O Shaykh of the (Mohammedan) religion, how can you approve for a brother (Moslem) what you disapprove for your self, O man of trust?
آنچ نپسندی به خود ای شیخ دین ** چون پسندی بر برادر ای امین
Don’t you know this, that (if) you dig a pit for me you will at last let yourself fall into the same pit?1570
این ندانی که می من چه کنی ** هم در آن چه عاقبت خود افکنی
Haven’t you read in the Traditions (of the Prophet), ‘Whoever digs a pit (for his brother will fall into it)’? Practise what you have read, O soul of your father!
من حفر برا نخواندی از خبر ** آنچ خواندی کن عمل جان پدر
This one judicial decision of yours was like this, for it has brought you a slap on the nape.
این یکی حکمت چنین بد در قضا ** که ترا آورد سیلی بر قفا
Alas for your other (unjust) decisions! (Consider) what (penalty) they will bring upon your head and feet.
وای بر احکام دیگرهای تو ** تا چه آرد بر سر و بر پای تو
From kindness you take pity on a wrong-doer, saying, ‘Mayst thou have three dirhems to spend (on food)!’
ظالمی را رحم آری از کرم ** که برای نفقه بادت سه درم
Cut off the wrong-doer’s hand: what occasion is there for you to put the control and reins in his hand?1575
دست ظالم را ببر چه جای آن ** که بدست او نهی حکم و عنان
O you from whom justice is unknown, you resemble the goat that gave her milk to the wolf-cub.”
تو بدان بز مانی ای مجهول‌داد ** که نژاد گرگ را او شیر داد
The Cadi’s reply to the Súfi.
جواب دادن قاضی صوفی را
The Cadi said, “It is our duty to acquiesce, whatever slap or cruelty the (Divine) destiny may bring to pass.
گفت قاضی واجب آیدمان رضا ** هر قفا و هر جفا کارد قضا
I am inwardly pleased with the decision (inscribed) in the (Heavenly) Scrolls, though my face has become sour—for Truth is bitter.
خوش‌دلم در باطن از حکم زبر ** گرچه شد رویم ترش کالحق مر
This heart of mine is an orchard, and my eye is like the cloud: (when) the cloud weeps the orchard laughs joyously and happily.
این دلم باغست و چشمم ابروش ** ابر گرید باغ خندد شاد و خوش
In a year of drought the orchards are reduced to death and agony by the sun laughing unconscionably.1580
سال قحط از آفتاب خیره‌خند ** باغها در مرگ و جان کندن رسند
You have read in God’s Commandment (the words) and weep ye much: why have you remained grinning like a roast (sheep’s) head?
ز امر حق وابکوا کثیرا خوانده‌ای ** چون سر بریان چه خندان مانده‌ای
You will be the light of the house, like the candle, if like the candle you shed showers of tears.
روشنی خانه باشی هم‌چو شمع ** گر فرو پاشی تو هم‌چون شمع دمع
The mother’s or father’s sourness of face preserves the child from every harm.
آن ترش‌رویی مادر یا پدر ** حافظ فرزند شد از هر ضرر
You have experienced the pleasure of laughing, O inordinate laugher: (now) experience the pleasure of weeping (and recognise) that it is a mine of sugar.
ذوق خنده دیده‌ای ای خیره‌خند ** ذوق گریه بین که هست آن کان قند
Since thinking of Hell causes weeping, therefore Hell is better than Paradise.1585
چون جهنم گریه آرد یاد آن ** پس جهنم خوشتر آید از جنان
In tears there are laughters concealed: seek treasure amidst ruins, O simple (sincere) man.
خنده‌ها در گریه‌ها آمد کتیم ** گنج در ویرانه‌ها جو ای سلیم
Pleasure is (concealed) in pains: the track has been lost, the Water of Life has been taken away into the (Land of) Darkness.
ذوق در غمهاست پی گم کرده‌اند ** آب حیوان را به ظلمت برده‌اند
On the way to the Caravanseray the shoes are upside down: make your (two) eyes to be (as) four in precaution (against being deceived).
بازگونه نعل در ره تا رباط ** چشمها را چار کن در احتیاط
Make your (two) eyes to be (as) four in careful consideration: join to your own eye (eyes) the two eyes of the Friend.
چشمها را چار کن در اعتبار ** یار کن با چشم خود دو چشم یار
Read in the pages (of the Qur’an) their affair is a matter for consultation: be (devoted) to the Friend and do not say to him disdainfully, ‘Fie!’1590
امرهم شوری بخوان اندر صحف ** یار را باش و مگوش از ناز اف
The Friend is the support and refuge on the Way: when you consider well; (you will see that) the Friend is the Way.
