Luqmán went to David, the pure of heart, and observed that he was making rings of iron,
رفت لقمان سوی داود صفا ** دید کو می‌کرد ز آهن حلقه‌ها
(And) that the exalted King was casting all the steel rings into each other.
جمله را با همدگر در می‌فکند ** ز آهن پولاد آن شاه بلند
He had not seen the armourer's handicraft (before), (so) he remained in astonishment and his curiosity increased—
صنعت زراد او کم دیده بود ** درعجب می‌ماند وسواسش فزود
“What can this be? I will ask him what he is making with the interfolded rings.”1845
کین چه شاید بود وا پرسم ازو ** که چه می‌سازی ز حلقه تو بتو
Again he said to himself, “Patience is better: patience is the quickest guide to the object of one's quest.”
باز با خود گفت صبر اولیترست ** صبر تا مقصود زوتر رهبرست
When you ask no question, the sooner will it (the secret) be disclosed to you: the bird, patience, flies faster than all (others);
چون نپرسی زودتر کشفت شود ** مرغ صبر از جمله پران‌تر بود
And if you ask, the more slowly will your object be gained: what is easy will be made difficult by your impatience.
ور بپرسی دیرتر حاصل شود ** سهل از بی صبریت مشکل شود
When Luqmán kept silence, straightway that (work of making rings) was finished by David's craftsmanship.
چونک لقمان تن بزد هم در زمان ** شد تمام از صنعت داود آن
Then he fashioned a coat of mail and put it on in the presence of the noble and patient Luqmán.1850
پس زره سازید و در پوشید او ** پیش لقمان کریم صبرخو
“This,” he said, “is an excellent garment, O young man, for warding off blows on the battle-field and in war.”
گفت این نیکو لباسست ای فتی ** درمصاف و جنگ دفع زخم را
Luqmán said, “Patience too is of good effect, for it is the protection and defence against pain everywhere.”
گفت لقمان صبر هم نیکو دمیست ** که پناه و دافع هر جا غمیست
He (God) hath joined sabr (patience) with haqq (the real and permanent): O reader, recite attentively the end of (the Súra) Wa’l-‘asr.
صبر را با حق قرین کرد ای فلان ** آخر والعصر را آگه بخوان
God created hundreds of thousands of elixirs, (but) Man hath not seen an elixir like patience.
صد هزاران کیمیا حق آفرید ** کیمیایی همچو صبر آدم ندید
The remainder of the story of the blind man and his reading the Qur’án.
بقیه‌ی حکایت نابینا و مصحف
The guest showed patience, and of a sudden the difficult case was unveiled to him all at once.1855
مرد مهمان صبرکرد و ناگهان ** کشف گشتش حال مشکل در زمان
At midnight he heard the sound of (recitation of) the Qur’án; he sprang up from sleep and beheld a marvel—
نیم‌شب آواز قرآن را شنید ** جست از خواب آن عجایب را بدید
That the blind man was reading correctly from the Qur’án. He became impatient and sought from him (an explanation of) that matter.
که ز مصحف کور می‌خواندی درست ** گشت بی‌صبر و ازو آن حال جست
“Oh, wonderful!” he cried. “Thou with sightless eyes, how art thou reading, (how art thou) seeing the lines?
گفت آیا ای عجب با چشم کور ** چون همی‌خوانی همی‌بینی سطور
Thou hast touched that which thou art reading: thou hast laid thy hand upon the words of that (passage).
آنچ می‌خوانی بر آن افتاده‌ای ** دست را بر حرف آن بنهاده‌ای
Thy finger, in motion, makes it evident that thou hast thine eye resting on the words.”1860
اصبعت در سیر پیدا می‌کند ** که نظر بر حرف داری مستند
He replied, “O thou who hast been separated from the body's ignorance, dost thou feel this wonder at the work of God?
گفت ای گشته ز جهل تن جدا ** این عجب می‌داری از صنع خدا
I begged of God, crying, ‘O Thou whose help is sought, I am (as) covetous of reading the Book as (I am) of life.
من ز حق در خواستم کای مستعان ** بر قرائت من حریصم همچو جان
I do not know it by heart: at the time of reading it, bestow on my two eyes an untroubled light.
نیستم حافظ مرا نوری بده ** در دو دیده وقت خواندن بی‌گره
Give me back my eyes at that moment, so that I may take the Book and read it plain.’
باز ده دو دیده‌ام را آن زمان ** که بگیرم مصحف و خوانم عیان
From the Divine Presence came the cry (in response): ‘O man of (devotional) work, O thou that hast hope of Me in every grief,1865
آمد از حضرت ندا کای مرد کار ** ای بهر رنجی به ما اومیدوار
Thou hast the good thought (of Me) and the fair hope that at each moment bids thee mount higher.
