Miracles are not the cause of religious faith; ’tis the scent of homogeneity that attracts (to itself) qualities (of the same kind).
معجزات از بهر قهر دشمنست ** بوی جنسیت پی دل بردنست
Miracles are (wrought) for the purpose of subjugating the foe: the scent of homogeneity is (only) for the winning of hearts.
قهر گردد دشمن اما دوست نی ** دوست کی گردد ببسته گردنی
A foe is subjugated, but not a friend: how should a friend have his neck bound?
اندر آمد او ز خواب از بوی او ** گفت سرگین‌دان درون زین گونه بو
He (Hilál) was awakened from sleep by his (the Prophet's) scent: he said (to himself), “A stable full of dung, and this kind of scent within it!”
از میان پای استوران بدید ** دامن پاک رسول بی‌ندید 1180
(Then) through the legs of the riding-beasts he saw the holy skirt of the peerless Prophet,
پس ز کنج آخر آمد غژغژان ** روی بر پایش نهاد آن پهلوان
And that (spiritual) hero came creeping out of a corner in the stable and laid his face upon his (the Prophet's) feet.
پس پیمبر روی بر رویش نهاد ** بر سر و بر چشم و رویش بوسه داد
Then the Prophet laid his face against his (Hilál's) face and kissed his head and eyes and cheeks.
گفت یا ربا چه پنهان گوهری ** ای غریب عرش چونی خوشتری
“O Lord,” he cried, “what a hidden pearl art thou! How art thou, O heavenly stranger? Art thou better?”
گفت چون باشد خود آن شوریده خواب ** که در آید در دهانش آفتاب
He (Hilál) said, “One whose sleep was disturbed (with grief), how forsooth is he when the Sun (of Prophecy) comes into his mouth?
چون بود آن تشنه‌ای کو گل چرد ** آب بر سر بنهدش خوش می‌برد 1185
The thirsty man who eats clay (to slake his thirst), how is he (when) the Water (of Life) lays him on its head (surface) and bears him happily along?
در بیان آنک مصطفی علیه‌السلام شنید کی عیسی علیه‌السلام بر روی آب رفت فرمود لو ازداد یقینه لمشی علی الهواء
[Explanation of (the following Tradition), that Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, hearing that Jesus, on whom be peace, walked on the water, said, ‘If his faith had increased, he would have walked on the air.’]
هم‌چو عیسی بر سرش گیرد فرات ** که ایمنی از غرقه در آب حیات
(How is he) whom the vast river takes on its head (surface), like Jesus, saying, ‘In the Water of Life thou art safe from drowning’?”
گوید احمد گر یقینش افزون بدی ** خود هوایش مرکب و مامون بدی
Ahmad (Mohammed) says, “Had (his) faith been greater, even the air would have carried him safely,
هم‌چو من که بر هوا راکب شدم ** در شب معراج مستصحب شدم
Like me, who rode upon the air on the night of the Ascension and sought communion (with God).”
گفت چون باشد سگی کوری پلید ** جست او از خواب خود را شیر دید
He (Hilál) said, “How is a blind filthy dog that sprang up from sleep and found itself to be a lion?—
نه چنان شیری که کس تیرش زند ** بل ز بیمش تیغ و پیکان بشکند 1190
Not such a lion as any one could shoot; nay, but (such an one that) by the terror of it sword and javelin would be shattered.
کور بر اشکم رونده هم‌چو مار ** چشمها بگشاد در باغ و بهار
The blind man, (who was) going on his belly, like a snake— (how is he when) he has opened his eyes in the garden and in spring?”
چون بود آن چون که از چونی رهید ** در حیاتستان بی‌چونی رسید
How is the “how” (contingent being) that has been freed from “how-ness” (conditionedness) and has attained unto the abounding life of “how-lessness”?
گشت چونی‌بخش اندر لامکان ** گرد خوانش جمله چونها چون سگان
He has become a dispenser of “how-ness” in the world beyond locality: all “how's” are (gathered) round his table, like dogs.
او ز بی‌چونی دهدشان استخوان ** در جنابت تن زن این سوره مخوان
He gives (throws) to them a bone from (the table of) “how-lessness.” Do thou, (being) in the state of pollution, keep silence: do not recite this Súra (of the Qur’án).
تا ز چونی غسل ناری تو تمام ** تو برین مصحف منه کف ای غلام 1195
Until thou wash thyself entirely clean of “how-ness,” do not put thy hand on this (Holy) Book, O youth.
گر پلیدم ور نظیفم ای شهان ** این نخوانم پس چه خوانم در جهان
Whether I am dirty or clean, O (spiritual) princes, if I do not recite this, then what in the world shall I recite?
تو مرا گویی که از بهر ثواب ** غسل ناکرده مرو در حوض آب
You say to me, “For the sake of the (Divine) reward, do not go into the water-tank without having washed”;
از برون حوض غیر خاک نیست ** هر که او در حوض ناید پاک نیست
(But) outside of the tank there is nothing but earth: no one who does not enter the tank is clean.
گر نباشد آبها را این کرم ** کو پذیرد مر خبث را دم به دم
If the waters have not the grace to receive filth continually,
وای بر مشتاق و بر اومید او ** حسرتا بر حسرت جاوید او 1200
Alas for the longing lover and his hope! Oh, sorrow for his everlasting sorrow!