گر نباشد فعل خلق اندر میان ** پس مگو کس را چرا کردی چنان
If the action of created beings be not in the midst (obviously existent), then say not to any one, “Why have you acted thus?
خلق حق افعال ما را موجد است ** فعل ما آثار خلق ایزد است
The creative act of God brings our actions into existence: our actions are the effects of the creative act of God.
ناطقی یا حرف بیند یا غرض ** کی شود یک دم محیط دو عرض
A rational being perceives either the letter (the outer sign) or the (inner) purpose (the spirit): how should he comprehend two accidents at once?
گر به معنی رفت شد غافل ز حرف ** پیش و پس یک دم نبیند هیچ طرف
If he goes (turns his mind) to the spirit, he becomes unheedful of the letter: no eye sees forward and backward at the same moment.
آن زمان که پیش بینی آن زمان ** تو پس خود کی ببینی این بدان1485
At the time when you look in front, how at the same time can you look behind you? Recognise this.
چون محیط حرف و معنی نیست جان ** چون بود جان خالق این هر دوان
Inasmuch as the soul does not comprehend (both) the letter and the spirit, how should the soul be the creator of them both?
حق محیط جمله آمد ای پسر ** وا ندارد کارش از کار دگر
O son, (only) God comprehends all: the (one) action does not hinder Him from the other action.
گفت شیطان که بما أغویتنی ** کرد فعل خود نهان دیو دنی
Satan said Because Thou hast seduced me: the vile Devil concealed his own act.
گفت آدم که ظلمنا نفسنا ** او ز فعل حق نبد غافل چو ما
Adam said We have done wrong unto ourselves: he was not, like us, unheedful of the action of God.
در گنه او از ادب پنهانش کرد ** ز آن گنه بر خود زدن او بر بخورد1490
From respect he concealed it (the action of God) in (regard to) the sin: by casting the sin upon himself he ate fruit (was blessed).
بعد توبه گفتش ای آدم نه من ** آفریدم در تو آن جرم و محن
After his repentance, He (God) said to him, “O Adam, did not I create in thee that sin and (those) tribulations?
نه که تقدیر و قضای من بد آن ** چون به وقت عذر کردی آن نهان
Was it not My foreordainment and destiny? How didst thou conceal that at the time of excusing thyself?”
گفت ترسیدم ادب نگذاشتم ** گفت هم من پاس آنت داشتم
He (Adam) said, “I was afraid, (so) I did not let respect go (did not fail to observe due respect).” He (God) said, “I too have observed it towards thee.”
هر که آرد حرمت او حرمت برد ** هر که آرد قند لوزینه خورد
طیبات از بهر که للطیبین ** یار را خوش کن برنجان و ببین1495
For whom are the good women? For the good men. Make thy friend pleased (with thee); offend (him) and see (what will happen).
یک مثال ای دل پی فرقی بیار ** تا بدانی جبر را از اختیار
O heart, bring (forward) a parable for the sake of (illustrating) a difference, that thou mayst know (what distinguishes) compulsion from freewill.
دست کان لرزان بود از ارتعاش ** و آن که دستی را تو لرزانی ز جاش
(Take the case of) a hand that is shaking from (morbid or involuntary) tremor and (the case of) a person whose hand you cause to shake (by knocking it away) from its place.
هر دو جنبش آفریده‌‌ی حق شناس ** لیک نتوان کرد این با آن قیاس
Know that both (these) movements are created by God, but it is impossible to compare the latter with the former.
ز آن پشیمانی که لرزانیدی‌‌اش ** مرتعش را کی پشیمان دیدی‌‌اش
You are sorry for having caused it (his hand) to shake: when did you see the man afflicted with (a morbid) tremor (to be) sorry?
بحث عقل است این چه عقل آن حیله‌‌گر ** تا ضعیفی ره برد آن جا مگر1500
This is the intellectual quest— (but) what (sort of) intellect is that ingenious one? (The object of its quest is) perchance (by its means) a man of weak understanding may find his way to that place (gain some idea of the truth).
بحث عقلی گر در و مرجان بود ** آن دگر باشد که بحث جان بود
(Yet) the intellectual quest, though it be (fine as) pearls and coral, is other than the spiritual quest.
بحث جان اندر مقامی دیگر است ** باده‌‌ی جان را قوامی دیگر است
The spiritual quest is on another plane: the spiritual wine has another consistency.
آن زمان که بحث عقلی ساز بود ** این عمر با بو الحکم هم راز بود
At the time when the intellectual quest was in keeping (with the circumstances), this ‘Umar was intimate with Bu ’l-Hakam,
چون عمر از عقل آمد سوی جان ** بو الحکم بو جهل شد در حکم آن
(But) when ‘Umar went away from intellect towards spirit, Bu ’l-Hakam became Bú Jahl (the father of ignorance) in the case of that (spiritual quest).
سوی حس و سوی عقل او کامل است ** گر چه خود نسبت به جان او جاهل است1505
He is perfect on the side of sense-perception and understanding, though indeed he is ignorant in regard to the spirit.
بحث عقل و حس اثر دان یا سبب ** بحث جانی یا عجب یا بو العجب
Know that the quest of the intellect and the senses is (concerned with) effects or secondary causes. The spiritual quest is either wonder or the father of wonder (either wonderful or beyond wonder).
