What of a piece of cloth? If he bid me (myself) go without regret into the very essence of the fire,3125
میزری چه بود اگر او گویدم ** در رو اندر عین آتش بی ندم
I, from perfect confidence (in him), will fall (throw myself) in: I have great hope of them that are devoted to God.
اندر افتم از کمال اعتماد ** از عباد الله دارم بس امید
I will throw myself in, not (only) this napkin, because of my confidence in every generous one who knows the mystery.”
سر در اندازم نه این دستارخوان ** ز اعتماد هر کریم رازدان
O brother, apply thyself to this elixir: the faith of a man must not be less than the faith of a woman.
ای برادر خود برین اکسیر زن ** کم نباید صدق مرد از صدق زن
The heart of the man that is less than a woman is the heart that is less (in worth) than the belly.
آن دل مردی که از زن کم بود ** آن دلی باشد که کم ز اشکم بود
Story of the Prophet's, on whom be peace, coming to the aid of a caravan of Arabs who had been brought to sore straits by thirst and lack of water and had set their minds on death: (both) the camels and the people (of the caravan) had let their tongues drop out (of their mouths from exhaustion).
قصهی فریاد رسیدن رسول علیه السلام کاروان عرب را کی از تشنگی و بیآبی در مانده بودند و دل بر مرگ نهاده شتران و خلق زبان برون انداخته
In that wadi (was) a company of Arabs: their water-skins had become dry from lack of rain:3130
اندر آن وادی گروهی از عرب ** خشک شد از قحط بارانشان قرب
A caravan amidst the desert in sore distress—they had rehearsed their own death.
در میان آن بیابان مانده ** کاروانی مرگ خود بر خوانده
Suddenly he who succours both worlds, Mustafá (Mohammed), appeared on the way, for help's sake.
ناگهانی آن مغیث هر دو کون ** مصطفی پیدا شد از ره بهر عون
He saw there an exceeding great caravan on the scalding sand and (engaged in) a hard and terrible journey;
دید آنجا کاروانی بس بزرگ ** بر تف ریگ و ره صعب و سترگ
The tongues of their camels hanging out, the people strown everywhere on the sand.
اشترانشان را زبان آویخته ** خلق اندر ریگ هر سو ریخته
He took pity and said, “Hark, go at once, some of your comrades, and run to yonder sandhills,3135
رحمش آمد گفت هین زوتر روید ** چند یاری سوی آن کثبان دوید
For a negro on camelback will (presently) bring a water-skin, (which) he is conveying with all speed to his master.
گر سیاهی بر شتر مشک آورد ** سوی میر خود به زودی میبرد
Bring to me that negro camel-driver along with the camel by force, if need be.”
آن شتربان سیه را با شتر ** سوی من آرید با فرمان مر
Those seekers approached the sandhills: after a short while they saw ’twas even so:
سوی کثبان آمدند آن طالبان ** بعد یکساعت بدیدند آنچنان
A negro slave was going with a camel, the water-skin filled with water, like one bearing a gift.
بندهای میشد سیه با اشتری ** راویه پر آب چون هدیهبری
Then they said to him, “The Pride of mankind, the Best of created beings, invites thee (to come) in this direction.”3140
پس بدو گفتند میخواند ترا ** این طرف فخر البشر خیر الوری
He said, “I do not know him: who is he?” He (the spokesman) said, “He is that moon-faced sweet-natured one.”
گفت من نشناسم او را کیست او ** گفت او آن ماهروی قندخو
They described to him the diverse qualities which exist (in the Prophet): he said, “Belike he is that poet (wizard)
نوعها تعریف کردندش که هست ** گفت مانا او مگر آن شاعرست
Who subdued a multitude by magic: I will not come half a span towards him.”
که گروهی را زبون کرد او بسحر ** من نیایم جانب او نیم شبر
Dragging him along, they brought him thither: he raised an outcry in revilement and heat (of anger).
کشکشانش آوریدند آن طرف ** او فغان برداشت در تشنیع و تف
When they dragged him before that venerable one, he (the Prophet) said, “Drink ye the water and carry it away withal.”3145
چون کشیدندش به پیش آن عزیز ** گفت نوشید آب و بردارید نیز
He satisfied the thirst of them all from that water-skin: the camels and every person drank of that water.
جمله را زان مشک او سیراب کرد ** اشتران و هر کسی زان آب خورد
From his (the negro's) water-skin he filled large and small water-skins: from jealousy of him the clouds in the sky were distraught.
راویه پر کرد و مشک از مشک او ** ابر گردون خیره ماند از رشک او
Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that the burning glow of so many Hells (of thirst) should be cooled by a single water-skin?
این کسی دیدست کز یک راویه ** سرد گردد سوز چندان هاویه
Has any one seen (such a wonder as) this, that all these water-skins were filled from a single water-skin without trouble?
این کسی دیدست کز یک مشک آب ** گشت چندین مشک پر بی اضطراب
The water-skin itself was a veil, and (in reality) at his (the Prophet's) command the waves of (Divine) bounty were coming (to them) from the Sea of origin.3150
مشک خود روپوش بود و موج فضل ** میرسید از امر او از بحر اصل
“Water by boiling is converted into air, and that air by cold is turned into water.”
