What is this staff? Inferences and (logical) demonstration. Who gave them (the blind) that staff? The all-seeing and almighty One.
این عصا چه بود قیاسات و دلیل ** آن عصا کی دادشان بینا جلیل
Since the staff has become a weapon of quarrel and attack, break that staff to pieces, O blind man!
چون عصا شد آلت جنگ و نفیر ** آن عصا را خرد بشکن ای ضریر
He gave you the staff that ye might approach (Him): with that staff ye struck even at Him in your anger.
او عصاتان داد تا پیش آمدید ** آن عصا از خشم هم بر وی زدید
O company of the blind, what are ye doing? Bring the seer between (you and God)!
حلقهی کوران به چه کار اندرید ** دیدبان را در میانه آورید
Lay hold of His skirt who gave thee the staff: consider what (dreadful) things Adam suffered from disobedience.2140
دامن او گیر کاو دادت عصا ** در نگر کادم چها دید از عصی
Consider the miracles of Moses and Ahmad (Mohammed), how the staff became a serpent and the pillar was endowed with knowledge.
معجزهی موسی و احمد را نگر ** چون عصا شد مار و استن با خبر
From the staff (came) a serpent and from the pillar a moaning: they (the staff and the pillar) are beating (the drums of honour) five times daily for the sake of the Religion.
از عصا ماری و از استن حنین ** پنج نوبت میزنند از بهر دین
Unless this savour (perception of spiritual truths) were non-intellectual, how should all these miracles have been necessary?
گرنه نامعقول بودی این مزه ** کی بدی حاجت به چندین معجزه
Whatever is intelligible, the intellect is swallowing (receiving) it without the evidence of miracles and without contention.
هر چه معقول است عقلش میخورد ** بیبیان معجزه بیجر و مد
This virgin (untrodden) Way deem unintelligible, deem (it) accepted in the heart of every fortunate (elect) one.2145
این طریق بکر نامعقول بین ** در دل هر مقبلی مقبول بین
As in fear of Adam devil and wild beast fled to the islands, from envy,
همچنان کز بیم آدم دیو و دد ** در جزایر در رمیدند از حسد
So in fear of the miracles of the prophets have the sceptics slunk away under the grass,
هم ز بیم معجزات انبیا ** سر کشیده منکران زیر گیا
That they may live in hypocrisy with the reputation of being Moslems, and that you may not know who they are.
تا به ناموس مسلمانی زیاند ** در تسلس تا ندانی که کیاند
Like counterfeiters, they smear the base coin with silver and (inscribe on it) the name of the King.
همچو قلابان بر آن نقد تباه ** نقره میمالند و نام پادشاه
The outward form of their words is profession of the Divine Unity and the religion (of Islam): the inward meaning thereof is like darnel (?) seed in bread.2150
ظاهر الفاظشان توحید و شرع ** باطن آن همچو در نان تخم صرع
The philosopher has not the stomach (courage) to breathe a word: if he utter a word, the true Religion will confound him.
فلسفی را زهره نی تا دم زند ** دم زند دین حقش بر هم زند
His hand and foot are inanimate, and whatever his spirit says (commands), those two are under its control.
دست و پای او جماد و جان او ** هر چه گوید آن دو در فرمان او
Albeit they (the sceptics) propound (reasons for) suspicion with their tongues, their hands and feet give testimony (against them).
با زبان گر چه که تهمت مینهند ** دست و پاهاشان گواهی میدهند
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, manifested a miracle by the speaking of the gravel in the hand of Abú Jahl—God's curse on him!—and by the gravel's bearing witness to the truth of Mohammed, on whom be God's blessing and peace.
اظهار معجزهی پیغامبر علیه السلام به سخن آمدن سنگ ریزه در دست ابو جهل و گواهی دادن سنگ ریزه بر حقیقت محمد علیه الصلاة و السلام
There were some pebbles in the hand of Bú Jahl: “O Ahmad,” said he, “tell quickly what this is.
سنگها اندر کف بو جهل بود ** گفت ای احمد بگو این چیست زود
If thou art the Messenger (of God), what is hidden in my fist? (Speak), since thou hast knowledge of the mysteries of Heaven.”2155
گر رسولی چیست در مشتم نهان ** چون خبر داری ز راز آسمان
He said, “How dost thou wish (me to do)? Shall I say what those (hidden) things are, or shall they declare that I am truthful and right?”
گفت چون خواهی بگویم کان چهاست ** یا بگویند آن که ما حقیم و راست
Bú Jahl said, “This second (thing) is more extraordinary.” “Yes,” said the Prophet, “(but) God hath greater power than that.”
گفت بو جهل این دوم نادرتر است ** گفت آری حق از آن قادرتر است
Without delay, from the middle of his (closed) fist every pebble began to pronounce the (Moslem's) profession of faith.
از میان مشت او هر پاره سنگ ** در شهادت گفتن آمد بیدرنگ
Each said, “There is no god” and (each) said, “except Allah”; (each) threaded the pearl of “Ahmad is the Messenger of Allah.”
لا إله گفت و إلا الله گفت ** گوهر احمد رسول الله سفت
When Bú Jahl heard this from the pebbles, in his anger he dashed those pebbles on the ground.2160
چون شنید از سنگها بو جهل این ** زد ز خشم آن سنگها را بر زمین
The rest of the story of the minstrel, and how the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, conveyed to him the message spoken by the heavenly voice.
بقیهی قصهی مطرب و پیغام رسانیدن عمر به او آن چه هاتف آواز داد
Turn back and hear the plight of the minstrel, for the minstrel had (now) become desperate from waiting (so long).
باز گرد و حال مطرب گوش دار ** ز آن که عاجز گشت مطرب ز انتظار
The voice (of God) came to ‘Umar, saying, “O ‘Umar, redeem Our servant from want.
بانگ آمد مر عمر را کای عمر ** بندهی ما را ز حاجت باز خر
We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
بندهای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).2165
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.2170
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
گفت حق فرمود ما را بندهای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخندهای است
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.2175
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
Then ‘Umar said to him, “Fear not, do not flee from me, for I have brought thee glad tidings from God.
پس عمر گفتش مترس از من مرم ** کت بشارتها ز حق آوردهام
How often has God praised thy disposition, so that He has made ‘Umar in love with thy face!2180
چند یزدان مدحت خوی تو کرد ** تا عمر را عاشق روی تو کرد
Sit down beside me and do not make separation (between us), that I may say into thine ear the secret (message) from (the Divine) favour.
پیش من بنشین و مهجوری مساز ** تا به گوشت گویم از اقبال راز
God sends thee greeting and asks thee how thou farest in thy distress and boundless sorrows.
حق سلامت میکند میپرسدت ** چونی از رنج و غمان بیحدت
Lo, here are some pieces of gold to pay for silk. Spend them and come back to this place.”
نک قراضهی چند ابریشم بها ** خرج کن این را و باز اینجا بیا
The old man trembled when he heard this, biting his hand and quivering all over,
پیر لرزان گشت چون این را شنید ** دست میخایید و بر خود میتپید
Crying, “O God who hast no like!” inasmuch as the poor old man was melted with shame.2185
بانگ میزد کای خدای بینظیر ** بس که از شرم آب شد بیچاره پیر