رحمت بی‌چون چنین دان ای پدر ** ناید اندر وهم از وی جز اثر
Know that the mercy of the Unconditioned (God) is like this, O father; naught but the effect thereof comes into the imagination (is conceivable to us).
فرق میان دانستن چیزی به مثال و تقلید و میان دانستن ماهیت آن چیز
The difference between knowing a thing by comparison and convention and knowing the quiddity of that thing.
ظاهرست آثار و میوه‌ی رحمتش ** لیک کی داند جز او ماهیتش3635
The effects and fruit of His mercy are manifest, but how should any one except Him know its quiddity?
هیچ ماهیات اوصاف کمال ** کس نداند جز بثار و مثال
None knows the quiddities of the attributes of (Divine) Perfection except through (their) effects and by means of comparison.
طفل ماهیت نداند طمث را ** جز که گویی هست چون حلوا ترا
The child does not know the quiddity of concubitus, except that you say, “It is like sweetmeat to thee.” [The child does not know the quiddity of sexual intercourse, except that you say, “it is like sweetmeat to thee.”]
کی بود ماهیت ذوق جماع ** مثل ماهیات حلوا ای مطاع
How should the quiddity of the pleasure of sexual intercourse be like the quiddities of sweetmeat, O master?
لیک نسبت کرد از روی خوشی ** با تو آن عاقل چو تو کودک‌وشی
But, since you are childish, that intelligent man offered you the analogy respecting the sweetness (of it),
تا بداند کودک آن را از مثال ** گر نداند ماهیت یا عین حال3640
In order that the child might know it by comparison, though he does not know the quiddity or essence of the matter.
پس اگر گویی بدانم دور نیست ** ور ندانم گفت کذب و زور نیست
Therefore, if you say “I know,” ’tis not far (from the truth); and if you say, “I do not know,” ’tis not a lie and a falsehood.
گر کسی گوید که دانی نوح را ** آن رسول حق و نور روح را
If some one say (to you), “Do you know Noah, the Messenger of God and the Light of the spirit?”—
گر بگویی چون ندانم کان قمر ** هست از خورشید و مه مشهورتر
And if you reply, “How should not I know (him)? for that (spiritual) Moon is more celebrated than the sun and moon: