روح وحی از عقل پنهانتر بود ** ز انکه او غیب است او ز ان سر بود
The spirit (that partakes) of Divine inspiration is more concealed than the intellect, because it is of the Unseen: it belongs to that side.
عقل احمد از کسی پنهان نشد ** روح وحیش مدرک هر جان نشد
The intellect of Ahmad (Mohammed) was not hidden from any one; (but) his spirit of (prophetic) inspiration was not apprehended by every soul.
روح وحیی را مناسبهاست نیز ** در نیابد عقل کان آمد عزیز3260
The spirit of prophecy also has actions conformable (to reason), (but) the intellect does not apprehend (them), for that (spirit) is exalted (above intellectual apprehension).
گه جنون بیند گهی حیران شود ** ز انکه موقوف است تا او آن شود
Sometimes he (the man of intellect) regards (the actions of one endowed with the spirit) as madness, sometimes he is bewildered, since it (all) depends on his becoming that (other one);
چون مناسبهای افعال خضر ** عقل موسی بود در دیدش کدر
As (for example) the intellect of Moses was troubled by seeing the reasonable actions of Khadir.
نامناسب مینمود افعال او ** پیش موسی چون نبودش حال او
His actions seemed unreasonable to Moses, since he (Moses) had not his (Khadir's) state (of Divine inspiration).
عقل موسی چون شود در غیب بند ** عقل موشی خود کی است ای ارجمند
Inasmuch as the intellect of Moses becomes tied up (perplexed and helpless) in (the matter of) the mysterious (inspiration), who (what) is the intellect of a (mere) mouse, O excellent (reader)?
علم تقلیدی بود بهر فروخت ** چون بیابد مشتری خوش بر فروخت3265
Conventional knowledge is (only) for sale (self-advertisement): when it finds a purchaser, it glows with delight.
مشتری علم تحقیقی حق است ** دایما بازار او با رونق است
The purchaser of real knowledge is God: its market is always splendid.
لب ببسته مست در بیع و شری ** مشتری بیحد که الله اشتری
He (the owner of real knowledge) has closed his lips (and is) enraptured in (his) trading: the purchasers are without end, for God hath purchased.
درس آدم را فرشته مشتری ** محرم درسش نه دیو است و پری
The angels purchase Adam's teaching; the devils and Jinn are not privileged to receive it.
آدم أنبئهم بأسما درس گو ** شرح کن اسرار حق را مو به مو
Adam, inform them of the Names, give (them) teaching, explain the mysteries of God, hair by hair.
آن چنان کس را که کوته بین بود ** در تلون غرق و بیتمکین بود3270
Such a person as is short-sighted, plunged in variability and without steadfastness,
موش گفتم ز انکه در خاک است جاش ** خاک باشد موش را جای معاش
I called a “mouse,” because his place is in the earth (of the body): earth is the place of living for the mouse.
راهها داند ولی در زیر خاک ** هر طرف او خاک را کرده ست چاک
He knows (many) ways, but (only) underground: he has pierced the earth in every direction.
نفس موشی نیست الا لقمه رند ** قدر حاجت موش را عقلی دهند
The mouse-soul is naught but a nibbler: to the mouse is given a mind proportionate to its need,
ز انکه بیحاجت خداوند عزیز ** مینبخشد هیچ کس را هیچ چیز
Because without need the Almighty God does not give anything to any one.
گر نبودی حاجت عالم زمین ** نافریدی هیچ رب العالمین3275
If the earth had not been needed by the (inhabitants of the) world, the Lord of all beings would not have created any (earth);
وین زمین مضطرب محتاج کوه ** گر نبودی نافریدی پر شکوه
And if this quaking earth had not needed mountains, He would not have created them sublime (as they are);
ور نبودی حاجت افلاک هم ** هفت گردون نافریدی از عدم
And if there had not been need of the heavenly spheres also, He would not have created from non-existence the Seven Skies.
آفتاب و ماه و این استارگان ** جز به حاجت کی پدید آمد عیان
The sun and moon and these stars—how did they come plain into view except through need?
پس کمند هستها حاجت بود ** قدر حاجت مرد را آلت دهد
Need, then is the noose for (all) things that exsist: He (God) gives to Man instruments in proportion to his need.
پس بیفزا حاجت ای محتاج زود ** تا بجوشد در کرم دریای جود3280
Therefore quickly augment thy need, O needy one, in order that the Sea of Bounty may surge up in loving kindness.
این گدایان بر ره و هر مبتلا ** حاجت خود مینماید خلق را
These beggars (are) on the (public) road, and every sufferer (among them) is displaying his need to the people—
کوری و شلی و بیماری و درد ** تا از این حاجت بجنبد رحم مرد
Blindness and palsy and sickness and pain—that men's pity may be aroused by this need.