tafsīr-e-raja'nā minal-jihādil-asġhar ilā-jihādil-akbar
Commentary on (the Tradition) “We have returned from the lesser Jihád to the greater Jihád.”
ai shahāñ kushtem mā ḳhasm-e-barūñ
mānad kHasme zū batar dar andarūñ
O kings, we have slain the outward enemy,
(but) there remains within (us) a worse enemy than he.
kushtan-e-īñ kār-e-'aql-o-hosh niist
sher-e-bātin sukHra-e-kHargosh niist
To slay this (enemy) is not the work of reason and intelligence:
the inward lion is not subdued by the hare.
dozakHast iiñ nafs-o-dozakH azhdahāst
kū ba-dariyā-hā na-gardad kam-o-kāst
This carnal self (nafs) is Hell, and Hell is a dragon
(the fire of) which is not diminished by oceans (of water).
haft dariyā rā dar āshāmad hanūz
kam na-gardad sozish-e-āñ ḳhalq soz
It would drink up the Seven Seas, and still the blazing of
that consumer of all creatures would not become less.
sañg-hā-o-kāfirān-e-sañg-dil
andar āyand andar-o-zār-o-kHajil
Stones and stony-hearted infidels enter it,
miserable and shamefaced,
ham na-gardad sākin az chandīñ ġhizā
tā za haq aayad mar uu rā iiñ nidā
(But) still it is not appeased by all this food,
until there comes to it from God this call—
sair gashtī sair goyad ne hanūz
iiñt ātish iiñt tābish iiñt soz
Art thou filled, art thou filled?” It says, “Not yet; lo,
here is the fire, here is the glow, here is the burning!
'ālame rā luqma kard-o-dar kashīd
me'da-ash nā'ra zanāñ hal-mim-mazīd
It made a mouthful of and swallowed a whole world,
its belly crying aloud, “Is there any more?”
haq qadam bar vai nehad az lā-makāñ
āñgah uu sākin shavad az kun-fakāñ
God, from (the realm) where place is not, sets His foot on it:
then it subsides at (the command) Be, and it was.
chūñki juzv-e-dozakHast iiñ nafs-e-mā
tab’-e-kul dārand jumla-e-juzv-hā
In as much as this self of ours is a part of Hell,
and the parts always have the nature of the whole,
iiñ qadam haq rā buvad kū rā kashad
ġhair-e-haq ḳhud ki kamān-e-ū kashad
To God (alone) belongs this foot (power) to kill it:
who, indeed, but God should draw its bow (vanquish it)?
dar kamāñ na-nahand illā tiir raast
iiñ kamāñ rā baaz guuñ kazh tīr-hāst
Only the straight arrow is put on the bow,
(but) this bow (of the self) has (its) arrows bent back and crooked.
raast sho chuuñ tīr-o-vā rah az kamāñ
kazh kamāñ har raast ba-jihad be-gumāñ
Be straight, like an arrow, and escape from the bow,
for without doubt every straight (arrow) will fly from the bow (to its mark).
chūñki vā gashtam za paikār-e-barūñ
rū-e-āvurdam ba-paikār-e-darūñ
When I turned back from the outer warfare,
I set my face towards the inner warfare.
qad raja'nā min-jihādil-asġharem
bā nabī andar jihād-e-akbarem
We have returned from the lesser Jihád,
we are engaged along with the Prophet in the greater Jihád.
quvvat az haq kHvāham-o-taufīq-o-lāf
tā ba-sozan bar kanam iiñ koh-e-qāf
I pray God to grant me strength and aid and (the right of) boasting,
that I may root up with a needle this mountain of Qáf.
sahl shere daañ ki saf.hā ba-shikanad
sher ānast aañ ki ḳhud rā ba-shikanad
Deem of small account the lion (champion) who breaks the ranks (of the enemy):
the (true) lion is he that breaks (conquers) himself.
tafsir-e-raja'na minal-jihadil-asghar ila-jihadil-akbar
Commentary on (the Tradition) “We have returned from the lesser Jihád to the greater Jihád.”
ai shahan kushtem ma KHasm-e-barun
manad kHasme zu batar dar andarun
O kings, we have slain the outward enemy,
(but) there remains within (us) a worse enemy than he.
kushtan-e-in kar-e-'aql-o-hosh nist
sher-e-baatin sukHra-e-kHargosh nist
To slay this (enemy) is not the work of reason and intelligence:
the inward lion is not subdued by the hare.
dozakHast in nafs-o-dozakH azhdahast
ku ba-dariya-ha na-gardad kam-o-kast
This carnal self (nafs) is Hell, and Hell is a dragon
(the fire of) which is not diminished by oceans (of water).
haft dariya ra dar aashamad hanuz
kam na-gardad sozish-e-an KHalq soz
It would drink up the Seven Seas, and still the blazing of
that consumer of all creatures would not become less.
sang-ha-o-kafiran-e-sang-dil
andar aayand andar-o-zar-o-kHajil
Stones and stony-hearted infidels enter it,
miserable and shamefaced,
hum na-gardad sakin az chandin ghiza
ta za haq aayad mar u ra in nida
(But) still it is not appeased by all this food,
until there comes to it from God this call—
sair gashti sair goyad ne hanuz
int aatish int tabish int soz
Art thou filled, art thou filled?” It says, “Not yet; lo,
here is the fire, here is the glow, here is the burning!
'alame ra luqma kard-o-dar kashid
me'da-ash na'ra zanan hal-mim-mazid
It made a mouthful of and swallowed a whole world,
its belly crying aloud, “Is there any more?”
haq qadam bar wai nehad az la-makan
aangah u sakin shawad az kun-fakan
God, from (the realm) where place is not, sets His foot on it:
then it subsides at (the command) Be, and it was.
chunki juzw-e-dozakHast in nafs-e-ma
tab’-e-kul darand jumla-e-juzw-ha
In as much as this self of ours is a part of Hell,
and the parts always have the nature of the whole,
in qadam haq ra buwad ku ra kashad
ghair-e-haq KHud ki kaman-e-u kashad
To God (alone) belongs this foot (power) to kill it:
who, indeed, but God should draw its bow (vanquish it)?
dar kaman na-nahand illa tir rast
in kaman ra baz gun kazh tir-hast
Only the straight arrow is put on the bow,
(but) this bow (of the self) has (its) arrows bent back and crooked.
rast sho chun tir-o-wa rah az kaman
kazh kaman har rast ba-jihad be-guman
Be straight, like an arrow, and escape from the bow,
for without doubt every straight (arrow) will fly from the bow (to its mark).
chunki wa gashtam za paikar-e-barun
ru-e-awurdam ba-paikar-e-darun
When I turned back from the outer warfare,
I set my face towards the inner warfare.
qad raja'na min-jihadil-asgharem
ba nabi andar jihad-e-akbarem
We have returned from the lesser Jihád,
we are engaged along with the Prophet in the greater Jihád.
quwwat az haq kHwaham-o-taufiq-o-laf
ta ba-sozan bar kanam in koh-e-qaf
I pray God to grant me strength and aid and (the right of) boasting,
that I may root up with a needle this mountain of Qáf.
sahl shere dan ki safha ba-shikanad
sher aanast aan ki KHud ra ba-shikanad
Deem of small account the lion (champion) who breaks the ranks (of the enemy):
the (true) lion is he that breaks (conquers) himself.
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