سر بریدن چیست کشتن نفس را ** در جهاد و ترک گفتن نفس را2525
What is “beheading”? Killing the fleshly soul in the holy (spiritual) war, and renouncing heat (sensual appetite).
آن چنان که نیش کژدم بر کنی ** تا که یابد او ز کشتن ایمنی
Just as you would extract the scorpion’s sting in order that it might be saved from being killed,
بر کنی دندان پر زهری ز مار ** تا رهد مار از بلای سنگسار
(Or) pull out the venomous fang of a snake, in order that the snake might escape from the calamity of being stoned (to death).
هیچ نکشد نفس را جز ظل پیر ** دامن آن نفس کش را سخت گیر
Nothing will slay the fleshly soul except the shadow (protection) of the Pír: grasp tightly the skirt of that slayer of the flesh.
چون بگیری سخت آن توفیق هوست ** در تو هر قوت که آید جذب اوست
When you grasp (it) tightly, that is (done by) the aid of Him (God): whatever strength comes into you is (the effect of) His drawing (you towards Him).
ما رمیت إذ رمیت راست دان ** هر چه کارد جان بود از جان جان2530
Know that true is (the text) thou didst not throw when thou threwest: whatsoever the soul soweth is from the Soul of the soul.
دست گیرنده وی است و بردبار ** دمبهدم آن دم از او امید دار
He is the One that takes the hand (to help), and (He is) burden-bearing (long-suffering): have hope, from moment to moment, of (receiving) that breath (of inspiration) from Him.
His Mercy is long in gripping, (but) grips tight: His Presence does not keep you absent (from Him) for one moment.
گر تو خواهی شرح این وصل و ولا ** از سر اندیشه میخوان و الضحی
If you desire the explanation of this union and friendship, read thoughtfully (the Súra) Wa’l-Duhá (By the Morn).
ور تو گویی هم بدیها از وی است ** لیک آن نقصان فضل او کی است2535
And if you say that evils too are from Him, (that is true), but how is it a defect in His grace?
آن بدی دادن کمال اوست هم ** من مثالی گویمت ای محتشم
(His) bestowing that evil is even His perfection: I will tell you a parable (in illustration), O respected one.
کرد نقاشی دو گونه نقشها ** نقشهای صاف و نقشی بیصفا
A painter made two kinds of pictures––beautiful pictures and pictures devoid of beauty.
نقش یوسف کرد و حور خوش سرشت ** نقش عفریتان و ابلیسان زشت
He painted Joseph and fair-formed houris, he painted ugly afreets and devils.
هر دو گونه نقش استادی اوست ** زشتی او نیست آن رادی اوست
Both kinds of pictures are (evidence of) his mastery: those (ugly ones) are not (evidence of) his ugliness; they are (evidence of) his bounty.
زشت را در غایت زشتی کند ** جمله زشتیها به گردش بر تند2540
He makes the ugly of extreme ugliness––it is invested with all (possible) uglinesses––
تا کمال دانشش پیدا شود ** منکر استادیش رسوا شود
In order that the perfection of his skill may be displayed, (and that) the denier of his mastery may be put to shame.
ور نداند زشت کردن ناقص است ** زین سبب خلاق گبر و مخلص است
And if he cannot make the ugly, he is deficient (in skill) hence He (God) is the Creator of (both) the infidel and the sincere (faithful).
پس از این رو کفر و ایمان شاهدند ** بر خداوندیش و هر دو ساجدند
From this point of view, then, (both) infidelity and faith are bearing witness to His Lordliness, and both are bowing down in worship.
لیک مومن دان که طوعا ساجد است ** ز انکه جویای رضا و قاصد است
But know that the faithful (believer) bows down willingly, because he is seeking (God’s) pleasure and aiming (at that).
هست کرها گبر هم یزدان پرست ** لیک قصد او مرادی دیگر است2545
The infidel too is a worshipper of God, (though) unwillingly; but his aim is (directed towards) another object of desire.
قلعه‌ای سلطان عمارت میکند ** لیک دعوی امارت میکند
(It is true that) he keeps the King’s fortress in good repair; but he is claiming to be in command.
گشته یاغی تا که ملک او بود ** عاقبت خود قلعه سلطانی شود
He has become a rebel, to the intent that it may be his domain; (but) verily, in the end the fortress comes to be the King’s.
مومن آن قلعه برای پادشاه ** میکند معمور نه از بهر جاه
The faithful believer keeps that fortress in good repair for the sake of the King, not for place (and power).
زشت گوید ای شه زشت آفرین ** قادری بر خوب و بر زشت مهین
The ugly one (the infidel) says, “O King who createst the ugly, Thou art able for (able to create) the beautiful as well as the despicable (and) ugly.”