از برای لطف عالم را بساخت ** ذرهها را آفتاب او نواخت
He made the world for kindness' sake: His sun caressed the motes (in its beams).
فرقت از قهرش اگر آبستن است ** بهر قدر وصل او دانستن است
If separation (from Him) is big with His wrath, ’tis for the sake of knowing the worth of union with Him,
تا دهد جان را فراقش گوشمال ** جان بداند قدر ایام وصال
So that separation from Him may give the soul chastisement, (and that) the soul may know the value of the days of union.
گفت پیغمبر که حق فرموده است ** قصد من از خلق احسان بوده است2635
The Prophet has declared that God said, ‘My purpose in creating was to do good:
آفریدم تا ز من سودی کنند ** تا ز شهدم دستآلودی کنند
I created to the intent that they (My creatures) might draw some gain from Me, and that they might smear their hands with My honey;
نی برای آن که تا سودی کنم ** و ز برهنه من قبایی بر کنم
Not to the end that I might draw some gain (from them), and that I might tear off a coat from one (who is) naked.’
چند روزی که ز پیشم رانده است ** چشم من در روی خوبش مانده است
During the short while since He drove me from His presence, mine eye hath remained (fixed) upon His beauteous face;
کز چنان رویی چنین قهر ای عجب ** هر کسی مشغول گشته در سبب
(And my thought has always been), ‘Such wrath from such a face! Oh, wonderful!’ (whereas) every one (else) has become occupied with (considering) the (secondary) cause (His wrath).
من سبب را ننگرم کان حادث است ** ز انکه حادث حادثی را باعث است2640
I do not look at the cause (His wrath), which is temporal, inasmuch as the temporal (only) produces something temporal (like itself).
لطف سابق را نظاره میکنم ** هر چه آن حادث دو پاره میکنم
I am regarding (His eternally) precedent mercy: whatsoever is temporal I rend in twain.