Because of this suretyship that Companion (of the Prophet) became so independent (of others) that one day when he had mounted (his horse),335
آن صحابی زین کفالت شد عیار ** تا یکی روزی که گشته بد سوار
And the whip fell right out of his hand, he himself dismounted and did not ask any one to give it to him.
تازیانه از کفش افتاد راست ** خود فرو آمد ز کس آنرا نخواست
He (God), from whose gifts no evil cometh, knows (your want) and Himself will give it without any asking.
آنک از دادش نیاید هیچ بد ** داند و بیخواهشی خود میدهد
But if you ask by God's command, that is right: such asking is the way followed by the prophets.
ور به امر حق بخواهی آن رواست ** آنچنان خواهش طریق انبیاست
When the Beloved has signified (that you should do so and so), ’tis evil no more: infidelity (itself) becomes faith when the infidelity is for His sake.
بد نماند چون اشارت کرد دوست ** کفر ایمان شد چون کفر از بهر اوست
Any evil deed prompted by His command surpasses (all) the good deeds in the world.340
هر بدی که امر او پیش آورد ** آن ز نیکوهای عالم بگذرد
Even if the skin (exterior) of the oyster-shell be damaged, do not curse it, for within it there are a hundred thousand pearls.
زان صدف گر خسته گردد نیز پوست ** ده مده که صد هزاران در دروست
This topic hath no end. Return to the King (God) and become endued with the nature of the falcon.
این سخن پایان ندارد بازگرد ** سوی شاه و هممزاج بازگرد
Like pure gold, return to the mine, in order that your hands may be delivered from (the necessity of) giving the ten (fingers);
باز رو در کان چو زر دهدهی ** تا رهد دستان تو از دهدهی
(For) when they (worldlings) admit a phenomenal form into their hearts, in the end they curse it in contrition.
صورتی را چون بدل ره میدهند ** از ندامت آخرش ده میدهند
The repentance they show is like that of the moth: (soon) forgetfulness draws them back again to the (same) work.345
توبه میآرند هم پروانهوار ** باز نسیان میکشدشان سوی کار
Like the moth, he (such a one) deems the fire (seen) from a distance to be light, and packs off (sets out) towards it.
همچو پروانه ز دور آن نار را ** نور دید و بست آن سو بار را
As soon as he comes (to the fire), it burns his wings, and he flees; and (then) again he falls, like (greedy) children (in a hurry), and spills the salt.
چون بیامد سوخت پرش را گریخت ** باز چون طفلان فتاد و ملح ریخت
Once more, thinking and hoping to profit, he quickly dashes himself on the fire of that candle.
بار دیگر بر گمان طمع سود ** خویش زد بر آتش آن شمع زود
Once more he is scorched and recoils; (then) again the greed of his heart makes him forgetful and intoxicated.
بار دیگر سوخت هم واپس بجست ** باز کردش حرص دل ناسی و مست
At the moment when he recoils on being scorched, he gives the ten (fingers), like the Hindú (slave), to the candle,350
آن زمان کز سوختن وا میجهد ** همچو هندو شمع را ده میدهد
Saying, “Oh, thy face is splendid as the night-illuming moon, but oh, in (actual) intercourse thou art false and destructive to him that is duped (by thee).”
که ای رخت تابان چون ماه شبفروز ** وی به صحبت کاذب و مغرورسوز
(Then) again his repentance and moaning go out of his memory, for God hath made the stratagems of the liars to be feeble.
باز از یادش رود توبه و انین ** کاوهن الرحمن کید الکاذبین
Concerning the interpretation, in a general sense, of the Verse: “as often as they kindle a fire for war.”
در عموم تاویل این آیت کی کلما اوقدوا نارا للحرب
As often as they kindle the fire of (spiritual) warfare, God quenches their fire so that it is put out (entirely).
کلما هم اوقدوا نار الوغی ** اطفاء الله نارهم حتی انطفا
He (such an one) makes a resolution, saying, “O (my) heart, do not stay there!” (but soon) he becomes forgetful, for he is not (really) resolute.
عزم کرده که دلا آنجا مهایست ** گشته ناسی زانک اهل عزم نیست
Since there was no seed of sincerity sown by him, God has caused him to forget that (resolution).355
چون نبودش تخم صدقی کاشته ** حق برو نسیان آن بگماشته
Though he strikes the match of his heart, the Hand of God is always extinguishing the star (spark).
گرچه بر آتشزنهی دل میزند ** آن ستارهش را کف حق میکشد
A Story in further exposition of this.
قصهای هم در تقریر این
A man of trust heard a sound of footsteps (in his house) during the night: he took up the fire-lighter to strike a flame.
شرفهای بشنید در شب معتمد ** برگرفت آتشزنه که آتش زند
At that (same) moment the thief came and sat down beside him, and whenever the tinder caught (fire) he put it out,
دزد آمد آن زمان پیشش نشست ** چون گرفت آن سوخته میکرد پست
Laying the tip of his finger on the place, in order that the fiery star (spark) might vanish.
مینهاد آنجا سر انگشت را ** تا شود استارهی آتش فنا