He (the Devil) is a mischievous thief: like a phantom, he has (he appears in) a (different) shape at every moment.
او یکی دزدست فتنه‌سیرتی ** چون خیال او را بهر دم صورتی
None but God knows his cunning: take refuge with God and escape from that impostor.
کس نداند مکر او الا خدا ** در خدا بگریز و وا ره زان دغا
The bird's debate with the fowler concerning monasticism and about the meaning of the monasticism which Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, forbade his community to practise, saying, “There is no monkery in Islam.”
مناظره‌ی مرغ با صیاد در ترهب و در معنی ترهبی کی مصطفی علیه‌السلام نهی کرد از آن امت خود را کی لا رهبانیة فی الاسلام
The bird said to him, “O Khwája, don't stay in (monastic) seclusion: monasticism is not good in regard to the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed).
مرغ گفتش خواجه در خلوت مه‌ایست ** دین احمد را ترهب نیک نیست
The Prophet has forbidden monasticism: how have you embraced a heresy, O trifler?
از ترهب نهی کردست آن رسول ** بدعتی چون در گرفتی ای فضول
The conditions (imposed by Islam) are: (to take part in) the Friday worship and the public prayers, to enjoin good and shun evil,480
جمعه شرطست و جماعت در نماز ** امر معروف و ز منکر احتراز
To bear patiently affliction caused by the ill-natured, and to confer benefit on (God's) creatures as (bounteously as) the clouds.
رنج بدخویان کشیدن زیر صبر ** منفعت دادن به خلقان هم‌چو ابر
O father, the best of the people is he who benefits the people: if you are not a stone, why are you consorting with the clod?
خیر ناس آن ینفع الناس ای پدر ** گر نه سنگی چه حریفی با مدر
Live amongst the community that is the object of (Divine) mercy: do not forsake the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed), be ruled (by his practice).”
در میان امت مرحوم باش ** سنت احمد مهل محکوم باشد
He (the fowler) replied, “Any one whose intelligence is infirm, he in the opinion of the intelligent is like a stone and clod.
گفت عقل هر که را نبود رسوخ ** پیش عاقل او چو سنگست و کلوخ
One whose (only) wish is for bread resembles an ass: companionship with him is the essence of monkery.485
چون حمارست آنک نانش امنیتست ** صحبت او عین رهبانیتست
(Do not associate with him), for all except God crumbles away, (and) everything that is coming after a time will (inevitably) come.
زانک غیر حق همه گردد رفات ** کل آت بعد حین فهو آت
His predicament is the same as that of his qibla (object of desire): call him ‘dead’ inasmuch as he seeks the dead.
حکم او هم حکم قبله‌ی او بود ** مرده‌اش خوان چونک مرده‌جو بود
Any one who lives with these (worldly) people is a monk, for his companions are (like) clods and stones.
هر که با این قوم باشد راهبست ** که کلوخ و سنگ او را صاحبست
In sooth, (actual) clods and stones never waylaid (and ruined) any one, (while) from those clods come a hundred thousand corruptions.”
خود کلوخ و سنگ کس را ره نزد ** زین کلوخان صد هزار آفت رسد
The bird said to him, “(Well), then, the Jihád (spiritual war) is (waged) at the time when a brigand like this is on the road.490
گفت مرغش پس جهاد آنگه بود ** کین چنین ره‌زن میان ره بود
The valiant man enters on the unsafe road for the purpose of protecting and helping and fighting.
از برای حفظ و یاری و نبرد ** بر ره ناآمن آید شیرمرد
The root (innate quality) of manhood (only) becomes apparent at the time when the traveller meets his enemies on the road.
عرق مردی آنگهی پیدا شود ** که مسافر همره اعدا شود
Since the Messenger (of Allah) was the Prophet of the sword, (the people of) his community are heroes and champions.
چون نبی سیف بودست آن رسول ** امت او صفدرانند و فحول
In our religion the right thing is war and terror; in the religion of Jesus the right thing is (retirement to) cave and mountain.”
مصلحت در دین ما جنگ و شکوه ** مصلحت در دین عیسی غار و کوه
He (the fowler) said, “Yes; if one has help (from God) and strength to make a mighty attack on evil and mischief.495
گفت آری گر بود یاری و زور ** تا به قوت بر زند بر شر و شور
(But) when there is no strength, ’tis better to abstain: spring easily away in flight from what cannot be endured.”
چون نباشد قوتی پرهیز به ** در فرار لا یطاق آسان بجه
It (the bird) replied, “Firmness of heart is needed for achievement, but a (firm) friend does not lack friends.
گفت صدق دل بباید کار را ** ورنه یاران کم نیاید یار را
Be a (firm) friend, that you may find friends innumerable; for without friends you will be left helpless.