He threw water on his face, and he (the infidel) began to speak, saying, “O witness of God, recite the Testimony (profession of the Faith),
آب بر رو زد در آمد در سخن ** کای شهید حق شهادت عرضه کن
That I may bear witness (to its truth) and go forth (from unbelief): I am weary of this (unreal) existence and will go into the wilderness (of reality).”
تا گواهی بدهم و بیرون شوم ** سیرم از هستی در آن هامون شوم
In this court of the Judge who pronounces the Decree we are (present) for the purpose of (making good) our claim (to fulfil the covenant signified by the words) “Am not I (your Lord)?” and “Yea”;
ما درین دهلیز قاضی قضا ** بهر دعوی الستیم و بلی
For we said, “Yea,” and (since we are) on trial our acts and words are the (necessary) witnesses and evidence of that (assent).175
که بلی گفتیم و آن را ز امتحان ** فعل و قول ما شهودست و بیان
Wherefore do we keep silence in the court of the Judge? Have not we come (here) to bear testimony?
از چه در دهلیز قاضی ای گواه ** حبس باشی ده شهادت از پگاه
How long, O witness, wilt thou remain under detention in the court of the Judge? Give thy testimony betimes.
چند در دهلیز قاضی ای گواه ** حبس باشی ده شهادت از بگاه
Thou hast been summoned hither that thou mayst give the testimony and show no disobedience;
زان بخواندندت بدینجا تا که تو ** آن گواهی بدهی و ناری عتو
(But) in thy obstinacy thou hast sat down and closed (both) hand and mouth in this confinement.
از لجاج خویشتن بنشستهای ** اندرین تنگی کف و لب بستهای
Until thou give that testimony, O witness, how wilt thou escape from this court?180
تا بندهی آن گواهی ای شهید ** تو ازین دهلیز کی خواهی رهید
’Tis the affair of a moment. Perform (thy duty) and run away: do not make a short matter long (tedious and irksome) to thyself.
یک زمان کارست بگزار و بتاز ** کار کوته را مکن بر خود دراز
As thou wilt, whether during a hundred years or in a moment, discharge this trust and acquit thyself (of it).
خواه در صد سال خواهی یک زمان ** این امانت واگزار و وا رهان
Explaining that (ritual) prayer and fasting and all (such) external things are witnesses to the inner light.
بیان آنک نماز و روزه و همه چیزهای برونی گواهیهاست بر نور اندرونی
This (ritual) prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and holy war are the attestation of the (inward) belief.
این نماز و روزه و حج و جهاد ** هم گواهی دادنست از اعتقاد
The giving of alms and presents and the abandonment of envy are the attestation of one's secret thoughts.
این زکات و هدیه و ترک حسد ** هم گواهی دادنست از سر خود
Dishes of food and hospitality are for the purpose of declaring that “we, O noble (guests), have become in true accord with you.”185
خوان و مهمانی پی اظهار راست ** کای مهان ما با شما گشتیم راست
Gifts and presents and offerings bear witness (saying implicitly), “I am pleased with thee.”
هدیهها و ارمغان و پیشکش ** شد گواه آنک هستم با تو خوش
(If) any one exerts himself in (giving) money or in conjuration, what is (the meaning of) it? (He means to say), “I have a jewel within.
هر کسی کوشد به مالی یا فسون ** چیست دارم گوهری در اندرون
I have a jewel, namely, abstinence or generosity”: this alms-giving and fasting are witnesses in regard to both (these qualities).
گوهری دارم ز تقوی یا سخا ** این زکات و روزه در هر دو گوا
Fasting says (implicitly), “He has abstained from what is lawful: know (therefore) that he has no connexion with what is unlawful”;
روزه گوید کرد تقوی از حلال ** در حرامش دان که نبود اتصال
And his alms-giving said (implicitly), “He gives of his own property: how, then, should he steal from the religious?”190
وان زکاتش گفت کو از مال خویش ** میدهد پس چون بدزدد ز اهل کیش
If he act as a cutpurse (from self-interest), then the two witnesses are invalidated in the court of Divine justice.
گر بطراری کند پس دو گواه ** جرح شد در محکمهی عدل اله
He is a fowler if he scatter grain not from mercy and munificence but in order to catch (the birds).
هست صیاد ار کند دانه نثار ** نه ز رحم و جود بل بهر شکار
He is a cat keeping the fast and feigning to be asleep at fast-time for the purpose of (seizing) his ignorant prey.