ور بود این جبر جبر عامه نیست ** جبر آن اماره‌‌ی خودکامه نیست1465
And if this be compulsion, it is not the compulsion of (suffered by) the vulgar: it is not the compulsion of (exerted by) the evil-commanding self-willed (soul).
جبر را ایشان شناسند ای پسر ** که خدا بگشادشان در دل بصر
O son, (only) they know (the real meaning of) compulsion in whose hearts God has opened the sight (of the spiritual eye).
غیب و آینده بر ایشان گشت فاش ** ذکر ماضی پیش ایشان گشت لاش
To them the unseen and the future became manifest; to them recollection of the past became naught.
اختیار و جبر ایشان دیگر است ** قطره‌‌ها اندر صدفها گوهر است
Their freewill and compulsion is different (from that of ordinary men): in oyster-shells drops (of rain) are pearls.
هست بیرون قطره‌‌ی خرد و بزرگ ** در صدف آن در خرد است و سترگ
Outside (of the shell) it is a drop of water, small or great, (but) within the shell it is a small or big pearl.
طبع ناف آهو است آن قوم را ** از برون خون و درونشان مشکها1470
Those persons have the nature of the muskdeer's gland: externally they are (as) blood, while within them is the fragrance of musk.
تو مگو کاین مایه بیرون خون بود ** چون رود در ناف مشکی چون شود
Do not say, “This substance externally is blood: how should it become a musky perfume when it goes into the gland?”
تو مگو کاین مس برون بد محتقر ** در دل اکسیر چون گیرد گهر
Do not say, “This copper externally was despicable: how should it assume nobility in the heart (midst) of the elixir?”
اختیار و جبر در تو بد خیال ** چون در ایشان رفت شد نور جلال
In thee (the matter of) freewill and compulsion was a (mere) fancy, (but) when it went into them it became the light of (Divine) Majesty.
نان چو در سفره ست باشد آن جماد ** در تن مردم شود او روح شاد
When bread is (wrapped) in the tablecloth it is the inanimate thing (so-called), (but) in the human body it becomes the glad spirit (of life).