Ofttimes we made this invocation and (bowed down in) prayer before Lát and ‘Uzzá and Manát,
این دعا بسیار کردیم و صلات ** پیش لات و پیش عزی و منات
Saying, ‘If he is in the right, make him manifest; if he is not in the right, make him subject to us.’
که اگر حقست او پیداش کن ** ور نباشد حق زبون ماش کن
When we recognised (what had come to pass), he was the one to whom victory was given: we all were darkness, he was the light.4490
چونک وا دیدیم او منصور بود ** ما همه ظلمت بدیم او نور بود
This is our answer (from God)—‘(Concerning) that which ye desired (to know), it has become evident that ye are the untrue.’”
این جواب ماست کانچ خواستید ** گشت پیدا که شما ناراستید
Then, again, they were blindfolding (hiding) this thought from their reflective faculty and banishing it from their memory,
باز این اندیشه را از فکر خویش ** کور می‌کردند و دفع از ذکر خویش
Saying, “This thought too has arisen from our ill-luck, (namely, the thought) that his being in the right should be perfectly established (proven beyond doubt) in our minds.
کین تفکرمان هم از ادبار رست ** که صواب او شود در دل درست
What, indeed, does it matter if he has prevailed (against us) several times? Time (Fortune) brings every one to predominance (now and then).
خود چه شد گر غالب آمد چند بار ** هر کسی را غالب آرد روزگار
We also were made successful by the Days (Fortune), and at times became victorious over him.”4495
ما هم از ایام بخت‌آور شدیم ** بارها بر وی مظفر آمدیم
(But) again they were saying (to themselves), “Although he was defeated, it was not disgraceful and vile like our defeat,”
باز گفتندی که گرچه او شکست ** چون شکست ما نبود آن زشت و پست
Because in (the hour of) defeat (his) good fortune gave him underhand a hundred secret joys;
زانک بخت نیک او را در شکست ** داد صد شادی پنهان زیردست
For he did not at all resemble one defeated, as he felt no sorrow or distress thereat,
کو باشکسته نمی‌مانست هیچ ** که نه غم بودش در آن نه پیچ پیچ
Since to be vanquished is the mark of the true believers; yet in the true believer's defeat there is goodness.
چون نشان مومنان مغلوبیست ** لیک در اشکست ممن خوبیست
If you crush some musk or ambergris, you will fill a (whole) world with (a scent like) the exhalation of sweet herbs;4500
گر تو مشک و عنبری را بشکنی ** عالمی از فوح ریحان پر کنی
And if you suddenly crush the dung of an ass, the houses will be filled to the top with stench.
ور شکستی ناگهان سرگین خر ** خانه‌ها پر گند گردد تا به سر
At the moment of the (Prophet's) ignominious return from Hudaybiya, the empire of Lo, We have opened (to thee the way to a conspicuous) victory proclaimed itself.
وقت واگشت حدیبیه بذل ** دولت انا فتحنا زد دهل
The hidden reason why God most High gave the title of “victory” to the return of the Prophet, on whom be peace, from Hudaybiya without having gained his purpose: as (God said), “Lo, We have opened (to thee the way to) victory”; for it was a locking in appearance (only), and in reality an opening, just as the crushing of musk is apparently a crushing, but really the confirmation of its muskiness and the exhibition of its virtues in their perfection.
سر آنک بی‌مراد بازگشتن رسول علیه السلام از حدیبیه حق تعالی لقب آن فتح کرد کی انا فتحنا کی به صورت غلق بود و به معنی فتح چنانک شکستن مشک به ظاهر شکستن است و به معنی درست کردنست مشکی او را و تکمیل فواید اوست
From the (Divine) empire came to him the message, “Go, be not saddened by the withholding of this victory,
آمدش پیغام از دولت که رو ** تو ز منع این ظفر غمگین مشو
For in this present abasement of thee there are victories: lo, such and such a fortress, such and such a town, are (given) to thee.”
Consider, after all, when he retreated in haste, what (great things) he did against Qurayza and Nadír.4505
بنگر آخر چونک واگردید تفت ** بر قریظه و بر نضیر از وی چه رفت
The fortresses, also, round those two settlements submitted (to him), and (many) advantages (in the shape) of spoils (came into his hands).
قلعه‌ها هم گرد آن دو بقعه‌ها ** شد مسلم وز غنایم نفعها
And if that be not so, consider that this class (of persons) are sorrowful and woeful and distraught and enamoured (of God).
ور نباشد آن تو بنگر کین فریق ** پر غم و رنجند و مفتون و عشیق
They eat the poison of abasement, like sugar; they feed, like camels, on the thistle of sorrows.
زهر خواری را چو شکر می‌خورند ** خار غمها را چو اشتر می‌چرند
(This they do) for the sake of the sorrow itself, not for the sake of relief (from sorrow): in their eyes this lowliness is as a ladder.
بهر عین غم نه از بهر فرج ** این تسافل پیش ایشان چون درج
So glad are they at the bottom of the pit that they are afraid of the throne and the tiara.4510
آنچنان شادند اندر قعر چاه ** که همی‌ترسند از تخت و کلاه
Every place where the Beloved himself is their companion is above the sky, not below the earth.
هر کجا دلبر بود خود همنشین ** فوق گردونست نه زیر زمین
Commentary on the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, said, “Do not declare me to be more excellent than Yúnus ibn Mattá.”
