پیش تو آن سنگ‌ریزه ساکتست ** پیش احمد او فصیح و قانتست

To you the gravel is silent; to Ahmad (Mohammed) it is eloquent and making supplication (to God).

پیش تو استون مسجد مرده‌ایست ** پیش احمد عاشقی دل برده‌ایست

To you the pillar of the mosque is a dead thing; to Ahmad it is (like) a lover who has lost his heart.

جمله اجزای جهان پیش عوام ** مرده و پیش خدا دانا و رام 860

To the vulgar all the particles of the world seem dead, but before God they are possessed of knowledge and submissive (to His commands).

آنچ گفتی کاندرین خانه و سرا ** نیست کس چون می‌زنی این طبل را

As for your saying, ‘There is nobody in this house and palace: why art thou beating this drum?’—

بهر حق این خلق زرها می‌دهند ** صد اساس خیر و مسجد می‌نهند

(I reply that) this (Moslem) people are giving (large) sums of gold for God's sake, founding hundreds of pious institutions and mosques,

مال و تن در راه حج دوردست ** خوش همی‌بازند چون عشاق مست

And, like intoxicated lovers, gladly risking their property and lives on their way to (perform) the distant Pilgrimage:

هیچ می‌گویند کان خانه تهیست ** بلک صاحب‌خانه جان مختبیست

Do they ever say, ‘The House (Ka‘ba) is empty’? Nay, (they know that) the Lord of the House is the Spirit invisible.

پر همی‌بیند سرای دوست را ** آنک از نور الهستش ضیا 865

He that is illumined by the Light of God deems the House of the Beloved to be full (of Him).

بس سرای پر ز جمع و انبهی ** پیش چشم عاقبت‌بینان تهی

In the eyes of those who see the end, many a palace filled with a crowd and throng (of people) is empty.

هر که را خواهی تو در کعبه بجو ** تا بروید در زمان او پیش رو

Seek in the (spiritual) Ka‘ba whomsoever you please, that he may at once grow (rise into view) before your face.