یار باشد راه را پشت و پناه ** چونک نیکو بنگری یارست راه
When you come into a company of friends, sit silent: do not make yourself the bezel in that ring.
چونک در یاران رسی خامش نشین ** اندر آن حلقه مکن خود را نگین
At the Friday prayer-service look well and attentively: (you will see that) all are concentrated and possessed by a single thought and silent.
در نماز جمعه بنگر خوش به هوش ** جمله جمعند و یک‌اندیشه و خموش
Direct your course towards silence: when you seek the marks (of the Way), do not make yourself a mark (for attention).
رختها را سوی خاموشی کشان ** چون نشان جویی مکن خود را نشان
The Prophet said, ‘Know that amidst the sea of cares (my) Companions are (as) stars in respect of guidance.’1595
گفت پیغامبر که در بحر هموم ** در دلالت دان تو یاران را نجوم
Fix your eye on the stars, seek the Way; speech is a cause of confusion to the sight: do not speak.
چشم در استارگان نه ره بجو ** نطق تشویش نظر باشد مگو
If you utter two true words, O such-and-such, the dark (false) speech will begin to flow in their train.
گر دو حرف صدق گویی ای فلان ** گفت تیره در تبع گردد روان
Haven’t you read that (your) talk concerning (your) griefs, O frenzied (lover) is drawn along by the draw (ride) of talk?
این نخواندی کالکلام ای مستهام ** فی شجون حره جر الکلام
Beware, do not begin (to speak) those right words, for words quickly draw (other) words (after them).
هین مشو شارع در آن حرف رشد ** که سخن زو مر سخن را می‌کشد
When you have (once) opened your mouth, they are not in your control: the dark(falsehood) flows on the heels of the pure (truth).1600
نیست در ضبطت چو بگشادی دهان ** از پی صافی شود تیره روان
He (alone) may open (his mouth) who is preserved (from error) in the way of (Divine) inspiration; ‘tis permissible, since he is entirely pure;
آنک معصوم ره وحی خداست ** چون همه صافست بگشاید رواست
For a prophet does not speak from self-will: how should self-will proceed from him who is preserved by God?
زانک ما ینطق رسول بالهوی ** کی هوا زاید ز معصوم خدا
Make yourself one that speaks eloquently from ecstatic feeling, lest you become a slave to argumentation like me.”
خویشتن را ساز منطیقی ز حال ** تا نگردی هم‌چو من سخره‌ی مقال
How the Súfi questioned the Cadi.
سال کردن آن صوفی قاضی را
The Súfi said, “Since (all) the gold is from a single Mine, why is this beneficial and that other harmful?
گفت صوفی چون ز یک کانست زر ** این چرا نفعست و آن دیگر ضرر
Since the whole (Creation) has come from a single Hand, why has this one come sober and that one intoxicated?1605
چونک جمله از یکی دست آمدست ** این چرا هوشیار و آن مست آمدست
Since (all) these rivers flow from a single Sea, why is this one honey and that one poison in the mouth?
چون ز یک دریاست این جوها روان ** این چرا نوش است و آن زهر دهان
Since all lights are (derived) from the everlasting Sun, wherefore did the true dawn and the false dawn rise?
چون همه انوار از شمس بقاست ** صبح صادق صبح کاذب از چه خاست
Since the blackness of every seeing person’s eye is (derived) from a single Collyrium, wherefore did true sight and strabism come (into being)?
چون ز یک سرمه‌ست ناظر را کحل ** از چه آمد راست‌بینی و حول
Since God is the Governor of the Mint, how is it that (both) good and spurious coins are struck?
چونک دار الضرب را سلطان خداست ** نقد را چون ضرب خوب و نارواست
Since God has called the Way ‘My Way,’ wherefore is this one a trusty escort and that one a brigand?1610
چون خدا فرمود ره را راه من ** این خفیر از چیست و آن یک راه‌زن
How can (both) the (noble) freeman and the (base) fool come from a single womb, since it is certain that the son is (the expression of) his father’s inmost nature?
از یک اشکم چون رسد حر و سفیه ** چون یقین شد الولد سر ابیه
Who (ever) saw a Unity with so many thousand (numbers), (or) a hundred thousand motions (proceeding) from the essence of Rest?”
وحدتی که دید با چندین هزار ** صد هزاران جنبش از عین قرار
The Cadi’s reply to the Súfi.
جواب گفتن آن قاضی صوفی را
The Cadi said, “O Súfí, do not be perplexed: hearken to a parable in explanation of this (mystery).
گفت قاضی صوفیا خیره مشو ** یک مثالی در بیان این شنو