Hekayat 30 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Posted on December 01, 2024 by @hamed 7 1

English Translation for Hekayat

Everyone sees their own intellect as perfect and their own child as beautiful.

 

A Jew and a Muslim were arguing

To the point that their conversation made me laugh

In frustration, the Muslim said: If this deed of mine

Is not valid, God, may you end the life of the Jew

The Jew said: I swear by the Torah!

And if I am wrong, I will become a Muslim like you

If all intellect were removed from the face of the earth

No one would suspect themselves to be ignorant.

متن حکایت

همه کس را عقل خود بکمال نماید و فرزند خود بجمال.

یکی یهود و مسلمان نزاع می‌کردند

چنان که خنده گرفت از حدیث ایشانم

به طیره گفت مسلمان: گر این قبالهٔ من

درست نیست خدایا یهود میرانم

یهود گفت: به تورات می‌خورم سوگند!

وگر خلاف کنم همچو تو مسلمانم

گر از بسیط زمین عقل مُنعَدِم گردد

به خود گمان نبَرَد هیچکس که نادانم

hamed
@hamed Dec. 1, 2024, 7:08 p.m.

Saadi's wisdom here underscores the universality of self-perception and bias, reminding us that individuals often see themselves and their loved ones through a lens of perfection. His words highlight the futility of arguments based on personal biases and the irony of human self-assurance.