چون تیمم با وجود آب دان ** علم نقلی با دم قطب زمان
Know that beside the breath (words) of the Qutb of the time traditional knowledge is like performing the ritual ablution with sand when there is water (available).
خویش ابله کن تبع می‌رو سپس ** رستگی زین ابلهی یابی و بس
Make yourself foolish (simple) and follow behind (him): only by means of this foolishness will you gain deliverance.
اکثر اهل الجنه البله ای پسر ** بهر این گفتست سلطان البشر1420
On this account, O father, the Sultan of mankind (Mohammed hath said, “Most of the people of Paradise are the foolish.”
زیرکی چون کبر و باد انگیز تست ** ابلهی شو تا بماند دل درست
Since, intelligence is the exciter of pride and vanity in you, become a fool in order that your heart may remain sound—
ابلهی نه کو به مسخرگی دوتوست ** ابلهی کو واله و حیران هوست
Not the fool that is bent double (abases himself) in buffoonery, (but) the fool that is distraught and bewildered (lost) in Him (God).
ابلهان‌اند آن زنان دست بر ** از کف ابله وز رخ یوسف نذر
The foolish are (like) those women (of Egypt) who cut their hands—foolish in respect of their hands, (but) giving (wise) notice to beware of the face (beauty) of Joseph.
عقل را قربان کن اندر عشق دوست ** عقلها باری از آن سویست کوست
Sacrifice your intellect in love for the Friend: anyhow, (all) intellects are from the quarter where He is.
عقلها آن سو فرستاده عقول ** مانده این سو که نه معشوقست گول1425
The (spiritually) intelligent have sent their intellects to that quarter: (only) the dolt has remained in this quarter where the’ Beloved is not.
زین سر از حیرت گر این عقلت رود ** هر سو مویت سر و عقلی شود
If, from bewilderment, this intellect of yours go out of this head, every head (tip) of your hair will become (a new) head and intellect.
نیست آن سو رنج فکرت بر دماغ ** که دماغ و عقل روید دشت و باغ
In that quarter the trouble of thinking is. not (incumbent) on the brain, for (there) the brain and intellect (spontaneously) produce fields and orchards (of spiritual knowledge).
سوی دشت از دشت نکته بشنوی ** سوی باغ آیی شود نخلت روی
(If you turn) towards the field, you will hear from the field a subtle discourse; (if) you come to the orchard, your palm- tree will become fresh and flourishing.
اندرین ره ترک کن طاق و طرنب ** تا قلاوزت نجنبد تو مجنب
In this Way abandon ostentation: do not move unless your (spiritual) guide move.
هر که او بی سر بجنبد دم بود ** جنبشش چون جنبش کزدم بود1430
Any one who moves without the head (guide) is a (mere) tail (base and contemptible): his movement is like the movement of the scorpion.
کژرو و شب کور و زشت و زهرناک ** پیشه‌ی او خستن اجسام پاک
Going crookedly, night-blind and ugly and venomous—his trade is the wounding of the pure bodies (of the unworldly).
سر بکوب آن را که سرش این بود ** خلق و خوی مستمرش این بود
Beat the head of him whose inmost spirit is (like) this, and whose permanent nature and disposition is (like) this.
خود صلاح اوست آن سر کوفتن ** تا رهد جان‌ریزه‌اش زان شوم‌تن
In sooth ‘tis good for him to beat this head (of his), so that his puny-soul may be delivered from that ill-starred body.
واستان آن دست دیوانه سلاح ** تا ز تو راضی شود عدل و صلاح
Take away the weapons from the madman’s hand, that Justice and Goodness may be satisfied with you.
چون سلاحش هست و عقلش نه ببند ** دست او را ورنه آرد صد گزند1435
Since he has weapons and has no understanding, shackle his hand; otherwise he will inflict a hundred injuries.
بیان آنک حصول علم و مال و جاه بدگوهران را فضیحت اوست و چون شمشیریست کی افتادست به دست راه‌زن
Explaining that the acquisition of knowledge and wealth and rank by men of evil nature is the (means of) exposing him (such a one) to shame and is like a sword that has fallen into the hand of a brigand.
بدگهر را علم و فن آموختن ** دادن تیغی به دست راه‌زن
To teach the evil-natured man knowledge and skill is to put a sword in the hand of a brigand.
تیغ دادن در کف زنگی مست ** به که آید علم ناکس را به دست
It is better to put a sword in the hand of an intoxicated negro than that knowledge should come into the possession of a worthless person.
علم و مال و منصب و جاه و قران ** فتنه آمد در کف بدگوهران
Knowledge and wealth and office’ and rank and fortune are a mischief in the hands of the evil-natured.
پس غزا زین فرض شد بر مومنان ** تا ستانند از کف مجنون سنان
Therefore the Holy War was made obligatory on the true believers for this purpose, (namely) that they might take the spear-point from the hand of the madman.
جان او مجنون تنش شمشیر او ** واستان شمشیر را زان زشت‌خو1440
His (the evil-natured man's) spirit is (like) the madman, and his body is (like) his (the madman's) sword: take away the sword from that wicked man!
آنچ منصب می‌کند با جاهلان ** از فضیحت کی کند صد ارسلان
How should a hundred lions inflict the shame which (high) office inflicts upon the ignorant?
