In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Sadi and Edwards, A. Hart
In the name of Him who created and sustains the world, the Sage who endowed tongue with speech.
He attains no honour who turns the face from the door of His mercy.
The kings of the earth prostrate themselves before Him in supplication.
He seizes not in haste the disobedient, nor drives away the penitent with violence. The two worlds are as a drop of water in the ocean of His knowledge.
He withholds not His bounty though His servants sin; upon the surface of the earth has He spread a feast, in which both friend and foe may share.
Peerless He is, and His kingdom is eternal. Upon the head of one He placeth a crown; another he hurleth from the throne to the ground.
The fire of His friend He turneth into a flower-garden; through the waters of the Nile He sendeth His foes to perdition.
Behind the veil He seeth all, and concealeth our faults with His own goodness.
He is near to them that are downcast, and accepteth the prayers of them that lament.
He knoweth of the things that exist not, of secrets that are untold.
He causeth the moon and the sun to revolve, and spreadeth water upon the earth.
In the heart of a stone hath He placed a jewel; from nothing hath He created all that is.
Who can reveal the secret of His qualities; what eye can see the limits of His beauty?
The bird of thought cannot soar to the height of His presence, nor the hand of understanding reach to the skirt of His praise.
Think not, O Sadi, that one can walk in the road of purity except in the footsteps of Muhammad.
He is the patriarch of the prophets, the guide of the path of salvation; the mediator of mankind, and the chief of the Court of Judgment. What of thy praises can Sadi utter? The mercy of God be upon thee, O Prophet, and peace.