1. أخرجت أرض خجند صانعا

    نال في التشييد صيتا ذائعا

    The land of Khujand brought forth a craftsman,

    Who gained widespread renown in construction:

  2. صانعا فرهاد حقا ولدا

    لمراد مسجدا قد شيدا

    A craftsman who truly fathered Farhad,

    Who had built a mosque for Murad.

  3. غضب السلطان من تقصيره

    لم ير الإتقان في تعميره

    The sultan grew angry at his shortcomings;

    He saw no mastery in his building work.

  4. قدحت عين المليك الشررا

    ويد المسكين فورا بترا

    The king’s eye flashed sparks,

    And at once he severed the poor man’s hand.

  5. سار للقاضي حزينا يجأر

    دمه من يده ينهمر

    He went sorrowfully to the judge, crying out,

    His blood streaming from his hand.

  6. قال يا من قوله الحق المبين

    يا حفيظا شرع خير المرسلين

    He said, “O you whose word is manifest truth,

    O guardian of the law of the best of messengers,

  7. لست للسلطان عبدا فاسمع

    حكم القرآن فينا واقطع

    I am not the sultan’s slave; so hear

    The Qur’an’s ruling between us, and decide.”

  8. قرع الحاكم سن المبلس

    ودعا السلطان نحو المجلس

    The judge gnashed his teeth in dismay,

    And summoned the sultan to the court.

  9. فأتى السلطان يخشى ذنبه

    هيبة القرآن تدمى قلبه

    So the sultan came, fearing his sin;

    Awe of the Qur’an made his heart bleed.

  10. عينه من خجل للقدم

    وعلى خديه لون الندم

    His gaze fell to his feet in shame,

    And his cheeks bore the hue of remorse.

  11. وقف الخصمان خصم يشتكى

    وخصيم في ثياب الملك

    The two litigants stood: one making his complaint,

    And the other in royal robes.

  12. جهر السلطان إني نادم

    لا أرد الحق إني جارم

    The sultan declared aloud, “I am remorseful;

    I do not deny the truth; I am guilty.”

  13. وتلا القاضي حياة في القصاص

    ذاك قانون حياة لا مناص

    And the judge recited, “In retribution there is life.”

    That is a law of life, with no escape.

  14. ليس دون الحر عبد مسلم

    وحد المعمار والملك دم

    A Muslim slave is not beneath a free man;

    Blood made the architect and the king equal.

  15. سمع القرآن يملي حكمه

    فنضا السلطان فورا كمه

    He heard the Qur’an dictate its judgment,

    So the sultan at once drew back his sleeve.

  16. إذا رأى الخصم الذي قد فعلا

    آية الإحسان والعدل تلا

    When the plaintiff saw what he had done,

    He recited the verse of benevolence and justice,

  17. قائلا لله أعفو وكفى

    إنني أعفو لأجل المصطفى

    Saying, “For God’s sake I forgive, and that suffices;

    I forgive for the sake of the Chosen One.”

  18. نملة عزت سليمان القوى

    انظرن سطوة قانون النبي

    An ant prevailed over mighty Solomon.

    Behold the might of the Prophet’s law!