کاشکی او آشنا ناموختی ** تا طمع در نوح و کشتی دوختی
Would that he (one like Kan‘án) had not learned to swim, so that he might have fixed his hope on Noah and the ark!
کاش چون طفل از حیل جاهل بدی ** تا چو طفلان چنگ در مادر زدی1415
Would that, like a child, he had been ignorant of devices, so that, like children, he might have clung to his mother,
یا به علم نقل کم بودی ملی ** علم وحی دل ربودی از ولی
Or that he had not been filled with traditional knowledge, (but) had carried away from a saint the knowledge divinely revealed to the heart!
با چنین نوری چو پیش آری کتاب ** جان وحی آسای تو آرد عتاب
When you bring forward a book (in rivalry) with such a light (of inspiration), your soul, that resembles inspiration (in its nature), reproaches (you).
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.