In God’s work one cannot
question anything;
one cannot talk of “I” and “you”
on the spiritual path.
Though we are the people
of loyalty and purity,
one cannot remain serene with those
who are disloyal.
O expert on the canon law,
we know you well —
you cannot deceive a sincere Sufi
with your hypocrisy.
Be a reformer of yourself,
for in the school of integrity
one cannot invite others to rectitude
through faulty means.
O hypocrites, while worshiping
all these idols
one cannot call out,
“God! God!”
As God has granted the chance
of a few more days,
one cannot continue for years
with highway robbery.
We heard Nurbakhsh saying
to himself,
“One cannot be oppressive and cruel
to God’s creation.”