1. I heard that a wolf saw
A gazelle nursing a young fawn

2. But she was weak and frail
Her leg was broken and sick

3. She was struck by harm and became emaciated
Onlookers thought she was paralyzed

4. So the wolf said, if I eat her I won't be full
And no meat is as satisfying as hers

5. It's best that I feed her for days
Since she cannot find food

6. Maybe she will fatten up, then I will pounce
That would be the wiser course

7. A Muslim came and said to him
A wolf does not befriend a gazelle

8. Except with hidden deceit and cunning
Cut short your evil, it's the right thing

9. Sister, how are you, she said, bad
But she was deceived, the valiant are not deceived

10. He showed her kindness and gentleness
For she saw he was truly wretched

11. She complained of hunger, so he wept
And showed devotion and piety

12. And said, I have repented from my enmity
To beasts, until my aggression was broken

13. I swore not to eat any prey
Except what dies a natural death

14. How wretched is the brutal nature
That kills souls and is aggressive

15. Even if they are not of my kind
Their souls are like mine

16. And my corruption was due to desire
Or need, which is ignorance and injustice

17. Of which there is no doubt
And I cannot detach from its sin

18. Until when will eyes shed bloody tears for my crimes
How many bereaved mothers weep for my misdeeds

19. And livers I burnt with loss
And children I orphaned by eating

20. I knew, and the wise know
That the beast by nature has no mercy

21. So I repented from my cruelty and madness
And said I will erase my sins with repentance

22. Some time passed, and he came to her
With fodder that filled her stomach

23. He kept feeding her and working hard at it
Deceit comes naturally when unable to achieve by force

24. And she kept praying for him and thanking him
Since she believed his show of piety

25. She did not know that he aimed to deceive her
He was fattening her up so he could devour her

26. Until when she became fat like an ibex
And her flesh was like pure fat

27. He pounced on her with great force
Sinking his steel fangs in

28. And so, if you understood human nature
The gentlest would be the cruelest

29. And you, out of stupid minds
And foolish dreams and thoughts

30. You see their evil plainly
But do not see your own transgression

31. The least perceptive minds
Are those who take harm as a favour

32. Abu Ayyub replied
A man may lose his better judgement

33. You have not been just in this talk
And you cling to empty arguments

34. You are bound to reprehensible outward appearances
And do not consider the good hearts

35. That is the way of ignoramuses
And the custom of fools and rabble

36. Judging by outward words
With fault-finding and fabrication in debate

37. And neglecting hidden wisdom
Otherwise, worry would disappear

38. How much good appears ugly
And repulsive in name yet beautiful

39. And hidden wisdom and benefit
Lie in what appears reprehensible

40. Hidden from the ignorant and foolish
Through their ignorance of the Wise Lord's plan

41. Who knows God removes blame
And says all His actions have purpose

42. A mother may strike her child
Would the wise blame her actions?

43. Knowing she is compassionate
And kind to her children

44. She only strikes for benefit
To deter him from error and forbid him

45. For she knows what is best
More than the child and guides to the clear path

46. And one who aims to extract a molar
Only intends what will heal him

47. You may see an old man, near death
Who lived childless, dreading heirs

48. Beseeching God for a son
Until granted what he sought

49. And there came to him a boy like the moon
While the old man had wealth and bounty

50. Who he put under the harsh teacher
Having no mercy on him

51. Killing him in school with blows
And keeping him up late at night

52. Until having mastered knowledge
He confined him to the shop and torment

53. And maybe risked him at sea after
What he suffered in school

54. Would anyone say he had lost his mind
And acted unjustly

55. Since he was wealthy
And had no other son but him

56. Why torture him in so many ways
His money would suffice, so why refine him

57. Why not stay with his family
Content with his wealth and ignorance?

58. Similarly the doctor who treats
With incisions, purges, cautery

59. Injections, cupping, cutting
And bitter, painful concoctions

60. Our Lord created beasts
Evil by nature

61. And insects of wicked dispositions
Yet there is hidden wisdom in all

62. Nay, it is clear and manifest
He who created us alike

63. Is He who favored them over us
That is not unjust on their part

64. Because they act knowingly
Everything that happens is a right

65. And all said about them is truth
There is no wrongdoing in the world

66. For all occurs by the Just Lord's leave
Even if they had the best minds

67. And used that to rule over people
That would stop them from transgression

68. Indeed, and inspire them to kindness
It is not the mark of an intelligent and noble soul

69. To destroy a perfect being out of gluttony
Among the horses was a sorrel

70. Of fine proportions and figure
Called As-Saba for his gentleness, speed

71. Light gait and vigor
The female said, what nonsense

72. Nothing but lies and wonder
Obstinate, hostile, perverse

73. Unjust in debate, you do not judge fairly
This is clear disbelief in the Maker

74. And His aims for law and faith
He said, there is no disbelief

75. Or disbelief in messengers and God
She said, do you not know the Maker

76. Ordained fate, giving and withholding
And originator of creation by design

77. Seeking benefit for people
He created everything

78. For their sake, so hear the truth from me
To worship and unify Him

79. Thank and glorify Him
So creation became their servant

80. And I do not accuse in my words
Any justice you see from them

81. Is free of fault and rebuke
Their brows bear marks from prostration

82. Branded in serving the Worshipped God
Gifted with fasting and devotion

83. Rejecting pleasures for asceticism
Their hearts are springs of faith

84. Their breasts treasure troves of Quran
In them are altruism, generosity

85. Patience, loyalty, and sincerity
How many accepted prayers

86. That bring down rain from clouds
Some abstain from lawful things

87. In reverence for their Exalted Lord
Some spend their wealth

88. For His sake, gently asking
Some battle with themselves

89. Calm as armor in fervor
Some melt themselves on pilgrimage

90. Through vast empty plains and roads
Among them prophets and messengers

91. Wealth and power are but their shadow
In them are resolve, determination, and valor

92. Nothing nobler after mind and speech
They enjoy delights of food

93. And wearing all fine and plush
Without man, the world's virtue

94. Would not be known to minds
These sublime merits would not appear

95. For this world and next are theirs
Their lineages are known and protected

96. In guarded books, concealed
Their secrets are hidden, do not appear

97. Veiled from all, unseen
In them are sciences and etiquette

98. Theirs are dreams and insights
Created in the best mold

99. Preferred in fate and bodies
Their forms are made to measure

100. No smallness that mars them or largeness
Proportionate stature, straight

101. Acceptable and beloved image
Then the smallest rules a thousand of you

102. With his mind, leading you by a rope
Subduing the mighty elephant and lion

103. With cunning until it becomes tame
Charting the stars in their orbits

104. Preserving bodies from demise
With medicine, management, and treatment

105. From raging pains and afflictions
In truth, your disbelief in their excellence

106. And criticism of their unknown deeds
Is like the trader's ignorant wife

107. Deceived by her husband's flaws
Finding fault in merit and virtues

108. Through ignorance of his faults and habits
Who is she, he said, and what is her story?

109. Why do we merit her examples?