A braggart, a lick-platter, a parasite: the noise of his drum has reached the remotest parts of the world.
سبطیند این قوم و گوساله‌پرست ** در چنین گاوی چه می‌مالند دست
These folk (who follow him) are (like) Israelites and worshippers of the (golden) calf: why do they fondle such a cow?
جیفة اللیلست و بطال النهار ** هر که او شد غره‌ی این طبل‌خوار
Any one who is duped by this parasite is a carcase by night and a good-for-nothing by day.
هشته‌اند این قوم صد علم و کمال ** مکر و تزویری گرفته کینست حال
These folk have abandoned a hundred kinds of knowledge and perfection and have embraced a deceit and imposture, saying, ‘This is ecstasy.’
آل موسی کو دریغا تاکنون ** عابدان عجل را ریزند خون
Alas, where are the family of Moses that now they might shed the blood of the calf-worshippers
شرع و تقوی را فکنده سوی پشت ** کو عمر کو امر معروفی درشت 2065
(Who) have cast religion and piety behind their backs? Where is ‘Umar? Where is a stern command to act righteously?
کین اباحت زین جماعت فاش شد ** رخصت هر مفسد قلاش شد
For the licence practised by these people has become notorious: ’tis an indulgence enjoyed by every scoundrelly evil-doer.
کو ره پیغامبری و اصحاب او ** کو نماز و سبحه و آداب او
Where is the Way of the Prophet and his Companions? Where are his ritual prayer and rosary and (religious) observances?”
جواب گفتن مرید و زجر کردن مرید آن طعانه را از کفر و بیهوده گفتن
How the disciple answered that railing woman and bade her refrain from her unbelief and idle talk.
بانگ زد بر وی جوان و گفت بس ** روز روشن از کجا آمد عسس
The youth cried out at her and said, “Enough! In bright daylight where did the night-patrol come from?
نور مردان مشرق و مغرب گرفت ** اسمانها سجده کردند از شگفت
The splendour of the (holy) men has overspread the East and the West: the heavens have bowed low in amazement.
آفتاب حق بر آمد از حمل ** زیر چادر رفت خورشید از خجل 2070
The Sun of God has risen from (the sign of) the Ram: the (material) sun has gone, shamefaced, under the veil.
ترهات چون تو ابلیسی مرا ** کی بگرداند ز خاک این سرا
How should the bletherings of a devil like you turn me back from the dust of this abode?
من به بادی نامدم هم‌چون سحاب ** تا بگردی باز گردم زین جناب
I have not (been impelled to) come by a wind (of vain desire) like a cloud, that I should be turned back from this (holy) presence by a dust (of foolish words).
عجل با آن نور شد قبله‌ی کرم ** قبله بی آن نور شد کفر و صنم
By virtue of that Light the calf becomes a qibla of (Divine) grace; without that Light the qibla becomes (a symbol of) infidelity and an idol.
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!