ضوء جان آمد نماند ای مستضی ** لازم و ملزوم و نافی مقتضی
The illumination of the spirit comes: (then) there remains not, O thou who seekest illumination, conclusion and premise or that which contradicts (a statement) (or) that which renders (its acceptance) necessary,
ز آن که بینایی که نورش بازغ است ** از دلیل چون عصا بس فارغ است
Because the seer on whom His (God's) Light is dawning is quite independent of the (logical) proof which resembles a (blind man's) staff.
تفسیر و هو معکم أين ما کنتم
Commentary on “And He is with you wheresoever ye be.”
بار دیگر ما به قصه آمدیم ** ما از آن قصه برون خود کی شدیم
Once more we come back to the tale: when, indeed, did we go forth from the tale?
گر به جهل آییم آن زندان اوست ** ور به علم آییم آن ایوان اوست1510
If we come to ignorance, that is His prison, and if we come to knowledge, that is His palace;
ور به خواب آییم مستان وی‌‌ایم ** ور به بیداری به دستان وی‌‌ایم
And if we come to sleep, we are His intoxicated ones; and if to wakefulness, we are in His hands;
ور بگرییم ابر پر زرق وی‌‌ایم ** ور بخندیم آن زمان برق وی‌‌ایم
And if we weep, we are His cloud shedding rain-drops abundantly; and if we laugh, at that time we are His lightning;
ور به خشم و جنگ عکس قهر اوست ** ور به صلح و عذر عکس مهر اوست
And if (we come) to wrath and war, ’tis the reflexion of His Might; and if to peace and forgiveness, ’tis the reflexion of His Love.
ما که‌‌ایم اندر جهان پیچ پیچ ** چون الف او خود چه دارد هیچ هیچ
Who are we? In this tangled (complex) world what (thing other than He) indeed hath He (who is single) like alif? Nothing, nothing.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر از سبب ابتلای ارواح با این آب و گل اجساد
How the ambassador asked ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, concerning the cause of the tribulation suffered by spirits in this clay of the body.
گفت یا عمر چه حکمت بود و سر ** حبس آن صافی در این جای کدر1515
He said, “O ‘Umar, what was the wisdom and mystery of imprisoning that pure one (the spirit) in this dirty place?
آب صافی در گلی پنهان شده ** جان صافی بسته‌‌ی ابدان شده
The pure water has become hidden in mud: the pure spirit has become bound in bodies.”
گفت تو بحثی شگرفی می‌‌کنی ** معنیی را بند حرفی می‌‌کنی
He (‘Umar) said, “Thou art making a profound inquiry, thou art confining a meaning in a word.
حبس کردی معنی آزاد را ** بند حرفی کرده ای تو یاد را
Thou hast imprisoned the free (unconditioned) meaning, thou hast bound the wind in a word.
از برای فایده این کرده‌‌ای ** تو که خود از فایده در پرده‌‌ای
This thou hast done for a benefit (good purpose), O thou who thyself art blind to the benefit (good purpose) of God.
آن که از وی فایده زاییده شد ** چون نبیند آن چه ما را دیده شد1520
He from whom (every) benefit was born, how should He not see that which was seen by us?
صد هزاران فایده ست و هر یکی ** صد هزاران پیش آن یک اندکی
There are myriads of benefits, and every myriad is (but) a few beside that one.
آن دم نطقت که جزو جزوهاست ** فایده شد کل کل خالی چراست
The breath of thy speech, which is a part of the parts (bodily members), became beneficial: why (then) is the whole of the whole (the universal connexion of spirit and body) devoid (of benefit)?
تو که جزوی کار تو با فایده ست ** پس چرا در طعن کل آری تو دست
Thou who art a part—thy act (of speaking) is beneficial: why (then) dost thou lift thy hand to assail the whole?
گفت را گر فایده نبود مگو ** ور بود هل اعتراض و شکر جو
If there is no benefit in speech, do not speak; and if there is, leave off making objections, and endeavour to give thanks.”
شکر یزدان طوق هر گردن بود ** نه جدال و رو ترش کردن بود1525
Thanksgiving to God is a collar on every neck (every one's duty); it is not (thanksgiving) to dispute and make one's face look sour.
گر ترش رو بودن آمد شکر و بس ** پس چو سرکه شکر گویی نیست کس
If thanksgiving is only to look sour, then there is no thanks-giver like vinegar.
سرکه را گر راه باید در جگر ** گو بشو سرکنگبین او از شکر
If vinegar wants (to find) the way to the liver, let it become oxymel by (being mixed with) sugar.
معنی اندر شعر جز با خبط نیست ** چون قلاسنگ است اندر ضبط نیست
The meaning in poetry has no sureness of direction: it is like the sling, it is not under control.
در معنی آن که من أراد أن یجلس مع الله فلیجلس مع أهل التصوف
On the inner sense of “Let him who desires to sit with God sit with the Súfís.”
آن رسول از خود بشد زین یک دو جام ** نه رسالت یاد ماندش نه پیام
The ambassador became beside himself from these one or two cups (of spiritual discourse): neither embassage nor message remained in his memory.
واله اندر قدرت الله شد ** آن رسول اینجا رسید و شاه شد1530
He became distraught at the power of God. The ambassador arrived at this place (state) and became a king.