آن یکی الله می‌گفتی شبی ** تا که شیرین می‌شد از ذکرش لبی
One night a certain man was crying “Allah!” till his lips were growing sweet with praise of Him.
گفت شیطان آخر ای بسیارگو ** این همه الله را لبیک کو190
The Devil said, “Prithee, O garrulous one, where is the (response) ‘Here am I’ to all this ‘Allah’?
می‌نیاید یک جواب از پیش تخت ** چند الله می‌زنی با روی سخت
Not a single response is coming from the Throne: how long will you cry ‘Allah’ with grim face?”
او شکسته‌دل شد و بنهاد سر ** دید در خواب او خضر را در خضر
He became broken-hearted and laid down his head (to sleep): in a dream he saw Khadir amidst the verdure.
گفت هین از ذکر چون وا مانده‌ای ** چون پشیمانی از آن کش خوانده‌ای
He (Khadir) said, “Hark, you have held back from praising God: how is it that you repent of having called unto Him?”
گفت لبیکم نمی‌آید جواب ** زان همی‌ترسم که باشم رد باب
He said, “No ‘Here am I’ is coming to me in response, hence I fear that I may be (a reprobate who is) driven away from the Door.”
گفت آن الله تو لبیک ماست ** و آن نیاز و درد و سوزت پیک ماست195
He (Khadir) said, “(God saith), That ‘Allah’ of thine is My ‘Here am I,’ and that supplication and grief and ardour of thine is My messenger (to thee).
حیله‌ها و چاره‌جوییهای تو ** جذب ما بود و گشاد این پای تو
Thy shifts and attempts to find a means (of gaining access to Me) were (in reality) My drawing (thee towards Me), and released thy feet (from the bonds of worldliness).
ترس و عشق تو کمند لطف ماست ** زیر هر یا رب تو لبیکهاست
Thy fear and love are the noose to catch My favour: beneath every ‘O Lord’ (of thine) is many a ‘Here am I’ (from Me).”
جان جاهل زین دعا جز دور نیست ** زانک یا رب گفتنش دستور نیست
Far from this prayer is the soul of the fool, because to him it is not permitted to cry “O Lord.”
بر دهان و بر دلش قفلست و بند ** تا ننالد با خدا وقت گزند
On his mouth and heart are lock and bolt, to the end that he may not moan unto God in the hour of bale.
داد مر فرعون را صد ملک و مال ** تا بکرد او دعوی عز و جلال200
He (God) gave to Pharaoh hundredfold possessions and riches, so that he claimed (Divine) might and majesty.
در همه عمرش ندید او درد سر ** تا ننالد سوی حق آن بدگهر
In his whole life that man of evil nature felt no (spiritual) headache, lest he should moan unto God.
داد او را جمله ملک این جهان ** حق ندادش درد و رنج و اندهان
God gave him all the empire of this world, (but) He did not give him grief and pain and sorrows.
درد آمد بهتر از ملک جهان ** تا بخوانی مر خدا را در نهان
Grief is better than the empire of the world, so that you may call unto God in secret.
خواندن بی درد از افسردگیست ** خواندن با درد از دل‌بردگیست
The call of the griefless is from a frozen heart, the call of the grieving one is from rapture:
آن کشیدن زیر لب آواز را ** یاد کردن مبدا و آغاز را205
(’Tis) to withdraw the voice under the lips, to bear in mind (one's) origin and beginning;
آن شده آواز صافی و حزین ** ای خدا وی مستغاث و ای معین
(’Tis) the voice become pure and sad, (crying) “O God!” and “O Thou whose help is besought!” and “O Helper!”
ناله‌ی سگ در رهش بی جذبه نیست ** زانک هر راغب اسیر ره‌زنیست
(Even) the moan of a dog for His sake is not void of (Divine) attraction, because every one who desires (Him) is a brigand's captive—
چون سگ کهفی که از مردار رست ** بر سر خوان شهنشاهان نشست
As (for example) the dog of the Cave, which was freed from (eating) carrion and sat at the table of the (spiritual) emperors:
تا قیامت می‌خورد او پیش غار ** آب رحمت عارفانه بی تغار
Until the Resurrection, before the Cave it is drinking in gnostic wise without (any) pot the water of (Divine) mercy.
ای بسا سگ‌پوست کو را نام نیست ** لیک اندر پرده بی آن جام نیست210
Oh, there is many a one in a dog's skin, who hath no name (and fame), yet is not without that cup (of Divine knowledge) in secret.
جان بده از بهر این جام ای پسر ** بی جهاد و صبر کی باشد ظفر
Give thy life for this cup, O son: how may victory be (won) without (spiritual) warfare and patience?
صبر کردن بهر این نبود حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
To show patience for the sake of this is no hardship: show patience, for patience is the key to joy.
زین کمین بی صبر و حزمی کس نرست ** حزم را خود صبر آمد پا و دست
From this ambush none escaped without some patience and prudence: to prudence, indeed, patience is the foot and hand.