They become (as) kind as a mother: he (Mohammed) said of the Moslems, “(They are as) one soul.”
مشفقان گردند همچون والده ** مسلمون را گفت نفس واحده
(’Twas) through the Messenger of Allah they became one soul; else, they were absolute enemies, every one (to the other).
نفس واحد از رسول حق شدند ** ور نه هر یک دشمن مطلق بدند
How dissension and enmity amongst the Ansár were removed by the blessings of the Prophet—may God bless and save him!
برخاستن مخالفت و عداوت از میان انصار به برکات رسول صلی الله علیه و آله
The two tribes which were named Aws and Khazraj had a blood-thirsty spirit towards each other.
دو قبیله کاوس و خزرج نام داشت ** یک ز دیگر جان خون آشام داشت
Through (the preaching of) Mustafá (Mohammed) their ancient feuds vanished in the light of Islam and of pureness (of heart).
کینههای کهنهشان از مصطفی ** محو شد در نور اسلام و صفا
First, those enemies became brethren like the units of (a bunch of) grapes in the garden;3715
اولا اخوان شدند آن دشمنان ** همچو اعداد عنب در بوستان
And (then) at the admonition given in the words, The true believers are brethren, they dissolved (and mingled) and became one body.
و ز دم المؤمنون إخوة به پند ** در شکستند و تن واحد شدند
The appearance of the (clustered) grapes is (that of) brethren: when you squeeze them they become one juice.
صورت انگورها اخوان بود ** چون فشردی شیرهی واحد شود
The immature and the full-grown grape are opponents, but when the immature grape has ripened, it becomes a good friend.
غوره و انگور ضدانند لیک ** چون که غوره پخته شد شد یار نیک
The immature grape that has remained stone-hard and crude —God in eternity has called it an original unbeliever.
غورهای کاو سنگ بست و خام ماند ** در ازل حق کافر اصلیش خواند
He (such a one) is neither a brother nor one (in) soul (with the faithful Moslems): he is an ill-starred heretic in (the state of) damnation.3720
نه اخی نه نفس واحد باشد او ** در شقاوت نحس ملحد باشد او
If I should tell that which he keeps hidden (in his heart), there would arise in the world a sore temptation of (men's) minds.
گر بگویم آن چه او دارد نهان ** فتنهی افهام خیزد در جهان
’Tis better that the secret of the blind infidel should be untold: ’tis better that the smoke of Hell should be banished from Iram.
سر گبر کور نامذکور به ** دود دوزخ از ارم مهجور به
The good immature grapes, which are capable (of ripening), are at last (made) one in heart by the breath of the masters of heart (the saints).
غورههای نیک کایشان قابلاند ** از دم اهل دل آخر یک دلاند
They push on rapidly to grapehood (maturity), so that duality and hatred and strife depart (from them).
سوی انگوری همیرانند تیز ** تا دویی برخیزد و کین و ستیز
Then in grapehood they rend their skins till they become one: unity is the (proper) attribute of him (who is one with others).3725
پس در انگوری همیدرند پوست ** تا یکی گردند و وحدت وصف اوست
A friend becomes a foe because he is still two: no one (ever) engaged in a battle with himself.
دوست دشمن گردد ایرا هم دو است ** هیچ یک با خویش جنگی در نبست
Blessings on the universal love of the Master, (which) gave oneness to hundreds of thousands of motes!
آفرین بر عشق کل اوستاد ** صد هزاران ذره را داد اتحاد
(They were) as dust scattered on the thoroughfare: the hand of the Potter made them one jug.
همچو خاک مفترق در رهگذر ** یک سبوشان کرد دست کوزهگر
(But the simile fails as applied to souls), for the oneness of bodies (formed) of water and clay is imperfect: the (oneness of) soul is not like this.
که اتحاد جسمهای آب و طین ** هست ناقص جان نمیماند بدین
If I should here utter similitudes in comparison (illustration), I fear it might disorder (perplex) the understanding.3730
گر نظایر گویم اینجا در مثال ** فهم را ترسم که آرد اختلال
Even now there exists (a) Solomon, but we are blinded by exulting in (our) farsightedness.
هم سلیمان هست اکنون لیک ما ** از نشاط دور بینی در عما
Far-sightedness keeps a man blind, just as one sleeping in a house is blind to the house.
دور بینی کور دارد مرد را ** همچو خفته در سرا کور از سرا
We are much addicted to subtle discussions, we are exceedingly fond of solving problems;
مولعیم اندر سخنهای دقیق ** در گرهها باز کردن ما عشیق
And to the end that we may tie knots and (then) undo them, (we are) making many rules for (posing and stating) the difficulty and for answering (the questions raised by it),
تا گره بندیم و بگشاییم ما ** در شکال و در جواب آیین فزا
Like a bird which should undo the fastenings of a snare, and tie (them together) at times, in order that it might become perfect in skill:3735
همچو مرغی کاو گشاید بند دام ** گاه بندد تا شود در فن تمام
It is deprived of the open country and meadowland, its life is spent in dealing with knots;
او بود محروم از صحرا و مرج ** عمر او اندر گره کاری است خرج
And even (then) the snare is nowise subdued by it, but its wings are always getting broken.
خود زبون او نگردد هیچ دام ** لیک پرش در شکست افتد مدام
Do not struggle with knots, lest thy wings and feathers be snapped asunder one by one through this vain display (of effort) on thy part.
با گره کم کوش تا بال و پرت ** نگسلد یک یک از این کر و فرت
Myriads of birds have had their wings broken, and have not stopped that calamitous ambuscade (from doing its work).
صد هزاران مرغ پرهاشان شکست ** و آن کمین گاه عوارض را نبست
Read in the Qur’án (concerning) their state, O covetous one: —They explored (and wandered) in them (the lands of the earth); mark (the words), Was there any refuge?3740
حال ایشان از نبی خوان ای حریص ** نقبوا فیها ببین هل من محیص
The difficulty over angúr and ‘inab was not solved by the contest between the Turk, the Greek, and the Arab.
از نزاع ترک و رومی و عرب ** حل نشد اشکال انگور و عنب
Until the spiritual Solomon, skilled in tongues, shall intervene, this duality will not disappear.
تا سلیمان لسین معنوی ** در نیاید بر نخیزد این دوی
O all ye wrangling birds, hearken, like the falcon, to this falcon-drum of the King.
جمله مرغان منازع بازوار ** بشنوید این طبل باز شهریار
Hark, from every quarter set out with joy, (flying away) from your diversity towards oneness.
ز اختلاف خویش سوی اتحاد ** هین ز هر جانب روان گردید شاد
Wheresoever ye be, turn your faces towards it: this is the thing which He hath not forbidden unto you (at any time).3745
حیث ما کنتم فولوا وجهکم ** نحوه هذا الذی لم ینهکم
Blind birds are we and very inept, in that we have not once recognised that Solomon.
کور مرغانیم و بس ناساختیم ** کان سلیمان را دمی نشناختیم
Like the owls, we have become hostile to the falcons: consequently we are left behind (to dwell) in the place of ruin.