بشنو از اخبار آن صدر الصدور ** لا صلاة تم الا بالحضور

Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”

گر نه موشی دزد در انبار ماست ** گندم اعمال چل ساله کجاست‌‌

If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?

ریزه ریزه صدق هر روزه چرا ** جمع می‌‌ناید در این انبار ما

Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?

بس ستاره‌‌ی آتش از آهن جهید ** و ان دل سوزیده پذرفت و کشید

Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;

لیک در ظلمت یکی دزدی نهان ** می‌‌نهد انگشت بر استارگان‌‌ 385

But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,

می‌‌کشد استارگان را یک به یک ** تا که نفروزد چراغی از فلک‌‌

Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.

گر هزاران دام باشد در قدم ** چون تو با مایی نباشد هیچ غم‌‌

Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.

هر شبی از دام تن ارواح را ** می‌‌رهانی می‌‌کنی الواح را

Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).

می‌‌رهند ارواح هر شب زین قفس ** فارغان، نه حاکم و محکوم کس‌‌

The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.

شب ز زندان بی‌‌خبر زندانیان ** شب ز دولت بی‌‌خبر سلطانیان‌‌ 390

At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power.

نه غم و اندیشه‌‌ی سود و زیان ** نه خیال این فلان و آن فلان‌‌

There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.

حال عارف این بود بی‌‌خواب هم ** گفت ایزد هم رقود زین مرم‌‌

This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.

خفته از احوال دنیا روز و شب ** چون قلم در پنجه‌‌ی تقلیب رب‌‌

He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.

آن که او پنجه نبیند در رقم ** فعل پندارد به جنبش از قلم‌‌

One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.

شمه‌‌ای زین حال عارف وانمود ** خلق را هم خواب حسی در ربود 395

He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the intellect too is carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses.

رفته در صحرای بی‌‌چون جانشان ** روحشان آسوده و ابدانشان‌‌

Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;

وز صفیری باز دام اندر کشی ** جمله را در داد و در داور کشی‌‌

And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare, leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.

فالق الإصباح اسرافیل‌‌وار ** جمله را در صورت آرد ز ان دیار

Like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the world of) form.

روحهای منبسط را تن کند ** هر تنی را باز آبستن کند

He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).

اسب جانها را کند عاری ز زین ** سر النوم اخ الموت است این‌‌ 400

He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the inner meaning of “Sleep is the brother of Death”;

لیک بهر آن که روز آیند باز ** بر نهد بر پایشان بند دراز

But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts a long tether on their leg,

تا که روزش واکشد ز ان مرغزار ** وز چراگاه آردش در زیر بار

So that in the daytime He may lead it back from that meadow and bring it from the pasture (to go) under the load.

کاش چون اصحاب کهف این روح را ** حفظ کردی یا چو کشتی نوح را

Would that He had guarded this spirit as the Men of the Cave or as the Ark of Noah,

تا از این طوفان بیداری و هوش ** وارهیدی این ضمیر چشم و گوش‌‌

That this mind and eye and ear might be delivered from the Flood of wakefulness and consciousness!

ای بسی اصحاب کهف اندر جهان ** پهلوی تو پیش تو هست این زمان‌‌ 405

Oh, in the world there is many a Man of the Cave beside you, before you, at this time: