هدهدی نامه بیاورد و نشان ** از سلیمان چند حرفی با بیان
A hoopoe brought the letter with the (royal) sign-manual from Solomon—a few eloquent words.
خواند او آن نکتهای با شمول ** با حقارت ننگرید اندر رسول
(When) she read those pregnant sayings, she did not look with contempt on the messenger.
جسم هدهد دید و جان عنقاش دید ** حس چو کفی دید و دل دریاش دید
Her body saw him as a hoopoe, (but) her spirit saw him as the ‘Anqá; her senses saw him as a fleck of foam, (but) her heart saw him as the sea.
عقل با حس زین طلسمات دو رنگ ** چون محمد با ابو جهلان به جنگ1605
Because of these two-coloured (diverse) talismans (appearance and reality) the intellect is at war with the senses, as Mohammed with the likes of Abú Jahl.
کافران دیدند احمد را بشر ** چون ندیدند از وی انشق القمر
The infidels regarded Ahmad (Mohammed) as (only) a man, since they did not see in him (the Prophetic nature which was manifested by the miracle) the moon was cleft asunder.
خاک زن در دیدهی حس بین خویش ** دیدهی حس دشمن عقل است و کیش
Throw dust on your sense-perceiving eye: the sensuous eye is the enemy of intellect and religion.
دیدهی حس را خدا اعماش خواند ** بت پرستش گفت و ضد ماش خواند
God has called the sensuous eye blind; He has said that it is an idolater and our foe,
ز انکه او کف دید و دریا را ندید ** ز انکه حالی دید و فردا را ندید
Because it saw the foam and not the sea, because it saw the present and not to-morrow.
خواجهی فردا و حالی پیش او ** او نمیبیند ز گنجی جز تسو1610
The master of to-morrow and of the present (is) before it; (yet) of a (whole) treasure it sees only a groat.
ذرهای ز آن آفتاب آرد پیام ** آفتاب آن ذره را گردد غلام
(If) a mote bring a message from yonder Sun, the sun would become a slave to that mote.
قطرهای کز بحر وحدت شد سفیر ** هفت بحر آن قطره را باشد اسیر
The drop that has become an envoy from the Sea of Unity— the seven seas would be captive to that drop.
گر کف خاکی شود چالاک او ** پیش خاکش سر نهد افلاک او
If a handful of earth become His courier, His heavens will lay their heads (in homage) before His earth.
خاک آدم چون که شد چالاک حق ** پیش خاکش سر نهند املاک حق
Since the earth of Adam became God's courier, God's angels lay their heads (in worship) before His earth.
السماء انشقت آخر از چه بود ** از یکی چشمی که خاکی بر گشود1615
Wherefore (was it), pray, that heaven was rent asunder? Because of one (spiritual) eye that an earthly creature opened.
خاک از دردی نشیند زیر آب ** خاک بین کز عرش بگذشت از شتاب
Earth, from its grossness, settles beneath water; (but) see how earth has sped beyond the empyrean!
آن لطافت پس بدان کز آب نیست ** جز عطای مبدع وهاب نیست
Know, then, that the subtlety (of water) is not (derived) from the water: ’tis only the gift of the Bounteous Originator.
گر کند سفلی هوا و نار را ** ور ز گل او بگذراند خار را
If He make air and fire low (in place), and if He let the thorn surpass the rose,
حاکم است و یفعل الله ما یشاء ** کاو ز عین درد انگیزد دوا
He is the Ruler and (the One who said) God doeth what He willeth: from the very self of pain He raises the remedy.
گر هوا و نار را سفلی کند ** تیرگی و دردی و ثقلی کند1620
If He make air and fire low (in place), and make (them assume the qualities of) darkness and grossness and heaviness,
ور زمین و آب را علوی کند ** راه گردون را بپا مطوی کند
And if He make earth and water high (in place), and make the path of heaven (to be) traversed by foot—
پس یقین شد که تعز من تشاء ** خاکیی را گفت پرها بر گشا
Then it has become certain that Thou exaltest whomso Thou wilt: He (God) said to an earthly creature, “Unfold thy wings.”
آتشی را گفت رو ابلیس شو ** زیر هفتم خاک با تلبیس شو
To the creature of fire He said, “Go, become Iblís: begone under the Seventh Earth with (thy) imposture!
آدم خاکی برو تو بر سها ** ای بلیس آتشی رو تا ثری
O earthly Adam, go thou above (the star) Suhá; O fiery Iblís, go to (the bottom of) the Earth.
چار طبع و علت اولی نیام ** در تصرف دایما من باقیام1625
I am not the four temperaments or the first cause, I am ever remaining in (absolute) control.
کار من بیعلت است و مستقیم ** هست تقدیرم نه علت ای سقیم
My action is uncaused and upright (independent): I have (the power of) predetermination, (I have) no cause, O infirm one.