کم نگردد فضل استاد از علو ** گر الف چیزی ندارد گوید او
The dignity of the master's learning is not diminished if he say that (the letter) alif has nothing (has no diacritical mark).
از پی تعلیم آن بسته دهن ** از زبان خود برون باید شدن
For the sake of teaching that tongue-tied (child), one must go outside of one's own language (customary manner of speech).
در زبان او بباید آمدن ** تا بیاموزد ز تو او علم و فن
You must come into (adopt) his language, in order that he may learn knowledge and science from you.
پس همه خلقان چو طفلان ویاند ** لازم است این پیر را در وقت پند
All the people, then, are as his (the spiritual Teacher's) children: this (fact) is necessary for the Pír (to bear in mind) when he gives (them) instruction.
کفر را حد است و اندازه بدان ** شیخ و نور شیخ را نبود کران3320
Infidelity hath a fixed limit and range—know (this for sure); (but) the Shaykh and the light of the Shaykh have no bound.
پیش بیحد هر چه محدود است لاست ** کل شیء غیر وجه الله فناست
Before the infinite all that is finite is naught: everything except the Face of God is passing away.
کفر و ایمان نیست آن جایی که اوست ** انکه او مغز است و این دو رنگ و پوست
Infidelity and faith do not exist in the place where he (the Shaykh) is, because he is the kernel, while these twain are (only) colour and husk.
این فناها پردهی آن وجه گشت ** چون چراغ خفیه اندر زیر طشت
These fleeting things have become a veil over that Face, like a lantern concealed beneath a bowl.
پس سر این تن حجاب آن سر است ** پیش آن سر این سر تن کافر است
So then, this bodily head is a screen to that (spiritual) head (source of mystic consciousness): before that head this bodily head is an infidel.
کیست کافر غافل از ایمان شیخ ** چیست مرده بیخبر از جان شیخ3325
Who is the infidel? One forgetful of the faith of the Shaykh. Who is the dead? One ignorant of the (spiritual) life of the Shaykh.