In the religious law the testimony of a slave has no value at the time of litigation and judgement.
در شریعت مر گواهی بنده را ** نیست قدری وقت دعوی و قضا
(Even) if thousands of slaves bear witness on thy behalf, the law does not assign to them the weight of a straw.
گر هزاران بنده باشندت گواه ** بر نسنجد شرع ایشان را به کاه
In God's sight the slave of lust is worse than menials and slaves brought into servitude,3815
بندهی شهوت بتر نزدیک حق ** از غلام و بندگان مسترق
For the latter becomes free at a single word from his master, while the former lives sweet but dies exceedingly bitter.
کاین به یک لفظی شود از خواجه حر ** و آن زید شیرین و میرد سخت مر
The slave of lust hath no (means of) release at all except through the grace of God and His special favour.
بندهی شهوت ندارد خود خلاص ** جز به فضل ایزد و انعام خاص
He has fallen into a pit that has no bottom, and that is his (own) sin: it is not (Divine) compulsion and injustice.
در چهی افتاد کان را غور نیست ** و آن گناه اوست جبر و جور نیست
He has cast himself into such a pit that I find no rope capable of (reaching) its bottom.
در چهی انداخت او خود را که من ** در خور قعرش نمییابم رسن
I will make an end. If this discourse go further, not only hearts but rocks will bleed.3820
بس کنم گر این سخن افزون شود ** خود جگر چه بود که خارا خون شود
(If) these hearts have not bled, ’tis not because of (their) hardness, ’tis (because of) heedlessness and preoccupation and ill-fatedness.
این جگرها خون نشد نز سختی است ** غفلت و مشغولی و بد بختی است
They will bleed one day when blood is no use to them: do thou bleed at a time when (thy) blood is not rejected.
خون شود روزی که خونش سود نیست ** خون شو آن وقتی که خون مردود نیست
Inasmuch as the testimony of slaves is not accepted, the approved witness is he that is not the slave of the ghoul (of sensuality).
چون گواهی بندگان مقبول نیست ** عدل او باشد که بندهی غول نیست
(The words) We have sent thee as a witness came in the Warning (the Qur’án), because he (the Prophet) was entirely free from (creaturely) existence.
گشت ارسلناک شاهد در نذر ** ز آن که بود از کون او حر ابن حر
“Since I am free, how should anger bind me? Nothing is here but Divine qualities. Come in!3825
چون که حرم خشم کی بندد مرا ** نیست اینجا جز صفات حق در آ
Come in, for the grace of God hath made thee free, because His mercy had the precedence over His wrath.
اندر آ کازاد کردت فضل حق ** ز آن که رحمت داشت بر خشمش سبق
Come in now, for thou hast escaped from the peril: thou wert a (common) stone, the Elixir hath made thee a jewel.
اندر آ اکنون که رستی از خطر ** سنگ بودی کیمیا کردت گهر
Thou hast been delivered from unbelief and its thorn-thicket: blossom like a rose in the cypress-garden of Hú (God).
رستهای از کفر و خارستان او ** چون گلی بشکفته در بستان هو
Thou art I and I am thou, O illustrious one: thou wert ‘Alí— how should I kill ‘Alí?
تو منی و من توام ای محتشم ** تو علی بودی علی را چون کشم
Thou hast committed a sin better than any act of piety, thou hast traversed Heaven in a single moment.”3830
معصیت کردی به از هر طاعتی ** آسمان پیمودهای در ساعتی
Very fortunate (was) the sin which the man committed: do not rose-leaves spring from a thorn?
بس خجسته معصیت کان کرد مرد ** نی ز خاری بر دمد اوراق ورد
Was not the sin of ‘Umar and his attempt on (the life of) the Prophet leading him to the gate of acceptance?
نی گناه عمر و قصد رسول ** میکشیدش تا به درگاه قبول
Was not Pharaoh because of the magic of the magicians drawing them (to himself), and did not (spiritual) fortune come to their aid?
نی به سحر ساحران فرعونشان ** میکشید و گشت دولت عونشان
Had it not been for their magic and denial (of Moses), who would have brought them to rebellious Pharaoh?
گر نبودی سحرشان و آن جحود ** کی کشیدیشان به فرعون عنود
How would they have seen the rod and the miracles? Disobedience (to God) became obedience, O disobedient people.3835
کی بدیدندی عصا و معجزات ** معصیت طاعت شد ای قوم عصات
God hath smitten the neck of despair, inasmuch as sin has become like obedience.
ناامیدی را خدا گردن زده است ** چون گنه مانند طاعت آمده ست
Since He changes evil acts (into good), He makes it (the disobedience) an act of obedience in despite of slanderers (devils).
چون مبدل میکند او سیئات ** طاعتیاش میکند رغم وشات
By this (mercy of God) the stoned (accursed) Devil is driven away and bursts with envy and is cloven asunder.
