bear witness to the state of (their) wholes, so that the afterglow of sunset has become an informer concerning the sun.
جزوها بر حال کلها شاهدست ** تا شفق غماز خورشید آمدست
God applied that oath, (namely), His Words Verily (I swear) by the afterglow of sunset, to the body of Ahmad (Mohammad).
آن قسم بر جسم احمد راند حق ** آنچ فرمودست کلا والشفق
Wherefore should the ant have been trembling (in desire) for the grain (of corn), if from that single grain it had known (inferred) the (existence of) the stack?1500
مور بر دانه چرا لرزان بدی ** گر از آن یک دانه خرمندان بدی
Come (now) to the topic (in hand), for the Súfi is distraught (has lost control of his reason) and is making haste to exact redress for the injury (inflicted on him).
بر سر حرف آ که صوفی بیدلست ** در مکافات جفا مستعجلست
O thou that has committed deeds of injustice, ho art thou (so) glad at heart? Art thou unaware of the demand (that will be made upon thee) by him who exacts the penalty?
ای تو کرده ظلمها چون خوشدلی ** از تقاضای مکافی غافلی
Or hast thou forgotten those deeds of thine, since heedlessness has let down curtains (of oblivion) over thee?
یا فراموشت شدست از کردههات ** که فرو آویخت غفلت پردههات
If there were no litigations pursuing thee the celestial orb would envy thy happiness,
گر نه خصمیهاستی اندر قفات ** جرم گردون رشک بردی بر صفات
But on account of those just claims (against thee) thou art embarrassed. Little by little, (therefore), beg to be excused for thy unrighteousness.1505
لیک محبوسی برای آن حقوق ** اندک اندک عذر میخواه از عقوق
Lest the Inspector suddenly arrest thee, now (at once) make thy (turbid) water clear (make full amends and wipe out thy injustice) towards the lover (of God).
تا به یکبارت نگیرد محتسب ** آب خود روشن کن اکنون با محب
The Súfi went to the man who had slapped him, and laid hold of his skirt like a plaintiff.
رفت صوفی سوی آن سیلیزنش ** دست زد چون مدعی در دامنش
Haling him along, he brought him to the Cadi, saying, “Mount this asinine miscreant on an ass (and parade him through the streets),
اندر آوردش بر قاضی کشان ** کین خر ادبار را بر خر نشان
Or punish him with blows of the whip, according as thy judgement may deem fitting;
یا به زخم دره او را ده جزا ** آنچنان که رای تو بیند سزا
For (in the case of) one who dies under thy chastisement, no fine is (imposed) on thee in vengeance (for him): that (death) is unpenalised.”1510
کانک از زجر تو میرد در دمار ** بر تو تاوان نیست آن باشد جبار
When any one has died under the punishment and flagellation of the cadi no responsibility lies on the cadi, for he (the cadi) is not a person of small account.
در حد و تعزیر قاضی هر که مرد ** نیست بر قاضی ضمان کو نیست خرد
He is God’s deputy and the shadow of God’s justice, the mirror (that displays the real nature) of every plaintiff and defendant;
نایب حقست و سایهی عدل حق ** آینهی هر مستحق و مستحق
For he inflicts correction for the sake of one who has been wronged, not for the sake of his honour or his anger or his income (profit).
کو ادب از بهر مظلومی کند ** نه برای عرض و خشم و دخل خود
Since it is (done) for the sake of God and the Day (of Judgement) hereafter, if a mistake is made (by him) the blood-wit falls upon the (dead man’s) kinsmen on the father’s side.
چون برای حق و روز آجلهست ** گر خطایی شد دیت بر عاقلهست
He who strikes (and kills) for his own sake is (held) responsible, while he who strikes (and kills) for God’s sake is secure.1515
آنک بهر خود زند او ضامنست ** وآنک بهر حق زند او آمنست