ور بگویی من چه دانم نوح را ** همچو اویی داند او را ای فتی
And if you reply, “How should I know Noah? (Only) one like him can know him, O youth.
مور لنگم من چه دانم فیل را ** پشهای کی داند اسرافیل را
I am a lame ant. How should I know the elephant? How should a gnat know Isráfíl?”—
این سخن هم راستست از روی آن ** که بماهیت ندانیش ای فلان
This saying (answer) is also true in regard to the fact that you do not know him in his quiddity, O so-and-so.
عجز از ادراک ماهیت عمو ** حالت عامه بود مطلق مگو3650
To be unable to perceive the quiddity, uncle, is the condition of common men: do not say it absolutely,
زانک ماهیات و سر سر آن ** پیش چشم کاملان باشد عیان
Inasmuch as quiddities and their inmost secret are clearly visible to the eyes of the Perfect.
در وجود از سر حق و ذات او ** دورتر از فهم و استبصار کو
Where in existence is (anything) more remote from understanding and mental perception than the consciousness and essence of God?
چونک آن مخفی نماند از محرمان ** ذات و وصفی چیست کان ماند نهان
Since that does not remain hidden from (His) familiars, what is the essence and attribute that should remain concealed?
عقل بحثی گوید این دورست و گو ** بی ز تاویل محالی کم شنو
The intellect of the scholastic theologian says, “This is far (from reasonable) and deeply involved (in error): do not listen to an absurdity without some explanation.”
قطب گوید مر ترا ای سستحال ** آنچ فوق حال تست آید محال3655
The Qutb (the Head of the Saints) replies, “To thee, O infirm one, that which is above thy (spiritual) state seems absurd.”
واقعاتی که کنونت بر گشود ** نه که اول هم محالت مینمود
The visions which are now revealed to you, is it not the case that at first they seemed absurd to you?
چون رهانیدت ز ده زندان کرم ** تیه را بر خود مکن حبس ستم
Inasmuch as the (Divine) Bounty has released you from ten prisons, do not make the (wide) desert an oppressive prison to yourself.
جمع و توفیق میان نفی و اثبات یک چیز از روی نسبت و اختلاف جهت
How the negation and affirmation of one (and the same) thing may be combined and reconciled from the standpoint of relativity and difference of aspect.
نفی آن یک چیز و اثباتش رواست ** چون جهت شد مختلف نسبت دوتاست
It is possible to deny and affirm the same thing: when the point of view is different, the relation is twofold.
ما رمیت اذ رمیت از نسبتست ** نفی و اثباتست و هر دو مثبتست
(The text) thou didst not throw when thou threwest is relative: it is negation and affirmation: both are authorised.
آن تو افکندی چو بر دست تو بود ** تو نه افکندی که قوت حق نمود3660
Thou threwest that (gravel), since it was on thy hand; thou didst not throw, for God manifested (His) power.
زور آدمزاد را حدی بود ** مشت خاک اشکست لشکر کی شود
The strength of one born of Adam has a limit: how should a handful of earth become (the cause of) the rout of an army?
مشت مشت تست و افکندن ز ماست ** زین دو نسبت نفی و اثباتش رواست
“(O Mohammed), the handful is thy handful, and the throwing is from Me”: on account of these two relations (both) the denial and the affirmation of it (the throwing) are right.
یعرفون الانبیا اضدادهم ** مثل ما لا یشتبه اولادهم
The prophets are known by their enemies, just as their (the enemies') children are not doubtful (to their parents).
همچو فرزندان خود دانندشان ** منکران با صد دلیل و صد نشان
The unbelievers know them (the prophets) as (they know) their children by a hundred indications and a hundred signs,
لیک از رشک و حسد پنهان کنند ** خویشتن را بر ندانم میزنند3665
But, from jealousy and envy, they conceal (their knowledge) and attach themselves to (become addicted to saying) “I do not know.”
پس چو یعرف گفت چون جای دگر ** گفت لایعرفهم غیری فذر
Then, since He (God) hath said, “He (the unbeliever) knows,” how hath He said in another place?—“None knoweth them except Me, so leave off (seeking to know them);
انهم تحت قبابی کامنون ** جز که یزدانشان نداند ز آزمون
Verily, they are hidden beneath My tents.” None knows them by (immediate) experience except God.
هم بنسبت گیر این مفتوح را ** که بدانی و ندانی نوح را
Regard also as (explicable) by means of relation this (subject) which was opened (above), (namely) that you know and do not know Noah.
مسلهی فنا و بقای درویش
The question of the faná and baqá of the dervish.
گفت قایل در جهان درویش نیست ** ور بود درویش آن درویش نیست
The speaker said, “There is no dervish in the world; and if there be a dervish, that dervish is (really) non-existent.”
هست از روی بقای ذات او ** نیست گشته وصف او در وصف هو3670
He exists in respect of the survival of his essence, (but) his attributes have become non-existent in the attributes of Him (God).
چون زبانهی شمع پیش آفتاب ** نیست باشد هست باشد در حساب
Like the flame of a candle in the presence of the sun, he is (really) non-existent, (though he is) existent in (formal) calculation.