It is told of the judge of Hamadan that he was infatuated with the son of a blacksmith, and his heart was in the flames of this love. For a long time, he longed for him, searching restlessly and reciting poetry inspired by his situation:
"That tall cypress appeared before my eyes,
Stealing my heart and throwing it at his feet."
"This mischievous gaze captivates my heart with its lasso,
If you wish to keep your heart safe, close your eyes."
It is said that one day, while passing by, the boy encountered the judge, who had heard rumors of their relationship and was deeply offended. The boy openly cursed the judge, insulted him, and threw stones at him, leaving no bounds of respect unbroken. The judge turned to one of the respected scholars who was with him and said:
"Look at that beautiful face, despite the anger,
And that sweet frown on his furrowed brow."
"In the lands of Arabia, they say, ‘The blows from a beloved are like raisins.’"
"To be struck by his fist on my mouth,
Is better than eating bread with my own hand."
He continued, "From his rudeness, I can still sense a fragrance of tolerance."
"Fresh grapes are sour at first taste,
But wait a few days, and they will turn sweet."
Having said this, the judge returned to his seat of judgment. Several of the prominent elders, who were his advisors, kissed the ground before him and said, "If you would permit, we would like to say something, though it may seem impolite, as it is said:"
"Not every speech should be debated,
Criticizing the great is itself a mistake."
"But, based on the past kindness you have shown us, it would be a form of betrayal if we did not advise you on what we believe to be right. It would be wise not to pursue this infatuation with the boy, as the office of a judge is a lofty position that should not be tarnished by such a scandal. You have seen his conduct and heard the rumors."
"One who has ruined their own reputation,
Cares little about the reputation of others."
"The good name earned over fifty years,
Can be destroyed by a single act of disgrace."
The judge found the counsel of his companions to be wise and praised their good judgment. He said, "Your opinion about what is best for me is absolutely correct, and the question requires no further debate. However,"
"Reproach me as much as you like,
For you cannot wash the blackness from a crow."
"I cannot forget about you, no matter what,
Like a snake whose head has been struck, I cannot help but writhe."
Having said this, he ordered his men to inquire about the boy and showered him with countless gifts. As they say, "Whoever has gold in his scale, has strength in his arm," and one who lacks money finds no friends in the world.
"Whoever sees gold bows their head,
Even if they carry the scales of iron on their shoulder."
In short, one night, an opportunity for privacy arose, but that same night, word reached the authorities. The judge spent the night intoxicated with wine, with his beloved in his embrace, indulging in pleasures and reciting:
"Perhaps the rooster will not crow tonight,
For lovers have not yet had their fill of kisses and embraces."
"Beware when the beloved is finally asleep,
For time passes quickly, and life slips away in vain."
"Do not listen to the mosque’s morning call,
Or the sound of drums from the palace."
"To stop kissing my beloved’s lips when the rooster crows,
Would be as foolish as listening to the rooster’s meaningless call."
While the judge was still indulging in this state, one of his attendants rushed in and said, "Why are you sitting here? Get up and flee while you still can, for your enemies have seized this opportunity to accuse you. Let us find a way to extinguish this small flame before it becomes a fire that consumes everything."
The judge smiled and replied:
"Once a lion has its prey in its claws,
What difference does it make if the dogs bark?"
"Turn your face towards your beloved,
Let the enemies gnash their teeth in frustration."
That same night, the king was informed that such a disgraceful event had occurred in his realm. The king said, "I consider him one of the scholars of this age and a unique figure. Perhaps his enemies have falsely accused him. I will not believe these claims unless I see it for myself, for the wise have said:"
"It is foolish to quickly draw the sword,
Only to regret biting your hand in anger later."
It is said that the king, accompanied by several close advisors, arrived at the judge's house at dawn. They saw the candles still burning, the beloved sitting nearby, wine spilled on the floor, and broken cups everywhere, while the judge lay drunk and oblivious to the world.
The king gently woke the judge and said, "Rise, the sun has come up." Realizing the situation, the judge replied, "From which direction has the sun risen?" The king said, "From the east." The judge sighed in relief and said, "Praise be to God, for the door of repentance is still open, as the Prophet said: ‘Repentance is accepted until the sun rises from the west.’ Oh Lord, I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance."
"Two things led me to sin,
Unlucky fate and imperfect wisdom."
"If you punish me, I deserve it,
But if you forgive me, mercy is better than revenge."
The king said, "Repentance at this stage, after your sin has been exposed, will do you no good. As the Qur’an says: ‘But their faith was of no use to them when they saw Our punishment.’"
"What good is repentance after the theft,
When you can no longer cast the rope to catch the thief?"
"Lower your hand when it comes to picking fruit,
For the short-handed cannot reach the branch."
The king continued, "There is no way for you to escape punishment after such an obvious transgression." Having said this, the king ordered his guards to seize the judge. The judge pleaded, "Before you punish me, let me say one last thing to you, O King."
The king asked, "What is it?" The judge said:
"From the dust of frustration you cast upon me,
Do not expect me to let go of your hem in despair."
"If I cannot escape this sin,
Then I still have hope in your kindness."
The king, impressed by the judge’s eloquence, said, "You have spoken well and cleverly, but it is unreasonable and against justice to let you escape punishment simply because of your wit. I see no other course but to throw you from the fortress, so that others may learn a lesson from your fate." The judge responded, "O King, I am raised in the grace of this dynasty. I am not the only one guilty of this sin. Punish someone else first, and let me take the lesson."
The king laughed and, pardoning his crime, dismissed the people who had advised his execution. He said to them:
"You who criticize others,
Should first look at your own faults."
