ز آن که روز است آینهی تعریف او ** تا ببیند اشرفی تشریف او
Because day is the mirror that makes it (the fine gold) known, so that the ashrafí (the coin of sterling gold) may see (receive) its (day's) gift of honour.
حق قیامت را لقب ز آن روز کرد ** روز بنماید جمال سرخ و زرد
Hence God bestowed the title of “Day” on the Resurrection, (for) day displays the beauty of red and yellow.
پس حقیقت روز سر اولیاست ** روز پیش ماهشان چون سایههاست
In reality, then, day is the inmost consciousness of the saints, (though) beside their moon day is (dim) as shadows.
عکس راز مرد حق دانید روز ** عکس ستاریش شام چشم دوز
Know that day is the reflexion of the mystery (the illumined consciousness) of the man of God, while eye-sealing night is the reflexion of his occultation.
ز آن سبب فرمود یزدان و الضحی ** و الضحی نور ضمیر مصطفی295
For that reason God said, By the morn: by the morn is (refers to) the light of the hidden mind of Mustafá (Mohammed).
قول دیگر کین ضحی را خواست دوست ** هم برای آنکه این هم عکس اوست
The other view, that the Beloved (God) meant this morn (in the literal sense), is (held) just for the reason that this too is the reflexion of him;
ور نه بر فانی قسم گفتن خطاست ** خود فنا چه لایق گفت خداست
Else it is wrong to swear by a transient thing: how indeed is transiency proper to the speech of God?
لا أحب الآفلین گفت آن خلیل ** کی فنا خواهد از این رب جلیل
That Friend (of God) said, “I love not them that set”: how should the glorious Lord mean transiency by this (oath)?
باز و اللیل است ستاری او ** و آن تن خاکی زنگاری او
Again, and by the night is (refers to) his occultation and his earthen rust-dark body.
آفتابش چون بر آمد ز آن فلک ** با شب تن گفت هین ما ودعک300
When his sun rose from that sky, it said to the night of the body, “Lo, He hath not forsaken thee.”
وصل پیدا گشت از عین بلا ** ز آن حلاوت شد عبارت ما قلی
Union was made manifest out of the essence of affliction: that sweetness (of union) was expressed by (the words) He hath not hated (thee).
هر عبارت خود نشان حالتی است ** حال چون دست و عبارت آلتی است
In fact, every expression is the symbol of a state: the state is as a hand, while the expression is a tool.
آلت زرگر به دست کفشگر ** همچو دانهی کشت کرده ریگ در
The goldsmith's tool in the hand of a shoemaker is like a seed sown in sand;
و آلت اسکاف پیش برزگر ** پیش سگ کاه استخوان در پیش خر
And the cobbler's tool (put) before the husbandman is (as) straw before a dog (or) bones before an ass.
بود انا الحق در لب منصور نور ** بود انا الله در لب فرعون زور305
“I am God” on the lips of Mansúr was the light (of truth); “I am Allah” on the lips of Pharaoh was a lie.
شد عصا اندر کف موسی گوا ** شد عصا اندر کف ساحر هبا
In the hand of Moses the rod became a witness (to the truth); in the hand of the magician the rod became (worthless as) motes in the air.
زین سبب عیسی بدان همراه خود ** در نیاموزید آن اسم صمد
On this account Jesus did not teach his fellow-traveller that Name of the Lord,
کاو نداند نقص بر آلت نهد ** سنگ بر گل زن تو آتش کی جهد
For he would not know (its proper use) and would attribute imperfection to the tool (which he misused). Strike stone on clay, and how should fire leap forth?
دست و آلت همچو سنگ و آهن است ** جفت باید جفت شرط زادن است
Hand and tool are as stone and iron; there must be a pair: (the existence of) a pair is the condition (necessary) for bringing to birth.
آن که بیجفت است و بیآلت یکی است ** در عدد شک است و آن یک بیشکی است310
The One is He who hath no consort and no tool; in number there is doubt, and that One is beyond doubt.
آن که دو گفت و سه گفت و بیش ازین ** متفق باشند در واحد یقین
Those who say “two” or “three” or more than these (numbers) are certainly agreed in (affirming the existence of) One.
احولی چون دفع شد یکسان شوند ** دو سه گویان هم یکی گویان شوند
When squinting has been put aside (so that they see correctly), they become alike: the assertors of two or three become assertors of Unity.
گر یکی گویی تو در میدان او ** گرد بر میگرد از چوگان او
If you are a ball in His polo-field, keep spinning round from (the blows of) His polo-stick.
گوی آن گه راست و بینقصان شود ** که ز زخم دست شه رقصان شود
The ball becomes right and flawless (only) at the time when it is made to dance by the stroke of the King's hand.
گوش دار ای احول اینها را به هوش ** داروی دیده بکش از راه گوش315
Give ear heedfully to these (sayings), O squinting one: apply the eye-salve by way of the ear.