Let us not speak ill nor incline towards injustice, Ghazal 378 by Hafez

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Let us not speak ill nor incline towards injustice, Ghazal 378 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 8 1

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Description:

This ghazāl by Hafez emphasizes the importance of moral conduct, seeking truth, and avoiding hypocrisy. The poet advocates for a simple, honest life, free from worldly concerns and the pursuit of material wealth.

Key Themes:

Moral conduct: The poet emphasizes the importance of honesty, kindness, and avoiding harm to others.
Spiritual seeking: The poet encourages a focus on spiritual matters and the pursuit of truth.
Rejection of hypocrisy: The poet criticizes hypocrisy and the superficiality of religious practices.
Simplicity: The poet advocates for a simple, uncluttered life.

English Translation for Ghazal

Let us not speak ill nor incline towards injustice
Let us not blacken another's garment and dye our own blue.


To find fault with the poor and the rich, whether they have little or much, is wrong
It is better to avoid doing bad deeds altogether.

Let us not inscribe falsehood on the notebook of knowledge
Let us not join the head of truth to the page of magic.

If the king does not drink the cup of the dervishes out of respect
Let us not draw his attention to pure wine.

Let us happily drive the world out of our sight, travelers that we are
Let us not think of a black horse and a stained saddle.

The sky, the ship of the people of art, will break
Let us not rely on this suspended sea.

If an envious person speaks ill and a friend is offended
Say to yourself, "Be happy," for we will not listen to fools.

If Hafez's enemy speaks falsely, let us not take it to heart
And if he speaks truthfully, let us not argue with the truth.

متن غزل

ما نگوییم بد و میل به ناحق نکنیم

جامه کس سیه و دلق خود ازرق نکنیم

 

عیب درویش و توانگر به کم و بیش بد است

کار بد مصلحت آن است که مطلق نکنیم

 

رقم مغلطه بر دفتر دانش نزنیم

سر حق بر ورق شعبده ملحق نکنیم

 

شاه اگر جرعه رندان نه به حرمت نوشد

التفاتش به می صاف مروّق نکنیم

 

خوش برانیم جهان در نظر راهروان

فکر اسب سیه و زین مغرّق نکنیم

 

آسمان کشتی ارباب هنر می‌شکند

تکیه آن به که بر این بحر معلّق نکنیم

 

گر بدی گفت حسودی و رفیقی رنجید

گو تو خوش باش که ما گوش به احمق نکنیم

 

حافظ ار خصم خطا گفت نگیریم بر او

ور به حق گفت جدل با سخن حق نکنیم

hamed
@hamed Oct. 9, 2024, 12:46 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

دلق: a patched cloak, often worn by dervishes
رقم: writing, inscription
شعبده: magic, trickery
مروّق: clear, pure
Some of the nuances that are difficult to fully capture in translation include:

The intricate use of imagery: Hafez often uses multiple layers of symbolism and metaphor to convey his meaning.
The musicality of the Persian language: The sounds and rhythms of the Persian language contribute significantly to the emotional impact of the poem.
Sufi concepts: The poem is rich in Sufi symbolism and concepts, which can be challenging to convey in a different cultural context.

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