For nine months I have the burden (of pregnancy), and for three months I have joy: my happiness is fleeter than the rainbow.”
نه مهم بارست و سه ماهم فرح ** نعمتم زوتر رو از قوس قزح
That woman, because of the terrifying anguish (which she suffered), used to make this plaintive outcry before the men of God.
پیش مردان خدا کردی نفیر ** زین شکایت آن زن از درد نذیر
In this wise twenty children (of hers) went into the grave: a fire (of destruction) fell swiftly upon their lives,
بیست فرزند این‌چنین در گور رفت ** آتشی در جانشان افتاد تفت
Till, one night, there was shown to her (the vision of) a garden everlasting, verdant, delectable, and ungrudged.
تا شبی بنمود او را جنتی ** باقیی سبزی خوشی بی ضنتی
I have called the Unconditioned Bounty a garden, since it is the source of (all) bounties and the assembly of (all) gardens;3405
باغ گفتم نعمت بی‌کیف را ** کاصل نعمتهاست و مجمع باغها
Otherwise, (it is that which) no eye hath beheld: what place is there for (how is it proper to speak of) a garden? (Yet the term “garden” may be applied to it): God hath called the Light of the Unseen “a lamp.”
ورنه لا عین رات چه جای باغ ** گفت نور غیب را یزدان چراغ
’Tis not a comparison, ’tis a parable thereof, (which is used) in order that he who is bewildered may get a scent (of the reality).
مثل نبود آن مثال آن بود ** تا برد بوی آنک او حیران بود
In short, the woman saw that (Bounty) and became intoxicated: at that revelation the weak (creature) fell into an ecstasy.
حاصل آن زن دید آن را مست شد ** زان تجلی آن ضعیف از دست شد
She saw her name written on a palace: she who was of goodly belief knew that it (the palace) belonged to her.
دید در قصری نبشته نام خویش ** آن خود دانستش آن محبوب‌کیش
After that, they said (to her), “This Bounty is for him who has risen up with constant sincerity in self-devotion.3410
بعد از آن گفتند کین نعمت وراست ** کو بجان بازی بجز صادق نخاست
Thou must needs have done much service (to God), in order that thou might’st partake of this repast;
خدمت بسیار می‌بایست کرد ** مر ترا تا بر خوری زین چاشت‌خورد
(Hence), as thou wert remiss in taking refuge (with God), God gave thee those afflictions instead.”
چون تو کاهل بودی اندر التجا ** آن مصیبتها عوض دادت خدا
“O Lord,” cried she, “give me such-like (afflictions) for a hundred years and more! Do Thou shed my blood!”
گفت یا رب تا به صد سال و فزون ** این چنینم ده بریز از من تو خون
When she advanced into that garden, she saw there all her children.
اندر آن باغ او چو آمد پیش پیش ** دید در وی جمله فرزندان خویش
She said, “They were lost to me, (but) they were not lost to Thee.” Without (possessing) the two eyes of the Unseen, no one becomes the Man (pupil of the eye).3415
گفت از من کم شد از تو گم نشد ** بی دو چشم غیب کس مردم نشد
You did not let blood (by cupping), and (therefore) the superfluous blood ran from your nose, to the end that your life might be saved from fever.
تو نکردی فصد و از بینی دوید ** خون افزون تا ز تب جانت رهید
The core of every fruit is better than its rind: deem the body to be the rind, and its friend (the spirit) to be the core.
مغز هر میوه بهست از پوستش ** پوست دان تن را و مغز آن دوستش
After all, Man has a goodly core: seek it for one moment, if you are of (if you belong to those inspired by) that (Divine) breath.
مغز نغزی دارد آخر آدمی ** یکدمی آن را طلب گر زان دمی
How Hamza, may God be well-pleased with him, came to battle without a coat of mail.
در آمدن حمزه رضی الله عنه در جنگ بی زره
Whenever at the end (of his life) Hamza went into the ranks (on the battlefield), he would enter the fray (like one) intoxicated, without a coat of mail.
اندر آخر حمزه چون در صف شدی ** بی زره سرمست در غزو آمدی
Advancing with open breast and naked body, he would throw himself into the sword-bearing ranks.3420
سینه باز و تن برهنه پیش پیش ** در فکندی در صف شمشیر خویش
The people asked him, saying, “O uncle of the Prophet, O Lion that breakest the ranks (of the foemen), O prince of the champions,
خلق پرسیدند کای عم رسول ** ای هزبر صف‌شکن شاه فحول
Hast not thou read in the Message of God (theQur’án) ‘Do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction’?
نه تو لا تلقوا بایدیکم الی ** تهلکه خواندی ز پیغام خدا
Then why art thou casting thyself thus into destruction on the field of battle?
پس چرا تو خویش را در تهلکه ** می در اندازی چنین در معرکه
When thou wert young and robust and strongly-knit, thou didst not go into the battle-line without a coat of mail.
چون جوان بودی و زفت و سخت‌زه ** تو نمی‌رفتی سوی صف بی زره
Now that thou hast become old and infirm and bent, thou art knocking at the curtains (doors) of recklessness,3425
چون شدی پیر و ضعیف و منحنی ** پرده‌های لا ابالی می‌زنی