گر ز قرآن نقل خواهی ای حرون ** خوان جمیع هم لدینا محضرون
If you demand a citation from the Qur’án, O recalcitrant, recite all of them shall be brought into Our presence.
محضرون معدوم نبود نیک بین ** تا بقای روحها دانی یقین445
(The person denoted by the word) muhdarún (brought into the presence) is not non-existent (ma‘dúm). Consider (this) well, that you may gain certain knowledge of the everlasting life (baqá) of the spirits.
روح محجوب از بقا بس در عذاب ** روح واصل در بقا پاک از حجاب
The spirit debarred from everlasting life is exceedingly tormented; the spirit united (with God) in everlasting life is free from (every) barrier.
زین چراغ حس حیوان المراد ** گفتمت هان تا نجویی اتحاد
I have told you the purpose of this lamp of animal sense-perception. Beware of seeking to become one (with it in spirit).
روح خود را متصل کن ای فلان ** زود با ارواح قدس سالکان
Make your spirit, O such-and-such, to be united speedily with the holy spirits of the Travellers (on the mystic Way).
صد چراغت ار مرند ار بیستند ** پس جدا اند و یگانه نیستند
Your hundred lamps, then, whether they die (are extinguished) or whether they stand (and burn), are separate (from each other) and are not single.
زان همه جنگند این اصحاب ما ** جنگ کس نشنید اندر انبیا450
On that account these companions of ours are all at war, (but) no one (ever) heard of war amongst the prophets,
زانک نور انبیا خورشید بود ** نور حس ما چراغ و شمع و دود
Because the light of the prophets was the Sun, (while) the light of our senses is lamp and candle and smoke.
یک بمیرد یک بماند تا به روز ** یک بود پژمرده دیگر با فروز
One (of these lamps) dies, one lasts till daybreak; one is dim, another bright.
جان حیوانی بود حی از غذا ** هم بمیرد او بهر نیک و بذی
The animal soul is (kept) alive by nutriment; however good or bad its state may be, it dies all the same.
گر بمیرد این چراغ و طی شود ** خانه‌ی همسایه مظلم کی شود
If this lamp dies and is extinguished, (yet) how should the neighbour's house become dark?
نور آن خانه چو بی این هم به پاست ** پس چراغ حس هر خانه جداست455
Inasmuch as without this (lamp) the light in that house is still maintained, hence (it follows that) the lamp of sense-perception is different in every house.
این مثال جان حیوانی بود ** نه مثال جان ربانی بود
This is a parable of the animal soul, not a parable of the divine soul.
باز از هندوی شب چون ماه زاد ** در سر هر روزنی نوری فتاد
Again, when the moon is born from the Hindú, Night, a light falls upon every window.
نور آن صد خانه را تو یک شمر ** که نماند نور این بی آن دگر
Count the light of those hundred houses as one, for the light of this (house) does not remain (in existence) without (the light of) the other.
تا بود خورشید تابان بر افق ** هست در هر خانه نور او قنق
So long as the sun is shining on the horizon, its light is a guest in every house;
باز چون خورشید جان آفل شود ** نور جمله خانه‌ها زایل شود460
Again, when the spiritual Sun sets, the light in all the houses disappears.
این مثال نور آمد مثل نی ** مر ترا هادی عدو را ره‌زنی
This is (only) a parable of the Light, not a (complete) similitude; for you (it is) a true guide, for the enemy (of the Light) a highwayman.
بر مثال عنکبوت آن زشت‌خو ** پرده‌های گنده را بر بافد او
That evil-natured person resembles the spider: he weaves stinking veils (cobwebs).
از لعاب خویش پرده‌ی نور کرد ** دیده‌ی ادراک خود را کور کرد
Of his own gossamer he made a veil over the Light: he made the eye of his apprehension blind.