بخش 66 - باز جواب گفتن ابلیس معاویه را

Iblís said to him, “Unravel this knot (and apprehend the matter): I am the touchstone for the false coin and the true.

God hath made me the test of lion and cur, God hath made me the test of genuine coin and counterfeit.

When have I blackened the false coin's face? I am the money-changer: I have (only) valued it.

To the good I act as guide, the dry branches I rip off.

I lay these (different) sorts of fodder (before people)—for what purpose? In order that it may be seen of what kind the animal is.

When a wolf bears young to an antelope, and there is some doubt whether it (the young one) has the nature of wolf or antelope,

Drop you grass and bones in front of it (and see) to which side it quickly steps.

If it comes towards the bones, it is canine; and if it craves the grass, it is assuredly of the antelope race.

Offer grass and bones, offer the food of the flesh and the food of the spirit.

If he seek the food of the flesh, he is bobtailed (worthless), and if he desire the food of the spirit, he is a (spiritual) chief.

If he serve the body, he is an ass; and if he go into the sea of the spirit, he will find pearls.

Although these twain—good and evil—are different, yet these twain are (engaged) in one work.

The prophets offer devotions, the enemies (of God) offer lusts.

He (God) hath made me an informer and truth-teller, that I may tell where the ugly one is and where the beautiful.

Wherever I see a fruitful sapling, I foster (it) diligently like a nurse.

Wherever I see a sour and dry tree, I cut it down, in order that the musk may be delivered (separated) from the dung.

The dry (tree) says to the gardener, ‘O young man, why do you cut off my head without fault (on my part)?’

The gardener says, ‘Be silent, O evil-natured one! Is not thy dryness sin enough in thee?’

The dry (tree) says, ‘I am straight, I am not crooked: why are you houghing me (who am) without guilt?’

The gardener says, ‘Hadst thou been blest, would that thou wert crooked (if only) thou wert moist (full of sap).

Thou wouldst have drawn (into thyself) the Water of Life: thou wouldst have been steeped in the Water of Life.

Thy seed and thy root were bad, and thou hast not been joined to a good tree.

If the sour branch be joined to a sweet one, that sweetness will strike (impress itself) on its nature.’”