Moreover, thou art better than Azrael the tyrannous and enraged, even as (Divine) Mercy is prior to Wrath.
هم ز عزرائیل با قهر و عطب ** تو بهی چون سبق رحمت بر غضب
These four (Angels) are the bearers of the (Divine) Throne, and thou (art their) king: thou art the best of all of the four from being (spiritually) awake.
حامل عرش این چهارند و تو شاه ** بهترین هر چهاری ز انتباه
On the Day of the (Last) Congregation thou wilt see that its bearers are eight: at that time also thou wilt be the most excellent of its eight (bearers).”
روز محشر هشت بینی حاملانش ** هم تو باشی افضل هشت آن زمانش
Thus was she (the Earth) enumerating (his qualities) and weeping: she guessed what was the object of this (mission).
هم‌چنین برمی‌شمرد و می‌گریست ** بوی می‌برد او کزین مقصود چیست
Gabriel was a mine of reverence and respect: those adjurations barred the way against him.1575
معدن شرم و حیا بد جبرئیل ** بست آن سوگندها بر وی سبیل
Inasmuch as she entreated and adjured him, he returned and said, “O Lord of Thy servants,
بس که لابه کردش و سوگند داد ** بازگشت و گفت یا رب العباد
(I protest) that I have not been remiss in Thy affair, but Thou knowest what happened better (than I).
که نبودم من به کارت سرسری ** لیک زانچ رفت تو داناتری
She (the Earth) pronounced the Name from awe of which, O All-seeing One, the Seven Heavens would cease from their course.
گفت نامی که ز هولش ای بصیر ** هفت گردون باز ماند از مسیر
(A feeling of) shame came over me, I was abashed by Thy Name; else, ’tis easy to convey a handful of earth,
شرمم آمد گشتم از نامت خجل ** ورنه آسانست نقل مشت گل
For Thou hast bestowed such a strength upon the Angels that they can tear these celestial spheres to shreds.”1580
که تو زوری داده‌ای املاک را ** که بدرانند این افلاک را
The sending of Michael, on whom be peace, to take a handful of clay from the Earth for putting together the frame of the blessed body of the Father of Mankind, the Vicegerent of God, Adam, on whom be peace, the Adored of the Angels and their Teacher.
فرستادن میکائیل را علیه‌السلام به قبض حفنه‌ای خاک از زمین جهت ترکیب ترتیب جسم مبارک ابوالبشر خلیفة الحق مسجود الملک و معلمهم آدم علیه‌السلام
He (God) said to Michael, “Do thou go down and seize, like a lion, a handful of clay from her.”
گفت میکائیل را تو رو به زیر ** مشت خاکی در ربا از وی چو شیر
When Michael reached the Earth, he put forth his hand to seize (the clay) from her.
چونک میکائیل شد تا خاکدان ** دست کرد او تا که برباید از آن
The Earth trembled and began to flee (recoil): she became suppliant and shed tears.
خاک لرزید و درآمد در گریز ** گشت او لابه‌کنان و اشک‌ریز
Her breast burning (with grief), she made supplication and earnest entreaty: with bloody tears she adjured (him),
سینه سوزان لابه کرد و اجتهاد ** با سرشک پر ز خون سوگند داد
Saying, “(I beseech thee) by the gracious incomparable God who hath made thee the bearer of the majestic Throne.1585
که به یزدان لطیف بی‌ندید ** که بکردت حامل عرش مجید
Thou art the overseer for measuring (and dispensing) the world's means of sustenance: thou art the ladler to them that thirst for the (Divine) bounty”—
کیل ارزاق جهان را مشرفی ** تشنگان فضل را تو مغرفی
Because (the name) Míká’íl (Michael) is derived from kayl (measure), and he has become the measurer (kayyál) in dispensation of the means of subsistence.
زانک میکائیل از کیل اشتقاق ** دارد و کیال شد در ارتزاق
“Give me quarter, set me free! See how I am uttering words stained with blood.”
که امانم ده مرا آزاد کن ** بین که خون‌آلود می‌گویم سخن
The Angel is a mine of God's mercy: he (Michael) said, “How should I sprinkle this salt on that wound?”—
معدن رحم اله آمد ملک ** گفت چون ریزم بر آن ریش این نمک
Just as the Devil is a mine of (God's) wrath, for he has raised up a roar (of lamentation) from the sons of Adam.1590
هم‌چنانک معدن قهرست دیو ** که برآورد از نبی آدم غریو
The precedence of Mercy over Wrath exists (as a fact), O youth: clemency was (eternally) predominant in the nature of God.
سبق رحمت بر غضب هست ای فتا ** لطف غالب بود در وصف خدا
His (chosen) servants necessarily possess His disposition: their water-skins are filled from the water of His stream.
بندگان دارند لابد خوی او ** مشکهاشان پر ز آب جوی او
The Messenger of God and the Guide on the (mystic) journey said that men follow the usage of their kings.
آن رسول حق قلاوز سلوک ** گفت الناس علی دین الملوک
Michael went (back) to the Lord of the Judgement, with hand and sleeve empty of the object of his quest.
رفت میکائیل سوی رب دین ** خالی از مقصود دست و آستین
He said, “O Knower of the secret, O peerless King, the Earth bound me (tied my hands) by lamenting and weeping.1595
گفت ای دانای سر و شاه فرد ** خاک از زاری و گریه بسته کرد
Tears were (ever) precious with Thee: I could not feign not to have heard.
