دختران را لعبت مرده دهند ** که ز لعب زندگان بی‌آگهند
A dead (lifeless) doll is given to (young) girls, for they are ignorant of the play (dalliance) of living (men).
چون ندارند از فتوت زور و دست ** کودکان را تیغ چوبین بهترست
A wooden sword is better suited to children (young boys), since they have not the strength and power (that comes) from manhood.
کافران قانع بنقش انبیا ** که نگاریده‌ست اندر دیرها
Infidels are content with the figures of the prophets which are painted (and kept) in churches;
زان مهان ما را چو دور روشنیست ** هیچ‌مان پروای نقش سایه نیست 3600
(But) as we have (enjoy) a bright period (of inward illumination) from those moons, we have no care for a shadow-figure.
این یکی نقشش نشسته در جهان ** وآن دگر نقشش چو مه در آسمان
The one figure of him (the prophet) is seated in the (sublunary) world, while his other figure is in heaven, like the moon.
این دهانش نکته‌گویان با جلیس ** و آن دگر با حق به گفتار و انیس
This mouth of him is speaking on subtle points (of religion) to those sitting beside him, while the other (mouth) is (engaged) in discourse with God and intimate (with Him).
گوش ظاهر این سخن را ضبط کن ** گوش جانش جاذب اسرار کن
His outward ear is apprehending these (external) words, while his spiritual ear is drawing (into itself) the mysteries of (the Creative Word) Be.
His outward eye is apprehending human forms and features, while his inward eye is dazzled in (the glory of) the eye did not stray.
پای ظاهر در صف مسجد صواف ** پای معنی فوق گردون در طواف 3605
His outward feet stand evenly in the row (of worshippers) in the mosque, while his spiritual feet are (engaged) in circumambulation above the sky.
جزو جزوش را تو بشمر هم‌چنین ** این درون وقت و آن بیرون حین
Reckon up every member of him (and judge of it) in like fashion: this (bodily part) is within Time, while that (spiritual part) is beyond Time.
این که در وقتست باشد تا اجل ** وان دگر یار ابد قرن ازل
This which is in Time endures till death, while the other is the associate of everlastingness and the peer of eternity.
هست یک نامش ولی الدولتین ** هست یک نعتش امام القبلتین
One name of him is “owner of the two empires”; one description of him is “Imám of the two qiblas.”
خلوت و چله برو لازم نماند ** هیچ غیمی مر ورا غایم نماند
The religious seclusion and the forty days' fast are no longer incumbent on him: no cloud is overclouding him any more.
قرص خورشیدست خلوت‌خانه‌اش ** کی حجاب آرد شب بیگانه‌اش 3610
His solitary cell is (resplendent as) the sun's orb: how should alien night throw a veil over it?
علت و پرهیز شد بحران نماند ** کفر او ایمان شد و کفران نماند
Sickness and abstinence are gone, the crisis is past: his infidelity has become faith, and disbelief is no more.
چون الف از استقامت شد به پیش ** او ندارد هیچ از اوصاف خویش
Like (the letter) alif, he has taken the foremost place because of his straightness (rectitude): he retains nothing of his own qualities.
گشت فرد از کسوه‌ی خوهای خویش ** شد برهنه جان به جان‌افزای خویش
He has become separated from the garment of his own dispositions: his spirit has gone, naked, to Him who gives it increase of spirituality.
چون برهنه رفت پیش شاه فرد ** شاهش از اوصاف قدسی جامه کرد
Inasmuch as it went naked into the presence of the incomparable King, the King made for it a raiment of holy qualities.
خلعتی پوشید از اوصاف شاه ** بر پرید از چاه بر ایوان جاه 3615
It put on a robe of the King's qualities: it flew up from the pit to the palace of majesty.
این چنین باشد چو دردی صاف گشت ** از بن طشت آمد او بالای طشت
Such is the case: when dregs become pure, they rise from the bottom of the bowl to the top.
در بن طشت از چه بود او دردناک ** شومی آمیزش اجزای خاک
Although it (the spirit) remained like dregs at the bottom of the bowl owing to the ill-luck of mixing with particles of earth, (this was not in accordance with its nature).
یار ناخوش پر و بالش بسته بود ** ورنه او در اصل بس برجسته بود
Its disagreeable companion had tied its wings and plumes; else (it would have risen, for) originally it was very soaring.
چون عتاب اهبطوا انگیختند ** هم‌چو هاروتش نگون آویختند
When they uttered the rebuke Get ye down, they suspended it, head first, like Hárút.
بود هاروت از ملاک آسمان ** از عتابی شد معلق هم‌چنان 3620
Hárút was one of the angels of Heaven: on account of a (Divine) rebuke he was suspended thus.
سرنگون زان شد که از سر دور ماند ** خویش را سر ساخت و تنها پیش راند
He was (suspended), head downwards, because he remained far aloof from the Head and made himself the head and advanced alone.