تفسیر این خبر کی مصطفی علیه السلام فرمود لا تفضلونی علی یونس بن متی
The Prophet said, “No preference is (to be given) to my ascension as being superior to the ascension of Yúnus (Jonah).
گفت پیغامبر که معراج مرا ** نیست بر معراج یونس اجتبا
Mine was up to heaven, and his was down below (in the belly of the Fish), because nighness unto God is beyond calculation.”
آن من بر چرخ و آن او نشیب ** زانک قرب حق برونست از حساب
To be nigh (unto God) is not to go up or down: to be nigh unto God is to escape from the prison of existence.
قرب نه بالا نه پستی رفتنست ** قرب حق از حبس هستی رستنست
What room hath non-existence for “up” and “down”? Non-existence hath no “soon” or “far” or “late.”4515
نیست را چه جای بالا است و زیر ** نیست را نه زود و نه دورست و دیر
The laboratory and treasure of God is in non-existence. Thou art deluded by existence: how shouldst thou know what non-existence is?
کارگاه و گنج حق در نیستیست ** غره‌ی هستی چه دانی نیست چیست
The sum of the matter (is that) this defeat of theirs, O sire, does not resemble our defeat at all.
حاصل این اشکست ایشان ای کیا ** می‌نماند هیچ با اشکست ما
They rejoice in being abased and destroyed, just as we (rejoice) in the hour of success and honour.
آنچنان شادند در ذل و تلف ** همچو ما در وقت اقبال و شرف
The provision of unprovidedness is all (that has been assigned to the Prophet as) his fief: poverty and lowliness are his pride and glory.
برگ بی‌برگی همه اقطاع اوست ** فقر و خواریش افتخارست و علوست
One (of the captives) said, “If that adversary (of ours) is such (as you describe), how did he laugh when he saw us bound (in chains)?4520
آن یکی گفت ار چنانست آن ندید ** چون بخندید او که ما را بسته دید
Since (as you assert) he has been transmuted, and (since) his joy is not caused by this (worldly) prison and this freedom of his (from worldly embarrassments),
چونک او مبدل شدست و شادیش ** نیست زین زندان و زین آزادیش
How, then, did he rejoice at the subjection of (his) enemies? How was he puffed up by this victory and conquest?
پس به قهر دشمنان چون شاد شد ** چون ازین فتح و ظفر پر باد شد
His soul rejoiced because he easily gained the (Divine) help and the upper hand and the victory over fierce lions (like us).
شاد شد جانش که بر شیران نر ** یافت آسان نصرت و دست و ظفر
Hence we knew that he is not free (from the bondage of the flesh), and that only on account of this world is he happy and glad at heart.
پس بدانستیم کو آزاد نیست ** جز به دنیا دلخوش و دلشاد نیست
Else, how should he laugh (at us)? for the otherworldly are compassionate and kind to the evil and the good (alike).”4525
ورنه چون خندد که اهل آن جهان ** بر بد و نیک‌اند مشفق مهربان
Thus did those captives mutter to each other under their breath in discussing that (question),
این بمنگیدند در زیر زبان ** آن اسیران با هم اندر بحث آن
(Saying, “Beware) lest the custodian hear (us) and spring upon us and personally carry our words to the ear of that (spiritual) Sultan.”
تا موکل نشنود بر ما جهد ** خود سخن در گوش آن سلطان برد
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, became aware of their chiding him for his exultation.
آگاه شدن پیغامبر علیه السلام از طعن ایشان بر شماتت او
Though the custodian did not hear those words, they entered into the ear that was (hearing) from the presence (of God).
گرچه نشنید آن موکل آن سخن ** رفت در گوشی که آن بد من لدن
The scent of Joseph's spirit was not perceived by its keeper, but Jacob inhaled it.
بوی پیراهان یوسف را ندید ** آنک حافظ بود و یعقوبش کشید
The devils on the high front of Heaven do not hear the secret of the mystery-knowing Tablet;4530
آن شیاطین بر عنان آسمان ** نشنوند آن سر لوح غیب‌دان
(But when) Mohammed went to sleep and reclined (on his bed), the secret came (to him) and circled round him.
آن محمد خفته و تکیه زده ** آمده سر گرد او گردان شده
He whose allotted portion is open (for him to take) eats the sweetmeat, not he whose fingers are long.
او خورد حلوا که روزیشست باز ** آن نه کانگشتان او باشد دراز
The gleaming star became a watchman and drove the devils away, saying, “Abandon theft and receive the secret from Ahmad (Mohammed).”
نجم ثاقب گشته حارس دیوران ** که بهل دزدی ز احمد سر ستان
O thou whose eyes from early (in the day) are (turned) towards (thy) shop, hark, go to the mosque and seek the portion allotted by God.
ای دویده سوی دکان از پگاه ** هین به مسجد رو بجو رزق اله
The Prophet, then, apprehended their words and said, “That laughter of mine was not from hostility.4535
پس رسول آن گفتشان را فهم کرد ** گفت آن خنده نبودم از نبرد
They (the captives) are dead and rotted by decay: in my judgement it is not the part of a (true) man to kill the dead.
مرده‌اند ایشان و پوسیده‌ی فنا ** مرده کشتن نیست مردی پیش ما
Who are they indeed? for the moon is split when I plant my foot on the battlefield.
خود کیند ایشان که مه گردد شکاف ** چونک من پا بفشرم اندر مصاف