How a cadi complained of the calamity of (holding) the office of cadi, and how his deputy answered him.

They installed a cadi, (and meanwhile) he wept. The deputy said, ‘O cadi, what are you weeping for?

This is not the time for you to weep and lament: it is the time for you to rejoice and receive felicitations.’

‘Ah,’ said he, ‘how shall a man without insight pronounce judgement—an ignorant man (decide) between two who know?

Those two adversaries are acquainted with their own case: what should the poor cadi know of those two tangles?

He is ignorant and unaware of their (real) state: how should he proceed (to give judgment) concerning their lives and property?’

He (the deputy) said, ‘The litigants know (the truth of their case) and (nevertheless) are unsound (prejudiced); you are ignorant (of the facts), but you are the luminary of the whole body (of Moslems),

Because you have no prejudice to interfere (with your discernment), and that freedom (from prejudice) is light to the eyes;

While those two who know are blinded by their self-interest: prejudice has put their knowledge into the grave.

Unprejudicedness makes ignorance wise; prejudice makes knowledge perverse and iniquitous.

So long as you accept no bribe, you are seeing; when you act covetously, you are blind and enslaved.’

I have turned my nature away from vain desire: I have not eaten delicious morsels.

My heart, which tastes (and distinguishes), has become bright (like a clear mirror): it really knows truth from falsehood.