زین شود مرجوم شیطان رجیم ** و ز حسد او بطرقد گردد دو نیم
He strives to foster a sin (in us) and by means of that sin bring us into a pit;
او بکوشد تا گناهی پرورد ** ز آن گنه ما را به چاهی آورد
When he sees that the sin has become an act of obedience (to God), there comes round for him an unblest hour.3840
چون ببیند کان گنه شد طاعتی ** گردد او را نامبارک ساعتی
“Come in! I open the door to thee. Thou spattest (on me) and I give thee a present.
اندر آ من در گشادم مر ترا ** تف زدی و تحفه دادم مر ترا
Such things I am giving to the doer of iniquity: (thou seest) in what fashion I lay my head before the left foot.
مر جفاگر را چنینها میدهم ** پیش پای چپ چه سان سر مینهم
What then do I bestow on the doer of righteousness? Know thou, (I bestow) treasures and kingdoms everlasting.
پس وفاگر را چه بخشم تو بدان ** گنجها و ملکهای جاودان
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, said in the ear of the stirrup-holder of the Prince of the Faithful ‘Alí, may God honour his person, “I tell thee, ‘Alí will be slain by thy hand.”
گفتن پیغامبر علیه السلام به گوش رکابدار امیر المؤمنین علی علیه السلام که کشتن علی بر دست تو خواهد بودن خبرت کردم
I am such a man that the honey of my kindness did not become poison in wrath (even) against my murderer.
من چنان مردم که بر خونی خویش ** نوش لطف من نشد در قهر نیش
The Prophet said in the ear of my servant that one day he would sever this head of mine from my neck.3845
گفت پیغمبر به گوش چاکرم ** کاو برد روزی ز گردن این سرم
The Prophet by (Divine) inspiration informed my friend that in the end my destruction would be (wrought) by his hand.
کرد آگه آن رسول از وحی دوست ** که هلاکم عاقبت بر دست اوست
He (my friend) says, ‘Kill me first, in order that this hateful crime may not proceed from me.’
او همیگوید بکش پیشین مرا ** تا نیاید از من این منکر خطا
I say, ‘Since my death is (to come) from thee, how can I seek to evade the destiny (of God)?’
من همیگویم چو مرگ من ز تست ** با قضا من چون توانم حیله جست
He falls before me, saying, ‘O generous man, for God's sake cleave me in twain,
او همیافتد به پیشم کای کریم ** مر مرا کن از برای حق دو نیم
That this evil end may not come upon me, and that my soul may not burn (with grief) for (thee who art) its (very) life.’3850
تا نیاید بر من این انجام بد ** تا نسوزد جان من بر جان خود
I say, ‘Go: the Pen (of Divine ordainment) is dry; by that Pen many a (lofty) landmark is overthrown.
من همیگویم برو جف القلم ** ز آن قلم بس سر نگون گردد علم
There is no hatred of thee in my soul, because I do not regard this (act) as (proceeding) from thee.
هیچ بغضی نیست در جانم ز تو ** ز آن که این را من نمیدانم ز تو
Thou art God's instrument, God's hand is the (real) agent: how should I assail and oppose God's instrument?’”
آلت حقی تو فاعل دست حق ** چون زنم بر آلت حق طعن و دق
He (the knight) said, “For what reason, then, is retaliation (sanctioned)?” “’Tis from God, too,” said ‘Alí, “and that is a hidden mystery.
گفت او پس آن قصاص از بهر چیست ** گفت هم از حق و آن سر خفی است
If He takes offence at His own act, (yet) He causes gardens (of good) to grow from that taking offence.3855
گر کند بر فعل خود او اعتراض ** ز اعتراض خود برویاند ریاض
It beseems Him to take offence at His own act, inasmuch as in vengeance and mercy He is One.
اعتراض او را رسد بر فعل خود ** ز آن که در قهر است و در لطف او احد
In this city of phenomena He is the Prince; in (all) the realms (of the world) He is the Ruler.
اندر این شهر حوادث میر اوست ** در ممالک مالک تدبیر اوست
If He breaks His own instrument, He mends that which has become broken.”
آلت خود را اگر او بشکند ** آن شکسته گشته را نیکو کند
Recognise, O noble sir, the indication of (the text), (Whatever) verse We shall cancel or cause to be forgotten, followed by We shall bring a better.
رمز ننسخ آیه او ننسها ** نأت خیرا در عقب میدان مها
Every (religious) law that God has cancelled—He has taken away grass and brought roses in exchange.3860
هر شریعت را که حق منسوخ کرد ** او گیا برد و عوض آورد ورد
Night cancels the business of day: behold an inanimateness (inertia) that enlightens the intellect!
شب کند منسوخ شغل روز را ** بین جمادی خرد افروز را
Again, night is cancelled by the light of day, so that the inanimateness is consumed by that fire-kindling one.
باز شب منسوخ شد از نور روز ** تا جمادی سوخت ز آن آتش فروز