آب دیده پیش تو با قدر بود ** من نتانستم که آرم ناشنود
Moaning and wailing (ever) had great value with Thee: I could not leave their rights unheeded.
آه و زاری پیش تو بس قدر داشت ** من نتانستم حقوق آن گذاشت
With Thee the moist eye is much prized: how should I have become quarrelsome in resisting (her)?”
پیش تو بس قدر دارد چشم تر ** من چگونه گشتمی استیزه‌گر
There is a summons to the servant (of God) to lamentation five times a day— “come to (perform) the ritual prayer, and make lament.”
دعوت زاریست روزی پنج بار ** بنده را که در نماز آ و بزار
The muezzin's cry is “hasten to welfare,” and that welfare is this lamentation and petitioning.1600
نعره‌ی مذن که حیا عل فلاح ** وآن فلاح این زاری است و اقتراح
He whom Thou wishest to make sorrow-stricken—Thou dost bar against his heart the way to lamentation,
آن که خواهی کز غمش خسته کنی ** راه زاری بر دلش بسته کنی
In order that affliction may descend (upon him) without (there being) anything to repel it, when there is no intercessor (in the form) of humble entreaty;
تا فرو آید بلا بی‌دافعی ** چون نباشد از تضرع شافعی
And (on the other hand) Thou dost lead to humble entreaty the spirit of him whom Thou wishest to redeem from affliction.
وانک خواهی کز بلااش وا خری ** جان او را در تضرع آوری
Thou hast said in the Qur’án that (as regards) those peoples on which that heavy vengeance fell,
گفته‌ای اندر نبی که آن امتان ** که بریشان آمد آن قهر گران
’Twas because at that moment they would not make humble entreaty that the affliction might be averted from them;1605
چون تضرع می‌نکردند آن نفس ** تا بلا زیشان بگشتی باز پس
But since their hearts had been hardened, their sins appeared (to them) as obedient service (rendered to God).
لیک دلهاشان چون قاسی گشته بود ** آن گنههاشان عبادت می‌نمود
Until the sinner deems himself rebellious, how can tears run from his eye?
تا نداند خویش را مجرم عنید ** آب از چشمش کجا داند دوید
The Story of the people of Yúnus (Jonah), on whom be peace, is a demonstration and manifest proof that humble entreaty and lamentation avert affliction sent from Heaven. And God most High acts by free choice: therefore humble entreaty and reverence avail with Him. The philosophers, however, say that He acts by (the necessity of His) nature and as a cause, not by free choice: therefore humble entreaty (is useless, for it) cannot alter nature.
قصه‌ی قوم یونس علیه‌السلام بیان و برهان آنست کی تضرع و زاری دافع بلای آسمانیست و حق تعالی فاعل مختارست پس تضرع و تعظیم پیش او مفید باشد و فلاسفه گویند فاعل به طبع است و بعلت نه مختار پر تضرع طبع را نگرداند
When the affliction became visible to the people of Yúnus, a cloud full of fire departed (descended) from heaven.
قوم یونس را چو پیدا شد بلا ** ابر پر آتش جدا شد از سما
It was shooting (flashes of) lightning, the rocks were burning; the cloud was roaring, cheeks were shedding colour.
برق می‌انداخت می‌سوزید سنگ ** ابر می‌غرید رخ می‌ریخت رنگ
All (the people) were on the roofs at night, when that woe came into view from on high.1610
جملگان بر بامها بودند شب ** که پدید آمد ز بالا آن کرب
All came down from the roofs and went bare-headed towards the open country.
جملگان از بامها زیر آمدند ** سر برهنه جانب صحرا شدند
Mothers cast out their children, that all might raise wailing and distressful cries.
مادران بچگان برون انداختند ** تا همه ناله و نفیر افراختند
From (the time of) the evening prayer till the hour of dawn, those folk were throwing dust on their heads.
از نماز شام تا وقت سحر ** خاک می‌کردند بر سر آن نفر
(Then) all voices were hushed: the (Divine) mercy came upon that perverse people.
جملگی آوازها بگرفته شد ** رحم آمد بر سر آن قوم لد
After despair and unrestrained lamentation, little by little the cloud began to turn back.1615
بعد نومیدی و آه ناشکفت ** اندک‌اندک ابر وا گشتن گرفت
The story of Yúnus is long and broad: it is time (to speak) of the Earth and (resume) the far-spread tale.
قصه‌ی یونس درازست و عریض ** وقت خاکست و حدیث مستفیض
Since humble entreaty has (such) value with God—and where (else) has lamentation the price (reward) that it has there?—
چون تضرع را بر حق قدرهاست ** وآن بها که آنجاست زاری را کجاست
Oh, (take) hope! Now (to-day) gird thy loins tight! Arise, O weeper, and laugh continually,
هین امید اکنون میان را چست بند ** خیز ای گرینده و دایم بخند
For the glorious King is ranking tears as equal in merit to the blood of the martyr.
که برابر می‌نهد شاه مجید ** اشک را در فضل با خون شهید
The sending of Isráfíl (Seraphiel), on whom be peace, to the Earth with orders to take a handful of clay for moulding the body of Adam, on whom be peace.
فرستادن اسرافیل را علیه‌السلام به خاک کی حفنه‌ای بر گیر از خاک بهر ترکیب جسم آدم علیه‌السلام
Our God said to Seraphiel, “Go, fill thy hand with that clay and come (back).”1620
گفت اسرافیل را یزدان ما ** که برو زان خاک پر کن کف بیا