The licence that comes from self-will is error; the licence that comes from God is perfection.
کفر ایمان گشت و دیو اسلام یافت ** آن طرف کان نور بی‌اندازه تافت 2075
In that quarter where the illimitable Light has shone, infidelity has become faith and the Devil has attained unto Islam.
مظهر عزست و محبوب به حق ** از همه کروبیان برده سبق
He (the saint) is a theatre for the manifestation of the (Divine) Glory, and he is the real beloved (of God): he has carried off the prize from (taken precedence over) all the Cherubim.
سجده آدم را بیان سبق اوست ** سجده آرد مغز را پیوست پوست
The worship of Adam (by the angels) is clear evidence of his superiority: the husk always bows down (pays homage) to the kernel.
شمع حق را پف کنی تو ای عجوز ** هم تو سوزی هم سرت ای گنده‌پوز
O old woman, (if) you puff (try to put out) God's candle, you will be burnt, you and your head at the same time, O foul-mouthed one.
کی شود دریا ز پوز سگ نجس ** کی شود خورشید از پف منطمس
How should the sea be defiled by a dog's muzzle? How should the sun be extinguished by a puff?
حکم بر ظاهر اگر هم می‌کنی ** چیست ظاهرتر بگو زین روشنی 2080
Even if you judge (only) by appearances, tell (me), what is more apparent than this Light?
جمله ظاهرها به پیش این ظهور ** باشد اندر غایت نقص و قصور
In comparison with this appearance all apparent things are in the utmost degree of imperfection and default.
هر که بر شمع خدا آرد پف او ** شمع کی میرد بسوزد پوز او
If any one puff at God's candle, how should the candle be extinguished? His jaws and nose will be burnt.
چون تو خفاشان بسی بینند خواب ** کین جهان ماند یتیم از آفتاب
Bats like you often dream that this world will be left orphaned (deprived) of the Sun.
موجهای تیز دریاهای روح ** هست صد چندان که بد طوفان نوح
The fierce waves of the seas of the Spirit are a hundred times as many as was (the multitude of waves in) the Flood of Noah;
لیک اندر چشم کنعان موی رست ** نوح و کشتی را بهشت و کوه جست 2085
But hair grew (and formed an obstruction) in the eye of Canaan: he forsook Noah and the Ark and sought the mountain.
کوه و کنعان را فرو برد آن زمان ** نیم موجی تا به قعر امتهان
Then half a wave swept the mountain and Canaan down into the abyss of dishonour.
مه فشاند نور و سگ وع وع کند ** سگ ز نور ماه کی مرتع کند
The moon scatters her light and the dog bays: how should the dog feed on the light of the moon?
شب روان و همرهان مه بتگ ** ترک رفتن کی کنند از بانگ سگ
Those who travel by night and move swiftly with the moon on her way, how should they relinquish their journey because of the dog's yelping?
جزو سوی کل دوان مانند تیر ** کی کند وقف از پی هر گنده‌پیر
The part is speeding like an arrow towards the Whole: how should it stop on account of any old hag?
جان شرع و جان تقوی عارفست ** معرفت محصول زهد سالفست 2090
The gnostic is the soul of religion and the soul of piety: gnosis is the result of past asceticism.
زهد اندر کاشتن کوشیدنست ** معرفت آن کشت را روییدنست
Asceticism is the labour of sowing; gnosis is the growth of the seed.
پس چو تن باشد جهاد و اعتقاد ** جان این کشتن نباتست و حصاد
Therefore the (ascetic's) hard struggle and his firm religious conviction are like the body, (while) the soul of this sowing is the growth (of the seed) and its harvesting.
امر معروف او و هم معروف اوست ** کاشف اسرار و هم مکشوف اوست
He (the gnostic) is both the command to do right and the right (itself); he is both the revealer of mysteries and that which is revealed.
شاه امروزینه و فردای ماست ** پوست بنده‌ی مغز نغزش دایماست
He is our king to-day and to-morrow: the husk is for ever a slave to his goodly kernel,
چون انا الحق گفت شیخ و پیش برد ** پس گلوی جمله کوران را فشرد 2095
When the Shaykh (Halláj) said ‘I am God’ and carried it through (to the end), he throttled (vanquished) all the blind (sceptics).
چون انای بنده لا شد از وجود ** پس چه ماند تو بیندیش ای جحود
When a man's ‘I’ is negated (and eliminated) from existence, then what remains? Consider, O denier.
گر ترا چشمیست بگشا در نگر ** بعد لا آخر چه می‌ماند دگر
If you have an eye, open it and look! After ‘not,’ why, what else remains?
ای بریده آن لب و حلق و دهان ** که کند تف سوی مه یا آسمان
Oh, (may) the lips and throat and mouth (be) cut off that spit at the moon or the sky!