گفت پیغمبر که حق فرموده است ** من نگنجم هیچ در بالا و پست‌‌

The Prophet said that God has said, ‘I am not contained at all in “high” and “low” (spatial dimensions);

در زمین و آسمان و عرش نیز ** من نگنجم این یقین دان ای عزیز

I am not contained in earth or heaven or even in the empyrean—know this for certain, O noble one;

در دل مومن بگنجم ای عجب ** گر مرا جویی در آن دلها طلب‌‌ 2655

(But) I am contained in the true believer's heart: oh, how wonderful! If thou seekest Me, search in those hearts.’

گفت ادخل فی عبادی تلتقی ** جنة من رؤیتی یا متقی‌‌

He (God) said (also), ‘Enter among My servants, thou wilt meet with a Paradise (consisting) of vision of Me, O God-fearing one.’

عرش با آن نور با پهنای خویش ** چون بدید آن را برفت از جای خویش‌‌

The empyrean, notwithstanding its wide (far-extending) light, when it beheld that (spirit of Adam), was confounded.

خود بزرگی عرش باشد بس مدید ** لیک صورت کیست چون معنی رسید

Truly, the magnitude of the empyrean is very great, but who (what) is form when reality has arrived?

هر ملک می‌‌گفت ما را پیش از این ** الفتی می‌‌بود بر گرد زمین‌‌

Every angel was saying (to Adam), ‘Before this (time) we had a friendship (with thee) on the face of the earth.

تخم خدمت بر زمین می‌‌کاشتیم ** ز آن تعلق ما عجب می‌‌داشتیم‌‌ 2660

On the earth we were sowing the seed of service (worship): we were marveling at that connexion,

کاین تعلق چیست با این خاکمان ** چون سرشت ما بده ست از آسمان‌‌

Marvelling what connexion we had with this dust, inasmuch as our nature is of heaven.

الف ما انوار با ظلمات چیست ** چون تواند نور با ظلمات زیست‌‌

(We said), Why (this) friendship in us, who are light, with darkness? How can light live with darkness?

آدما آن الف از بوی تو بود ** ز آن که جسمت را زمین بد تار و پود

O Adam, that friendship was owing to the scent of thee, because earth was the woof and warp of thy body.

جسم خاکت را از اینجا بافتند ** نور پاکت را در اینجا یافتند

From this place (the earth) thy earthly body was woven, in this place thy pure light was found.

این که جان ما ز روحت یافته ست ** پیش پیش از خاک آن می‌‌تافته ست‌‌ 2665

This (light) that our souls have obtained from thy spirit shone erstwhile from the dust.

در زمین بودیم و غافل از زمین ** غافل از گنجی که در وی بد دفین‌‌

We were in the earth, and heedless of the earth, heedless of the treasure that lay buried there.

چون سفر فرمود ما را ز آن مقام ** تلخ شد ما را از آن تحویل کام‌‌

When He (God) bade us journey from that place of abode our palates were soured (we were bitterly grieved) by the change,

تا که حجتها همی‌‌گفتیم ما ** که بجای ما کی آید ای خدا

So that we were arguing (and saying), ‘O God, who will come in our stead?

نور این تسبیح و این تهلیل را ** می‌‌فروشی بهر قال و قیل را

Wilt Thou sell the splendour of the praise with which we glorify and magnify Thee for babble and palaver?’

حکم حق گسترد بهر ما بساط ** که بگویید از طریق انبساط 2670

The decree of God spread for us the carpet (of indulgence), (and He said), ‘Speak ye, in the way of boldness

هر چه آید بر زبانتان بی‌‌حذر ** همچو طفلان یگانه با پدر

(And) without fear, whatever comes upon your tongues, like only children with their father;

ز آن که این دمها چه گر نالایق است ** رحمت من بر غضب هم سابق است‌‌

For what if these words (of yours) are unseemly? My mercy likewise is prior (superior) to My wrath.

از پی اظهار این سبق ای ملک ** در تو بنهم داعیه‌‌ی اشکال و شک‌‌

In order to manifest this priority, O angel, I will put in thee incitement to perplexity and doubt,

تا بگویی و نگیرم بر تو من ** منکر حلمم نیارد دم زدن‌‌

That thou mayst speak and I not take offence at thee, (so that) none who denies My clemency may dare to utter a word.

صد پدر صد مادر اندر حلم ما ** هر نفس زاید در افتد در فنا 2675

Within My (infinite) clemency (the clemencies of) a hundred fathers and a hundred mothers at every moment are born and vanish.

حلم ایشان کف بحر حلم ماست ** کف رود آید ولی دریا به جاست‌‌

Their clemency is (but) the foam of the sea of My clemency: the foam comes and goes, but the sea is (always) there.’’

خود چه گویم پیش آن در این صدف ** نیست الا کف کف کف کف‌‌

What indeed shall I say? Compared with that pearl (Divine clemency) this oyster-shell (human clemency) is naught but the foam of the foam of the foam of foam.