چشم تیز و گوش تازه تن سبک ** از شب هم‌چون نهنگ ذوالحبک
By means of Night, which resembles the scaly leviathan, the eve (is made) keen, the ear fresh, and the body nimble.
از مقامات وحش‌رو زین سپس ** هیچ نگریزیم ما با چون تو کس
Henceforth, with One like Thee (beside us), we will never flee from positions of fearful aspect.
موسی آن را نار دید و نور بود ** زنگیی دیدیم شب را حور بود 2310
Moses deemed that (which he saw) to be fire, but it was (really) light: we regarded Night as a (hideous) negro, but it was (really) a houri.
بعد ازین ما دیده خواهیم از تو بس ** تا نپوشد بحر را خاشاک و خس
After this, we beg of Thee (only) the eye (that sees truly), in order that sticks and straws may not conceal the Sea (from us).’
ساحران را چشم چون رست از عمی ** کف‌زنان بودند بی‌این دست و پا
When the eyes of (Pharaoh’s) magicians were delivered from blindness, they were clapping their hands (joyfully), (though) deprived of these (bodily) hands and feet.
چشم‌بند خلق جز اسباب نیست ** هر که لرزد بر سبب ز اصحاب نیست
What bandages the people’s eyes is nothing but means (secondary causes): whoever trembles (in anxiety) for (the loss of) means is not one of the Comrades.
لیک حق اصحابنا اصحاب را ** در گشاد و برد تا صدر سرا
But, O my comrades, God has opened the door to the Comrades and led them to the high-seat in the palace.
با کفش نامستحق و مستحق ** معتقان رحمت‌اند از بند رق 2315
Through His hand the unworthy and the worthy are freed by Mercy from the bonds of servitude.
در عدم ما مستحقان کی بدیم ** که برین جان و برین دانش زدیم
During (our) non-existence how were we worthy to attain to this spirituality and knowledge?
ای بکرده یار هر اغیار را ** وی بداده خلعت گل خار را
O Thou who hast made every stranger (Thy) friend, and O Thou who hast given the rose as a robe of honour to the thorn,
خاک ما را ثانیا پالیز کن ** هیچ نی را بار دیگر چیز کن
Sift our dust a second time, make (our) nothing to be some thing once more!
این دعا تو امر کردی ز ابتدا ** ورنه خاکی را چه زهره‌ی این بدی
Thou didst command this invocation (of Thee) from the beginning; else how should a creature of dust have dared (to do) this?
چون دعامان امر کردی ای عجاب ** این دعای خویش را کن مستجاب 2320
Since—oh, wonder !—Thou didst command us to invoke Thee, cause this invocation of Thee to be answered favourably.
شب شکسته کشتی فهم و حواس ** نه امیدی مانده نه خوف و نه یاس
Night has wrecked the ship of (my) understanding and senses: no hope is left, nor fear nor despair.
برده در دریای رحمت ایزدم ** تا ز چه فن پر کند بفرستدم
God has borne me into the sea of Mercy: (I know not) with what specialty He will fill me and send me (back to the world).
آن یکی را کرده پر نور جلال ** وآن دگر را کرده پر وهم و خیال
He fills one with the light of Majesty, while He fills another with (vain) imagination and fancy.
گر بخویشم هیچ رای و فن بدی ** رای و تدبیرم به حکم من بدی
If I had any judgement and skill by myself, my judgement and forethought would be under my control;
شب نرفتی هوش بی‌فرمان من ** زیر دام من بدی مرغان من 2325
At night my consciousness would not go (from me) without my bidding, and my birds (senses and faculties) would be under my trap.
بودمی آگه ز منزلهای جان ** وقت خواب و بیهشی و امتحان
I should be aware of the stages (of the journey) of the soul (both) at the time of sleep and unconsciousness and (at the time of) tribulation.
چون کفم زین حل و عقد او تهیست ** ای عجب این معجبی من ز کیست
Inasmuch as my hand is (made) empty by this (sovereign) power of His to loose and bind, oh, I wonder, from whom comes this self-conceit of mine?
دیده را نادیده خود انگاشتم ** باز زنبیل دعا برداشتم
I have even deemed that what I saw was not seen (by me), and (like a beggar) I have again held up the basket of invocation.
چون الف چیزی ندارم ای کریم ** جز دلی دلتنگ‌تر از چشم میم
Like alif, I possess nothing, O Gracious One, except a heart more constricted with anguish than the eye of mim.
این الف وین میم ام بود ماست ** میم ام تنگست الف زو نر گداست 2330
This alif and this mím are the mother (umm) of our existence: the mím of umm is narrow (distressful), and the alif is (begging for deliverance) from it (like) a sturdy beggar.
آن الف چیزی ندارد غافلیست ** میم دلتنگ آن زمان عاقلیست
(The state denoted by) ‘alif possesses nothing’ is forgetfulness (unconsciousness); the distressful mím is (denotes) the time of rationality (consciousness).
در زمان بیهشی خود هیچ من ** در زمان هوش اندر پیچ من
During the time of unconsciousness I am nothing at all; during the time of consciousness I am in torment.