نفی ضد هست باشد بی‌شکی ** تا ز ضد ضد را بدانی اندکی
Beyond any doubt, negation (not-being) is the opposite of (real) being, (and this is) in order that by means of the (one) opposite you may gain a little knowledge of the (other) opposite.
این زمان جز نفی ضد اعلام نیست ** اندرین نشات دمی بی‌دام نیست
At this time there is no (means of) making (God) known except (by) denying the opposite: in this (earthly) life no moment is without a snare.
بی‌حجابت باید آن ای ذو لباب ** مرگ را بگزین و بر دران حجاب
O you who possess sincerity, (if) you want that (Reality) unveiled, choose death and tear off the veil—
نه چنان مرگی که در گوری روی ** مرگ تبدیلی که در نوری روی
Not such a death that you will go into a grave, (but) a death consisting of (spiritual) transformation, so that you will go into a Light.
مرد بالغ گشت آن بچگی بمرد ** رومیی شد صبغت زنگی سترد 740
(When) a man grows up, his childhood dies; (when) he becomes a (fair-complexioned) Greek, he washes out the dye (swarthy colour) of the Ethiopian.
خاک زر شد هیات خاکی نماند ** غم فرج شد خار غمناکی نماند
(When) earth becomes gold, its earthly aspect remains not; (when) sorrow becomes joy, the thorn of sorrowfulness remains not.
مصطفی زین گفت کای اسرارجو ** مرده را خواهی که بینی زنده تو
Hence Mustafá (Mohammed) said, “O seeker of the mysteries, (if) you wish to see a dead man living—
می‌رود چون زندگان بر خاکدان ** مرده و جانش شده بر آسمان
Walking on the earth, like living men; (yet he is) dead and his spirit is gone to heaven;
جانش را این دم به بالا مسکنیست ** گر بمیرد روح او را نقل نیست
(One) whose spirit hath a dwelling-place on high at this moment, (so that) if he die, his spirit is not translated,
زانک پیش از مرگ او کردست نقل ** این بمردن فهم آید نه به عقل 745
Because it has been translated before death: this (mystery) is understood (only) by dying, not by (using one's) reason;
نقل باشد نه چو نقل جان عام ** هم‌چو نقلی از مقامی تا مقام
Translation it is, (but) not like the translation of the spirits of the vulgar: it resembles a removal (during life) from one place to another—
هرکه خواهد که ببیند بر زمین ** مرده‌ای را می‌رود ظاهر چنین
If any one wish to see a dead man walking thus visibly on the earth,
مر ابوبکر تقی را گو ببین ** شد ز صدیقی امیرالمحشرین
Let him behold Abú Bakr, the devout, (who) through being a true witness (siddíq) became the Prince of the Resurrected.
اندرین نشات نگر صدیق را ** تا به حشر افزون کنی تصدیق را
In this (earthly) life look at the Siddíq (Abú Bakr), that you may believe more firmly in the Resurrection.”
پس محمد صد قیامت بود نقد ** زانک حل شد در فنای حل و عقد 750
Mohammed, then, was a hundred (spiritual) resurrections here and now, for he was dissolved (naughted) in dying to (temporal) loosing and binding.
زاده‌ی ثانیست احمد در جهان ** صد قیامت بود او اندر عیان
Ahmad (Mohammed) is the twice-born in this world: he was manifestly a hundred resurrections.
زو قیامت را همی‌پرسیده‌اند ** ای قیامت تا قیامت راه چند
They asked him concerning the Resurrection, saying, “O (thou who art the) Resurrection, how long is the way to the Resurrection?”
با زبان حال می‌گفتی بسی ** که ز محشر حشر را پرسید کسی
And often he would say with mute eloquence, “Does any one ask (me who am) the Resurrection concerning the Resurrection?”
بهر این گفت آن رسول خوش‌پیام ** رمز موتوا قبل موت یا کرام
Hence the Messenger of good tidings said, (speaking) symbolically, “Die before ye die, O nobles,
هم‌چنانک مرده‌ام من قبل موت ** زان طرف آورده‌ام این صیت و صوت 755
Even as I have died before death and brought from Yonder this fame and renown.”
پس قیامت شو قیامت را ببین ** دیدن هر چیز را شرطست این
Do thou, then, become the (spiritual) resurrection and (thereby) see (experience) the resurrection: this (becoming) is the necessary condition for seeing (knowing and experiencing the real nature of) anything.
تا نگردی او ندانی‌اش تمام ** خواه آن انوار باشد یا ظلام
Until thou become it, thou wilt not know it completely, whether it be light or darkness.
عقل گردی عقل را دانی کمال ** عشق گردی عشق را دانی ذبال
(If) thou become Reason, thou wilt know Reason perfectly; if thou become Love, thou wilt know Love's (flaming) wick.
گفتمی برهان این دعوی مبین ** گر بدی ادراک اندر خورد این
I would declare plainly the proof of this assertion, if there were an understanding fit to receive it.
هست انجیر این طرف بسیار و خوار ** گر رسد مرغی قنق انجیرخوار 760
Figs are very cheap in this vicinity, if a fig-eating bird should arrive as a guest.
در همه عالم اگر مرد و زنند ** دم به دم در نزع و اندر مردنند
(All), whether men or women, in the whole world are continually in the death-agony and are dying.
