اختیارات اختیارش هست کرد ** اختیارش چون سواری زیر گرد
His (God's universal) power of choice brought (our individual) powers of choice into existence: His power of choice is like a rider (hidden) beneath the dust (which he raises).
اختیارش اختیار ما کند ** امر شد بر اختیاری مستند
His (God's) power of choice makes our power of choice; His command is based on (is exercised in virtue of) a power of choice (in us).
حاکمی بر صورت بی‌اختیار ** هست هر مخلوق را در اقتدار
Every created being has it in his power to exercise authority over the form (that is) without free-will,
تا کشد بی‌اختیاری صید را ** تا برد بگرفته گوش او زید را 3090
So that he (who is in possession of that power) drags (whither he pleases) the (lifeless) prey devoid of will, (or) so that having seized Zayd by the ear, he leads him away.
لیک بی هیچ آلتی صنع صمد ** اختیارش را کمند او کند
But (it is) the action of the Lord (that), without (using) any instrument, makes his free-will a noose for him (to catch Zayd).
اختیارش زید را قدیش کند ** بی‌سگ و بی‌دام حق صیدش کند
His (God's) free-will makes him a fetter for Zayd: God makes him (Zayd's captor) His prey without (the help of) dog or snare.
آن دروگر حاکم چوبی بود ** وآن مصور حاکم خوبی بود
The carpenter has authority over a piece of wood, and the artist has authority over (the portrait of) a beauty;
هست آهنگر بر آهن قیمی ** هست بنا هم بر آلت حاکمی
The ironsmith is a superintendent of iron; the builder also is a ruler over his tools.
نادر این باشد که چندین اختیار ** ساجد اندر اختیارش بنده‌وار 3095
This (matter) is extraordinary; for all this (human) free-will is bowing low, like a slave, in (homage to) His (God's) free-will.
قدرت تو بر جمادات از نبرد ** کی جمادی را از آنها نفی کرد
When did the power forcibly exercised by you over inanimate objects deprive them of (their) inanimateness?
قدرتش بر اختیارات آنچنان ** نفی نکند اختیاری را از آن
Similarly, His (God's) power over (our) acts of free-will does not deprive any act of free-will of that (quality).
خواستش می‌گوی بر وجه کمال ** که نباشد نسبت جبر و ضلال
Declare that His (God's) will is (exercised) in a complete manner, (but) without there being (involved in it) the attribution (to Him) of compulsion (jabr) and (responsibility for) error (disobedience to His commands).
چونک گفتی کفر من خواست ویست ** خواست خود را نیز هم می‌دان که هست
Since you have said, ‘My unbelief is willed by Him,’ know that it is also willed by yourself;
زانک بی‌خواه تو خود کفر تو نیست ** کفر بی‌خواهش تناقض گفتنیست 3100
For without your will your unbelief does not exist at all: involuntary unbelief is a self-contradiction.
امر عاجز را قبیحست و ذمیم ** خشم بتر خاصه از رب رحیم
’Tis abominable and blameworthy to lay a command on one incapable (of obeying it); and anger (on account of his disobedience) is worse, especially from the Merciful Lord.
گاو گر یوغی نگیرد می‌زنند ** هیچ گاوی که نپرد شد نژند
An ox is beaten if he refuse the yoke: is an ox (ever) reduced to misery because he will not fly?
گاو چون معذور نبود در فضول ** صاحب گاو از چه معذورست و دول
Since the ox is not excused for frowardness, wherefore is the owner of the ox (to be held) excusable and infirm?
چون نه‌ای رنجور سر را بر مبند ** اختیارت هست بر سبلت مخند
Since you are not ill, don't bandage your head: you have freewill, don't laugh at your moustache.
جهد کن کز جام حق یابی نوی ** بی‌خود و بی‌اختیار آنگه شوی 3105
Endeavour to gain freshness (spiritual grace) from God's cup (of love): then you will become selfless and volitionless.
آنگه آن می را بود کل اختیار ** تو شوی معذور مطلق مست‌وار
Then all volition will belong to that Wine, and you will be absolutely excusable, like a drunken man.
هرچه گویی گفته‌ی می باشد آن ** هر چه روبی رفته‌ی می باشد آن
Whatsoever you beat will (then) be beaten by the Wine; whatsoever you sweep away will (then) be swept away by the Wine.
کی کند آن مست جز عدل و صواب ** که ز جام حق کشیدست او شراب
The drunken man who has quaffed wine from God's cup— how should he do aught but justice and right?
جادوان فرعون را گفتند بیست ** مست را پروای دست و پای نیست
The magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘Stop! He that is drunken hath no care for his hands and feet.
دست و پای ما می آن واحدست ** دست ظاهر سایه است و کاسدست 3110
The wine of the One (God) is our (real) hands and feet; the apparent hand is (but) a shadow and worthless.’
معنی ما شاء الله کان یعنی خواست خواست او و رضا رضای او جویید از خشم دیگران و رد دیگران دلتنگ مباشید آن کان اگر چه لفظ ماضیست لیکن در فعل خدا ماضی و مستقبل نباشد کی لیس عند الله صباح و لا مساء
The meaning of ‘whatever God willed came to be,’ i.e. ‘the will is His will and pleasure. Seek His pleasure, be not distressed by the anger of others and the disapproval of others.’ Although the word ‘kána’ (came to be) denotes the past, yet there is no past or future in the action of God, for with God there is neither morn nor eve.
قول بنده ایش شاء الله کان ** بهر آن نبود که تنبل کن در آن
The saying of (God's) servant, ‘whatever God wills comes to pass’ does not signify ‘be lazy (inactive) in that (matter)’;