آب از جوشش همیگردد هوا ** و آن هوا گردد ز سردی آبها
Nay, (it is not so); without cause and beyond these maxims of (natural) philosophy the (Divine) act of bringing into existence produced the water from non-existence.
بلک بی علت و بیرون زین حکم ** آب رویانید تکوین از عدم
Inasmuch as you have observed (secondary) causes from your childhood, through ignorance you have stuck to the (secondary) cause.
تو ز طفلی چون سببها دیدهای ** در سبب از جهل بر چفسیدهای
(Being occupied) with causes you are forgetful of the Causer: hence you are inclining towards these veils.
با سببها از مسبب غافلی ** سوی این روپوشها زان مایلی
When (all secondary) causes are gone, you will beat your head and cry many a time, “O our Lord! O our Lord!”3155
چون سببها رفت بر سر میزنی ** ربنا و ربناها میکنی
The Lord will say, “Betake thyself to the (secondary) cause! How hast thou remembered My work? Oh, wonderful!”
رب میگوید برو سوی سبب ** چون ز صنعم یاد کردی ای عجب
He (the believer in secondary causes) says, “Henceforth I will behold Thee entirely: I will not look towards the cause and that deception (by which I was led astray).”
گفت زین پس من ترا بینم همه ** ننگرم سوی سبب و آن دمدمه
He (God) will reply to him, “Thy case is (described in the text), ‘(If) they were sent back (to the world), they would surely return (to what they were forbidden to do),’ O thou who art weak in thy repentance and covenant;
گویدش ردوا لعادوا کار تست ** ای تو اندر توبه و میثاق سست
But I will not regard that, I will show mercy: My mercy is abounding, I will be intent on mercy.
لیک من آن ننگرم رحمت کنم ** رحمتم پرست بر رحمت تنم
I will not regard thy bad promise, I from loving kindness will bestow the gift at this (very) moment, since thou art calling unto Me.”3160
ننگرم عهد بدت بدهم عطا ** از کرم این دم چو میخوانی مرا
The (people of the) caravan were amazed at his (the Prophet's) deed. (They cried), “O Mohammed, O thou that hast the nature of the Sea, what is this?
قافله حیران شد اندر کار او ** یا محمد چیست این ای بحر خو
Thou hast made a small water-skin a veil (a means of disguise): thou hast drowned (abundantly satisfied the thirst of) both Arabs and Kurds.”
کردهای روپوش مشک خرد را ** غرقه کردی هم عرب هم کرد را
How he (the Prophet) miraculously filled the slave's water-skin with water from the Unseen World and made the face of that negro slave white by permission of God most High.
مشک آن غلام ازغیب پر آب کردن بمعجزه و آن غلام سیاه را سپیدرو کردن باذن الله تعالی
“O slave, now behold thy water-skin full (of water), that thou mayst not say (anything) good or bad in complaint.”
ای غلام اکنون تو پر بین مشک خود ** تا نگویی درشکایت نیک و بد
The negro was astounded at his (the Prophet's) evidentiary miracle: his faith was dawning from (the world of) non-spatiality.
آن سیه حیران شد از برهان او ** میدمید از لامکان ایمان او
He saw that a fountain had begun to pour from the air (of yonder world) and that his water-skin had become a veil to the emanation of that (fountain).3165
چشمهای دید از هوا ریزان شده ** مشک او روپوش فیض آن شده
The veils also were rent by that (illumined) sight (of his), so that he distinctly beheld the fountain of the Unseen.
زان نظر روپوشها هم بر درید ** تا معین چشمهی غیبی بدید
Thereupon the slave's eyes were filled with tears: he forgot his master and his dwelling-place.
چشمها پر آب کرد آن دم غلام ** شد فراموشش ز خواجه وز مقام
Strength failed him to go on his way: God cast a mighty commotion into his soul.
دست و پایش ماند از رفتن به راه ** زلزله افکند در جانش اله
Then again he (the Prophet) drew him back for (his) good, saying, “Come to thyself; return, O thou who wilt gain advantage (by doing so).
باز بهر مصلحت بازش کشید ** که به خویش آ باز رو ای مستفید
’Tis not the time for bewilderment: bewilderment is in front of thee; just now advance on thy way briskly and speedily.”3170
وقت حیرت نیست حیرت پیش تست ** این زمان در ره در آ چالاک و چست
He (the slave) laid the hands of Mustafá (Mohammed) on his face and gave (them) many loving kisses.
دستهای مصطفی بر رو نهاد ** بوسههای عاشقانه بس بداد
Then Mustafá rubbed his blessed hand on his (the slave's) face and made it fortunate.
مصطفی دست مبارک بر رخش ** آن زمان مالید و کرد او فرخش
That Abyssinian negro became white as the full moon, and his night turned into bright day.
شد سپید آن زنگی و زادهی حبش ** همچو بدر و روز روشن شد شبش
He became a Joseph in beauty and in coquetry: he (the Prophet) said to him, “Now go home and relate what has befallen thee.”
یوسفی شد در جمال و در دلال ** گفتش اکنون رو بده وا گوی حال