آن سخنشان را وصیتها شمر ** که پدر گوید در آن دم با پسر
Regard their words as the (final) injunctions which a father gives at that moment to his son,
تا بروید عبرت و رحمت بدین ** تا ببرد بیخ بغض و رشک و کین
That thereby consideration and pity may grow (in thy heart), so that the root of hatred and jealousy and enmity may be cut off.
تو بدان نیت نگر در اقربا ** تا ز نزع او بسوزد دل ترا
Look on thy kinsman with that intention, so that thy heart may burn (with pity) for his death-agony.
کل آت آت آن را نقد دان ** دوست را در نزع و اندر فقد دان 765
“Everything that is coming will come”: deem it (to have come) here and now, deem thy friend to be in the death-agony and in the act of losing (his life).
وز غرضها زین نظر گردد حجاب ** این غرضها را برون افکن ز جیب
And if (selfish) motives debar (thee) from this insight, cast these motives out of thy bosom;
ور نیاری خشک بر عجزی مه‌ایست ** دانک با عاجز گزیده معجزیست
And if thou canst not (cast them out), do not stand inertly in a state of incapacity: know that with (every) incapable there is a goodly Incapacitator.
عجز زنجیریست زنجیرت نهاد ** چشم در زنجیرنه باید گشاد
Incapacity is a chain: He laid it upon thee: thou must open thine eye to (behold) Him who lays the chain.
پس تضرع کن کای هادی زیست ** باز بودم بسته گشتم این ز چیست
Therefore make humble entreaty, saying, “O Guide (in the ways) of life, I was free, (and now) I have fallen into bondage: what is the cause of this?
سخت‌تر افشرده‌ام در شر قدم ** که لفی خسرم ز قهرت دم به دم 770
I have planted my foot in evil more firmly (than ever), for through Thy omnipotence verily I am (engaged) in a losing business all the time.
از نصیحتهای تو کر بوده‌ام ** بت‌شکن دعوی و بت‌گر بوده‌ام
I have been deaf to Thy admonitions: while professing to be an idol-breaker, I have (really) been an idol-maker.
یاد صنعت فرض‌تر یا یاد مرگ ** مرگ مانند خزان تو اصل برگ
Is it more incumbent (on me) to think of Thy works or of death? (Of death): death is like autumn, and Thou art (the root which is) the origin of the leaves.”
سالها این مرگ طبلک می‌زند ** گوش تو بیگاه جنبش می‌کند
For years this death has been beating the drum, (but only when it is) too late is your ear moved (to listen).
گوید اندر نزع از جان آه مرگ ** این زمان کردت ز خود آگاه مرگ
In his agony he (the heedless man) cries from his (inmost) soul, “Alas, I am dying!” Has Death made you aware of himself (only) now?
این گلوی مرگ از نعره گرفت ** طبل او بشکافت از ضرب شگفت 775
Death's throat is exhausted with shouting: his drum is split with the astounding blows (with which it has been beaten).
در دقایق خویش را در بافتی ** رمز مردن این زمان در یافتی
(But) you enmeshed yourself in trivialities: (only) now have you apprehended the mystery of dying.
تشبیه مغفلی کی عمر ضایع کند و وقت مرگ در آن تنگاتنگ توبه و استغفار کردن گیرد به تعزیت داشتن شیعه‌ی اهل حلب هر سالی در ایام عاشورا به دروازه‌ی انطاکیه و رسیدن غریب شاعر از سفر و پرسیدن کی این غریو چه تعزیه است
Comparison of (the behaviour of) the heedless man who wastes his life and (only) begins to repent and ask pardon (of God) when he lies in extreme distress on his death-bed to the yearly mourning of the Shí‘ites of Aleppo at the Antioch Gate (of the city) during the ‘Áshúrá; and how a poet, who was a stranger, arrived (there) on his journey and asked what was the cause of these shrieks of mourning.
روز عاشورا همه اهل حلب ** باب انطاکیه اندر تا به شب
On the Day of ‘Áshúrá all the people of Aleppo gather at the Antioch Gate till nightfall,
گرد آید مرد و زن جمعی عظیم ** ماتم آن خاندان دارد مقیم
Men and women, a great multitude, and keep up a constant lamentation for the (Holy) Family.
ناله و نوحه کنند اندر بکا ** شیعه عاشورا برای کربلا
During the ‘Áshúrá the Shí‘ites wail and lament with tears and sobs on account of Karbalá.
بشمرند آن ظلمها و امتحان ** کز یزید و شمر دید آن خاندان 780
They recount the oppressions and tribulations which the (Holy) Family suffered at the hands of Yazíd and Shimr.
نعره‌هاشان می‌رود در ویل و وشت ** پر همی‌گردد همه صحرا و دشت
They utter shrieks mingled with cries of woe and grief: the whole plain and desert is filled (with their cries).
یک غریبی شاعری از راه رسید ** روز عاشورا و آن افغان شنید
A stranger, (who was) a poet, arrived from the road on the Day of ‘Áshúrá and heard that lamentation.
شهر را بگذاشت و آن سوی رای کرد ** قصد جست و جوی آن هیهای کرد
He left the city and resolved (to go) in that direction: he set out to investigate (the cause of) those shrill cries.
پرس پرسان می‌شد اندر افتقاد ** چیست این غم بر که این ماتم فتاد
He went along, asking many questions in his search—“What is this sorrow? Whose death has occasioned this mourning?
این رئیس زفت باشد که بمرد ** این چنین مجمع نباشد کار خرد 785
It must be a great personage who has died: such a concourse is no small affair.