حسن ظنست و امیدی خوش ترا ** که ترا گوید بهر دم برتر آ
Whensoever thou intendest to read (the Qur’án) or wantest the lection from (different) copies,
هر زمان که قصد خواندن باشدت ** یا ز مصحفها قرائت بایدت
At that moment I will restore thine eye, in order that thou mayst read, O venerable being.’
من در آن دم وا دهم چشم ترا ** تا فرو خوانی معظم جوهرا
Even so He did, and whenever I open the Book to read,
همچنان کرد و هر آنگاهی که من ** وا گشایم مصحف اندر خواندن
That all-knowing One who never becomes forgetful of His work, that honoured Sovereign and Maker,1870
آن خبیری که نشد غافل ز کار ** آن گرامی پادشاه و کردگار
That incomparable King at once gives my sight back to me, like a lamp that makes an end of the (darkness of) night.”
باز بخشد بینشم آن شاه فرد ** در زمان همچون چراغ شب‌نورد
On this account the saint has no objection (to raise against the Divine ordainment): whatsoever He (God) takes away, He sends compensation.
زین سبب نبود ولی را اعتراض ** هرچه بستاند فرستد اعتیاض
If He burn your vineyard, He will give you grapes; in the midst of mourning He will give you festivity.
گر بسوزد باغت انگورت دهد ** در میان ماتمی سورت دهد
To the handless paralytic He gives a hand, to the (person who is a) mine of grief He gives the (joyous) heart of an intoxicated one.
آن شل بی‌دست را دستی دهد ** کان غمها را دل مستی دهد
(The feeling denoted by the words) “We will not submit” and (the desire to raise) objection have gone from us (saints), since there is coming a great recompense for what has been lost.1875
لا نسلم و اعتراض از ما برفت ** چون عوض می‌آید از مفقود زفت
Inasmuch as heat comes to me without fire, I am content if His fire kill me.
چونک بی آتش مرا گرمی رسد ** راضیم گر آتشش ما را کشد
Inasmuch as He gives light without, any lamp—if your lamp is gone, why are you lamenting?
بی چراغی چون دهد او روشنی ** گر چراغت شد چه افغان می‌کنی
Description of some saints who are content with the (Divine) ordainments and do not beseech (God) to change this decree.
صفت بعضی اولیا کی راضی‌اند باحکام و لابه نکنند کی این حکم را بگردان
Now listen to a story of those travellers on the Way who have no objection in the world.
بشنو اکنون قصه‌ی آن ره‌روان ** که ندارند اعتراضی در جهان
Those of the saints who make invocation are in sooth different (from these travellers): sometimes they sew and sometimes they tear.
ز اولیا اهل دعا خود دیگرند ** که همی‌دوزند و گاهی می‌درند
I know another class of saints whose mouths are closed to invocation.1880
قوم دیگر می‌شناسم ز اولیا ** که دهانشان بسته باشد از دعا
Because of the content (quietism) that is subservient to (possessed by) those noble ones, it has become unlawful for them to seek to avert Destiny.
از رضا که هست رام آن کرام ** جستن دفع قضاشان شد حرام
In (submitting to) Destiny they experience a peculiar delight: it would be (an act of) infidelity for them to crave release.
در قضا ذوقی همی‌بینند خاص ** کفرشان آید طلب کردن خلاص
He (God) hath revealed to their hearts such a good opinion (of Him) that they do not put on the blue garb (of mourning) on account of any sorrow.
حسن ظنی بر دل ایشان گشود ** که نپوشند از عمی جامه‌ی کبود
How Buhlúl questioned a certain dervish.
سال کردن بهلول آن درویش را
Buhlúl said to a certain dervish, “How art thou, O dervish? Inform me.”
گفت بهلول آن یکی درویش را ** چونی ای درویش واقف کن مرا
He said, “How should that one be, according to whose desire the work of the world goes on?—1885
گفت چون باشد کسی که جاودان ** بر مراد او رود کار جهان
According to whose desire the torrents and rivers flow, and the stars move in such wise as he wills;
سیل و جوها بر مراد او روند ** اختران زان سان که خواهد آن شوند
And Life and Death are his officers, going to and fro according to his desire.
زندگی و مرگ سرهنگان او ** بر مراد او روانه کو بکو
He sends (what entails) condolence wheresoever he will; he bestows (what entails) felicitation wheresoever he will.
هر کجا خواهد فرستد تعزیت ** هر کجا خواهد ببخشد تهنیت
The travellers on the Way (go) according to his pleasure; they that have lost the Way (are fallen) in his snare.
سالکان راه هم بر گام او ** ماندگان از راه هم در دام او
No tooth flashes with laughter in the world without the approval and command of that imperial personage.”1890
هیچ دندانی نخندد در جهان ** بی رضا و امر آن فرمان‌روان
He (Buhlúl) said, “O King, thou hast spoken truly: ’tis even so: this is manifest in thy (spiritual) radiance and (glorious) aspect.
گفت ای شه راست گفتی همچنین ** در فر و سیمای تو پیداست این