مهدی و هادی وی است ای راه جو ** هم نهان و هم نشسته پیش رو
He is the Mahdí (the God-guided one) and the Hádí (the Guide), O seeker of the (right) way: he is both hidden (from you) and seated before your face.
او چو نور است و خرد جبریل اوست ** و آن ولی کم از او قندیل اوست
He is as the Light (of Mohammed), and (Universal) Reason is his Gabriel; the saint that is lesser than he is his lamp (and receives illumination from him).
و انکه زین قندیل کم مشکات ماست ** نور را در مرتبه ترتیبهاست820
That (saint) who is lesser than this lamp is our lamp-niche: the Light has gradations in degree,
ز انکه هفصد پرده دارد نور حق ** پردههای نور دان چندین طبق
Because the Light of God has seven hundred veils: regard the veils of the Light as so many tiers.
از پس هر پرده قومی را مقام ** صف صفاند این پردههاشان تا امام
Behind each veil a certain class (of saints) has its place of abode: these veils of theirs are (in ascending order), rank by rank, up to the Imám.
اهل صف آخرین از ضعف خویش ** چشمشان طاقت ندارد نور بیش
Those in the last (lowest) rank, through their weakness, (are such that) their eyes cannot endure the light in front (of them);
و آن صف پیش از ضعیفی بصر ** تاب نارد روشنایی بیشتر
And that front rank, from weakness of sight, cannot support the light that is more advanced.
روشنیی کاو حیات اول است ** رنج جان و فتنهی این احول است825
The light that is the life of the first (highest rank) is heartache and tribulation to this squinter;
احولیها اندک اندک کم شود ** چون ز هفصد بگذرد او یم شود
(But) the squintnesses, little by little, grow less, and when he passes beyond the seven hundred (veils), he becomes the Sea.
آتشی کاصلاح آهن یا زر است ** کی صلاح آبی و سیب تر است
The fire that does good to iron or gold—how is it good for fresh quinces and apples?