1Cademy - (۴) حکایت امیرالمؤمنین علی کرم الله وجهه بامور / (4) The Tale of the Commander of the Faithful Ali, May Allah Honor His Face, with the Ant

Learn Before

Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۴) حکایت امیرالمؤمنین علی کرم الله وجهه بامور / (4) The Tale of the Commander of the Faithful Ali, May Allah Honor His Face, with the Ant

Original content

علی می رفت روزی گرمگاهی
رسید آسیب او بر مور راهی

مگر آن مور می زد پا و دستی
ز عجزش در علی آمد شکستی

بترسید و بغایت مضطرب شد
چنان شیری ز موری منقلب شد

بسی بگریست و حیلت کرد بسیار
که تا آن مور باز آمد برفتار

شبانگه مصطفی را دید در خواب
بدو گفت ای علی در راه مشتاب

که دو روز از پی یک مور دائم
ز تو بود آسمانها پر ملائم

نباشی از سلوک خویش آگاه
که موری را کنی آزرده در راه

چنان موری که معنی دار بودست
همه ذکر خدایش کار بودست

علی را لرزه بر اندام افتاد
ز موری شیر حق در دام افتاد

پیمبر گفت خوش باش و مکن شور
که پیش حق شفیعت شد همان مور

که یارب قصد حیدر در میان نیست
اگر خصمی بمن بود این زمان نیست

جوانمردا بدان کز درد دین بود
که با موری چنان شیری چنین بود

چو حیدر در شجاعت شیر زوری
که دیدی بسته بر فتراک موری

خنک جانی که او از حق خبر داشت
قدم بر امر حق بنهاد و برداشت

تو گر بر جهل مطلق در سلوکی
گدای مطلقی ور ازملوکی

نظر باید فگند آنگه قدم زد
که نتوان بی نظر در ره قدم زد

اگر تو بی نظر در ره زنی گام
نگونساریت بار آرد سرانجام

چوبر عمیا روی همچون خران تو
نه ممتازی بعقل از دیگران تو

قدم بشمرده نه گر مرد راهی
که بشمرده ست از مه تا به ماهی

اگر گامی نهی بی هیچ فرمان
بسی دردت رسد بی هیچ درمان

گر اینجا گام برگیری زمانی
نباید رفت در گورت جهانی

همی هر کس که اینجا یک زمان رفت
همان انگار کانجا صد جهان رفت

اگرچه حیرت اینجا یک دم افتد
ولی آنجایگه صد عالم افتد

اگر امروز گامی می نهی پاک
نباید رفت صد فرسنگ در خاک

دریغا می نبینی سود بسیار
که گر بینی دمی ننشینی از کار

بهر گامی که برگیری تو امروز
ز حضرت تحفهٔ یابی دلفروز

چنین سودی چو هر دم می توان کرد
چرا از کاهلی باید زیان کرد

English translation

Ali was walking one day in the heat of the day, When his harm reached an ant on the path. That ant was flailing its legs and feet, And out of its helplessness, Ali felt a brokenness in his heart. He became afraid and was extremely anxious, Such a lion was deeply troubled by an ant. He wept much and tried many remedies, Until that ant returned to walking. At night, he saw Mustafa (Muhammad) in a dream, Who said to him, 'O Ali, do not rush on the path. For two days, because of a single ant, The heavens were constantly filled with reproaches on your account. You may not be aware of your own spiritual path If you hurt an ant on the way. Such an ant that was spiritually meaningful, And whose only work was the remembrance of God.' A trembling fell upon Ali's limbs, The Lion of God fell into a trap because of an ant. The Prophet said, 'Be of good cheer and make no outcry, For that very ant has become your intercessor before God, Saying: O Lord, Haydar (Ali) did not intend this; If there was any enmity toward me, it exists no longer.' O chivalrous man, know that it was out of religious pain That such a lion was thus troubled over an ant. Who has ever seen a lion of courage like Haydar Tied to the saddle-strap of an ant? Happy is the soul that had knowledge of God, Who took and lifted every step according to God's command. If you walk in absolute ignorance on the path, You are an absolute beggar, even if you are of royalty. One must cast a glance of insight and then take a step, For one cannot take a step on the path without vision. If you step on the path without vision, It will ultimately bring you headlong downfall. If you walk blindly like donkeys, You are not distinguished from others by intellect. Take measured steps if you are a man of the path, For all is measured, from the moon to the fish. If you take a step without any command, Much pain will reach you without any remedy. If you take a step here for a moment properly, You will not have to travel a world in your grave. Whoever walked here for a single moment, Consider it as if he went a hundred worlds there. Although bewilderment falls here for a single moment, A hundred worlds will fall there. If you take a clean step today, You will not have to travel a hundred leagues in the dust. Alas, you do not see the great profit, For if you saw it, you would not rest from work for a single moment. For every step you take today, You will receive a heart-brightening gift from the Divine Presence. Since such profit can be made at every moment, Why should one suffer loss out of laziness?'

Updated 2026-07-03

Contributors are:

Who are from:

References