عیب او مخفیست چون آلت بیافت ** مارش از سوراخ بر صحرا شتافت
His vice is hidden, (but) when he got the instrument (gained power), his snake, (coming out) from its hole, sped along the plain.
جمله صحرا مار و کزدم پر شود ** چونک جاهل شاه حکم مر شود
The entire plain is filled with snakes and scorpions when the ignorant man becomes king (master) of the bitter (harsh) decree.
مال و منصب ناکسی که آرد به دست ** طالب رسوایی خویش او شدست
The worthless person who acquires wealth and office has become the seeker of his own disgrace.
یا کند بخل و عطاها کم دهد ** یا سخا آرد بنا موضع نهد1445
Either he behaves stingily and gives few presents, or he shows generosity and bestows (them) in the wrong place (unsuitably).
شاه را در خانه‌ی بیذق نهد ** این چنین باشد عطا که احمق دهد
He puts the king in the house (square) of the pawn: the gifts which a fool makes are like this.
حکم چون در دست گمراهی فتاد ** جاه پندارید در چاهی فتاد
When authority falls into the hands of one who has lost the (right) way, he deems it to be a high position (jáh), (but in reality) he has fallen into a pit (cháh).
راه نمی‌داند قلاووزی کند ** جان زشت او جهان‌سوزی کند
He does not know the way, (yet) he acts as guide: his wicked spirit makes a world-conflagration.
طفل راه فقر چون پیری گرفت ** پی‌روان را غول ادباری گرفت
When (one who is as) a child in the Way of (spiritual) poverty assumes the part of an Elder (Director of souls), the ghoul of unblessedness seizes those who follow (him).
که بیا تا ماه بنمایم ترا ** ماه را هرگز ندید آن بی‌صفا1450
“Come,” says he, “for I will show thee the moon”; (yet) that impure one never saw the moon.
چون نمایی چون ندیدستی به عمر ** عکس مه در آب هم ای خام غمر
How wilt thou show (the moon) when during (all) thy life thou hast not seen even the reflexion of the moon in the water, O half-baked dunce?
احمقان سرور شدستند و ز بیم ** عاقلان سرها کشیده در گلیم
The foolish have become leaders, and from fear (of them) the wise have drawn their heads into the cloak.
تفسیر یا ایها المزمل
Commentary on "O thou that wrappest thyself."
خواند مزمل نبی را زین سبب ** که برون آ از گلیم ای بوالهرب
For this reason He (God) called the Prophet muzzammil (one who wraps himself), saying, “Come forth from the cloak, O thou who art fond of taking flight.
سر مکش اندر گلیم و رو مپوش ** که جهان جسمیست سرگردان تو هوش
Do not draw thy head into the cloak and do not cover thy face, for the world is a reeling body: thou art the intelligence (rational spirit).
هین مشو پنهان ز ننگ مدعی ** که تو داری شمع وحی شعشعی1455
Hark, do not hide on account of the opprobrium of the adversary, since thou hast the resplendent candle of the Revelation.
هین قم اللیل که شمعی ای همام ** شمع اندر شب بود اندر قیام
Hark, stand up (in prayer) during the night, for thou art a candle, O prince: at night a candle stands up (and burns).
بی‌فروغت روز روشن هم شبست ** بی‌پناهت شیر اسیر ارنبست
Without thy radiance, even the bright day is (dark as) night: without thy protection, the lion is captive to the hare.
باش کشتیبان درین بحر صفا ** که تو نوح ثانیی ای مصطفی
Be the captain (pilot) of the ship in this sea of (spiritual) purity, for thou art a second Noah, O Mustafá (elect one).
ره شناسی می‌بباید با لباب ** هر رهی را خاصه اندر راه آب
An expert guide, (endowed) with understanding, is needed for every road, especially in the road (journey) on the water.
خیز بنگر کاروان ره‌زده ** هر طرف غولیست کشتیبان شده1460
Arise! Look upon the waylaid caravan: everywhere a ghoul has become captain of the ship.
خضر وقتی غوث هر کشتی توی ** هم‌چو روح‌الله مکن تنها روی
Thou art the Khizr of the time and the Deliverer of every ship (in distress): do not, like (Jesus) the Spirit of God, practise solitude.
پیش این جمعی چو شمع آسمان ** انقطاع و خلوت آری را بمان
In the sight of this assembly (of people) thou art as the candle of heaven: leave off severing thyself (from them) and adopting seclusion.
وقت خلوت نیست اندر جمع آی ** ای هدی چون کوه قاف و تو همای
’Tis not the time for seclusion: come into the assembly, O thou who art (as) the humáy, while the guidance (of souls) is like Mount Qáf.
بدر بر صدر فلک شد شب روان ** سیر را نگذارد از بانگ سگان
The full-moon is moving by night on the upper part of the sky: it does not cease from its journey because of the outcry of the dogs.
طاعنان هم‌چون سگان بر بدر تو ** بانگ می‌دارند سوی صدر تو1465
The scoffers keep making an outcry, like dogs, at thy full-moon in the direction of thy high place.
این سگان کرند از امر انصتوا ** از سفه و عوع کنان بر بدر تو
These dogs are deaf to the (Divine) command, ‘Be ye silent’: from folly (they are) bow-wowing at thy full-moon.
هین بمگذار ای شفا رنجور را ** تو ز خشم کر عصای کور را
Hark, O (thou who art) the cure for the sick, do not, on account of anger against the deaf, let go the staff of the blind.