سنگ بر آهن زنی بیرون جهد ** هم به امر حق قدم بیرون نهد

سنگ بر آهن زنی بیرون جهد ** هم به امر حق قدم بیرون نهد 840

If you strike stone on iron, it (the fire) leaps out: ’tis by God's command that it puts forth its foot.

آهن و سنگ ستم بر هم مزن ** کاین دو می‌‌زایند همچون مرد و زن‌‌

Do not strike together the iron and stone of injustice, for these two generate like man and woman.

سنگ و آهن خود سبب آمد و لیک ** تو به بالاتر نگر ای مرد نیک‌‌

The stone and the iron are indeed causes, but look higher, O good man!

کاین سبب را آن سبب آورد پیش ** بی‌‌سبب کی شد سبب هرگز ز خویش‌‌

For this (external) cause was produced by that (spiritual) cause: when did a cause ever proceed from itself without a cause?

و آن سببها کانبیا را رهبر است ** آن سببها زین سببها برتر است‌‌

And those causes which guide the prophets on their way are higher than these (external) causes.

این سبب را آن سبب عامل کند ** باز گاهی بی‌‌بر و عاطل کند 845

That (spiritual) cause makes this (external) cause operative; sometimes, again, it makes it fruitless and ineffectual.

این سبب را محرم آمد عقلها ** و آن سببها راست محرم انبیا

(Ordinary) minds are familiar with this (external) cause, but the prophets are familiar with those (spiritual) causes.

این سبب چه بود به تازی گو رسن ** اندر این چه این رسن آمد به فن‌‌

What is (the meaning of) this (word) “cause” (sabab) in Arabic? Say: “cord” (rasan). This cord came into this well (the world) by (Divine) artifice.

گردش چرخه رسن را علت است ** چرخه گردان را ندیدن زلت است‌‌

The revolution of the water-wheel causes the cord (to move), (but) not to see the mover of the water-wheel is an error.

این رسنهای سببها در جهان ** هان و هان زین چرخ سر گردان مدان‌‌

Beware, beware! Do not regard these cords of causation in the world as (deriving their movement) from the giddy wheel (of heaven),

تا نمانی صفر و سر گردان چو چرخ ** تا نسوزی تو ز بی‌‌مغزی چو مرخ‌‌ 850

Lest you remain empty and giddy like the (celestial) wheel, lest through brainlessness you burn like markh wood.

باد آتش می‌‌خورد از امر حق ** هر دو سر مست آمدند از خمر حق‌‌

By the command of God the wind devours (extinguishes) fire: both are drunken with the wine of God.

آب حلم و آتش خشم ای پسر ** هم ز حق بینی چو بگشایی بصر

O son, when you open your eyes you will see that from God too are the water of clemency and the fire of anger.

گر نبودی واقف از حق جان باد ** فرق کی کردی میان قوم عاد

Had not the soul of the wind been informed by God, how would it have distinguished (the believers and unbelievers) amongst the people of ‘Ád?

قصه‌‌ی باد که در عهد هود علیه السلام قوم عاد را هلاک کرد

The story of the wind which destroyed the people of ‘Ád in the time of (the prophet) Húd, on whom be peace.

هود گرد مومنان خطی کشید ** نرم می‌‌شد باد کانجا می‌‌رسید

Húd drew a line round the believers: the wind would become soft (subside) when it reached that place,

هر که بیرون بود ز آن خط جمله را ** پاره پاره می‌‌گسست اندر هوا 855

(Although) it was dashing to pieces in the air all who were outside of the line.

همچنین شیبان راعی می‌‌کشید ** گرد بر گرد رمه خطی پدید

Likewise Shaybán the shepherd used to draw a visible line round his flock

چون به جمعه می‌‌شد او وقت نماز ** تا نیارد گرگ آن جا ترک تاز

Whenever he went to the Friday service at prayer-time, in order that the wolf might not raid and ravage there:

هیچ گرگی در نرفتی اندر آن ** گوسفندی هم نگشتی ز آن نشان‌‌

No wolf would go into that (circle), nor would any sheep stray beyond that mark;

باد حرص گرگ و حرص گوسفند ** دایره‌‌ی مرد خدا را بود بند

The wind of the wolf's and sheeps' concupiscence was barred because of (by) the circle of the man of God.

همچنین باد اجل با عارفان ** نرم و خوش همچون نسیم یوسفان‌‌ 860

Even so, to those who know God (‘árifán) the wind of Death is soft and pleasant as the breeze (that wafts the scent) of (loved) ones like Joseph.

آتش ابراهیم را دندان نزد ** چون گزیده‌‌ی حق بود چونش گزد

The fire did not set its teeth in Abraham: how should it bite him, since he is the chosen of God?

ز آتش شهوت نسوزد اهل دین ** باقیان را برده تا قعر زمین‌‌

The religious are not burned by the fire of lust which bore all the rest down to the bottom of the earth.

موج دریا چون به امر حق بتاخت ** اهل موسی را ز قبطی واشناخت‌‌

The waves of the sea, when they charged on by God's command, discriminated the people of Moses from the Egyptians.

خاک قارون را چو فرمان در رسید ** با زر و تختش به قعر خود کشید

The earth, when the (Divine) command came, drew Qárún (Korah) with his gold and throne into its lowest depth.