هم‌چنین بحثست تا حشر بشر ** در میان جبری و اهل قدر
Similarly, there is a disputation, (which will continue) till mankind are raised from the dead, between the Necessitarians and the partisans of (absolute) Freewill.
گر فرو ماندی ز دفع خصم خویش ** مذهب ایشان بر افتادی ز پیش 3215
If he (the disputant of either party) had been incapable of refuting his adversary, their (respective) doctrines would have fallen out of sight (would have failed to maintain themselves),
چون برون‌شوشان نبودی در جواب ** پس رمیدندی از آن راه تباب
Since (in that case) they (the disputants) would not have had the means of escape (which consists) in replying (to their opponents), they would therefore have recoiled from the way of perdition (from their erroneous doctrines);
چونک مقضی بد دوام آن روش ** می‌دهدشان از دلایل پرورش
(But) inasmuch as their continuance in that course was (Divinely) destined, God feeds them with (logical) proofs,
تا نگردد ملزم از اشکال خصم ** تا بود محجوب از اقبال خصم
In order that he (the disputant) may not be silenced by his adversary's difficult objection, and that he may be prevented from seeing his adversary's success,
تا که این هفتاد و دو ملت مدام ** در جهان ماند الی یوم القیام
So that these two-and-seventy sects may always remain in the world till the Day of Resurrection.
چون جهان ظلمتست و غیب این ** از برای سایه می‌باید زمین 3220
Since this is the world of darkness and occultation, the earth is necessary for (the existence of) the shadow.
تا قیامت ماند این هفتاد و دو ** کم نیاید مبتدع را گفت و گو
These two-and-seventy (sects) will remain till the Resurrection: the heretic's talk and argument will not fail.
عزت مخزن بود اندر بها ** که برو بسیار باشد قفلها
The high value of a treasury is (shown by the circumstance) that there are many locks upon it.
عزت مقصد بود ای ممتحن ** پیچ پیچ راه و عقبه و راه‌زن
The greatness of the (traveller's) goal, O well-tried man, is (shown by) the intricate windings of the way and the mountain-passes and the brigands (infesting them).
عزت کعبه بود و آن نادیه ** ره‌زنی اعراب و طول بادیه
The greatness of the Ka‘ba and its assembly-place is (shown by) the brigandage of the Beduins and the length of the desert (traversed by the pilgrims).
هر روش هر ره که آن محمود نیست ** عقبه‌ای و مانعی و ره‌زنیست 3225
Every (religious) doctrine, every tenet, that is not praiseworthy is (like) a mountain-pass and a barrier and a brigand.
این روش خصم و حقود آن شده ** تا مقلد در دو ره حیران شده
This doctrine has become the adversary and bitter enemy of that, so that the imitator (who adopts the beliefs of others) is in a dilemma;
صدق هر دو ضد بیند در روش ** هر فریقی در ره خود خوش منش
(For) he sees that both the opponents are firm in their doctrine: every sect is pleased with its own path.
گر جوابش نیست می‌بندد ستیز ** بر همان دم تا به روز رستخیز
If it has no reply (to the arguments brought against it), it will cling obstinately to the same formula till the Day of Resurrection,
که مهان ما بدانند این جواب ** گرچه از ما شد نهان وجه صواب
Saying, “Our great authorities know the reply to this, although the right method (of answering) is hidden from us.”
پوزبند وسوسه عشقست و بس ** ورنه کی وسواس را بستست کس 3230
The only muzzle for evil suggestions (of doubt) is Love; else, when has any one (ever) stopped (such) temptation?
Become a lover, seek a fair minion, hunt a waterfowl from river to river.
کی بری زان آب کان آبت برد ** کی کنی زان فهم فهمت را خورد
How will you get water (spirituality) from that one who takes your water away? How will you apprehend (the truth) from that one (who) consumes your (spiritual) apprehension?
غیر این معقولها معقولها ** یابی اندر عشق با فر و بها
In Love, (which is) glorious and resplendent, you will find intelligible things other than these intelligible things.
غیر این عقل تو حق را عقلهاست ** که بدان تدبیر اسباب سماست
To God belong intelligences other than this intelligence of yours, (intelligences) by which the mediate celestial things are ruled;
که بدین عقل آوری ارزاق را ** زان دگر مفرش کنی اطباق را 3235
For by this (individual) intelligence you procure the means of subsistence, (while) by that other (universal intelligence) you make the tiers of Heaven a carpet (under your feet).
چون ببازی عقل در عشق صمد ** عشر امثالت دهد یا هفت‌صد
When you gamble away (sacrifice) your intelligence in love of the Lord, He gives you ten like unto it or seven hundred.
آن زنان چون عقلها درباختند ** بر رواق عشق یوسف تاختند
Those women (of Egypt), when they gambled away (sacrificed) their intelligences, sped onward to the pavilion of Joseph's love.
عقلشان یک‌دم ستد ساقی عمر ** سیر گشتند از خرد باقی مرد
(Love which is) the cupbearer of life took away their intelligence in one moment: they drank their fill of wisdom all the rest of their lives.