چون گواهی داد حق که بود ملک ** تا شود اندر گواهی مشترک
Since God hath given testimony, who are the angels, that they should be associated in the testimony?
ز آن که شعشاع حضور آفتاب ** بر نتابد چشم و دلهای خراب
(They are associated) because unsound (weak) eyes and hearts cannot support the radiance and presence of the Sun,
چون خفاشی کاو تف خورشید را ** بر نتابد بگسلد اومید را
Like a bat, which cannot bear the glow of the sun and abandons hope.
پس ملایک را چو ما هم یار دان ** جلوه گر خورشید را بر آسمان
Know, then, that the angels, as we also, are helpers (co-witnesses)—displayers of the sun in heaven—
کاین ضیا ما ز آفتابی یافتیم ** چون خلیفه بر ضعیفان تافتیم3650
Who say, “We have derived (our) light from a Sun, we have shone upon the weak, like vicegerents (of a mighty King).”
چون مه نو یا سه روزه یا که بدر ** مرتبهی هر یک ملک در نور و قدر
Like the new moon or the moon three days old or the full moon, every angel has (a particular) perfection and light and (spiritual) worth.
ز اجنحهی نور ثلاث او رباع ** بر مراتب هر ملک را آن شعاع
Every angel, according to their (different) degrees, has (a portion of) that radiance, consisting of three or four (pairs of) luminous wings,
همچو پرهای عقول انسیان ** که بسی فرق است شان اندر میان
Just as the wings of human intellects, amongst which there is great difference (in quality).
پس قرین هر بشر در نیک و بد ** آن ملک باشد که مانندش بود
Hence the associate of every human being in good and evil is that angel who resembles him or her.
چشم اعمش چون که خور را بر نتافت ** اختر او را شمع شد تا ره بیافت3655
Since the eye of the dim-sighted man could not bear the sunlight, the star became a candle to him, that he might find the way.
گفتن پیغامبر علیه السلام مر زید را که این سر را فاش تر از این مگو و متابعت نگاه دار
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, said to Zayd, “Do not tell this mystery more plainly than this, and take care to comply (with the religious law).”
گفت پیغمبر که اصحابی نجوم ** رهروان را شمع و شیطان را رجوم
The Prophet said, “My Companions are (like) the stars, a candle to travellers (on the Way), and meteors to be cast at the devils.”
هر کسی را گر بدی آن چشم و زور ** کاو گرفتی ز آفتاب چرخ نور
If every one had the eye and the strength to receive light from the sun of heaven,
کی ستاره حاجت استی ای ذلیل ** که بدی بر نور خورشید او دلیل
O base man, how would the star be needed to demonstrate the (existence of) sunlight?
ماه میگوید به خاک و ابر و فی ** من بشر بودم ولی یوحی الی
The Moon (the Prophet) is saying to earth and cloud and shadow, “I was a man, but it is revealed to me (that your God is one God).
چون شما تاریک بودم در نهاد ** وحی خورشیدم چنین نوری بداد3660
Like you, I was dark in my nature: the Sun's revelation gave me such a light as this.
ظلمتی دارم به نسبت با شموس ** نور دارم بهر ظلمات نفوس
I have a certain darkness in comparison with the (spiritual) suns, (but) I have light for the darknesses of (human) souls.
ز آن ضعیفم تا تو تابی آوری ** که نه مرد آفتاب انوری
I am faint (less bright than the Sun) in order that thou mayst be able to bear (my beams), for thou art not the man for (a man who can bear) the most radiant Sun.
همچو شهد و سرکه در هم بافتم ** تا سوی رنج جگر ره یافتم
I was woven (mingled) together, like honey and vinegar, that I might find the way to (cure) sickness of heart.
چون ز علت وارهیدی ای رهین ** سرکه را بگذار و میخور انگبین
Since thou hast recovered from thine illness, O thou (that wert) in thrall (to it), leave the vinegar and continue to eat the honey.”
تخت دل معمور شد پاک از هوا ** بین که الرحمن علی العرش استوی3665
(If) the throne of the heart has become restored to soundness and purged of sensuality, behold how the Merciful God is seated on His Throne.
حکم بر دل بعد از این بیواسطه ** حق کند چون یافت دل این رابطه
After this, God controls the heart without intermediary, since the heart has attained to this relation (with Him).
این سخن پایان ندارد زید کو ** تا دهم پندش که رسوایی مجو
This discourse hath no end. Where is Zayd, that I may counsel him not to seek notoriety?
رجوع به حکایت زید
The (author's) return to the story of Zayd.
زید را اکنون نیابی کاو گریخت ** جست از صف نعال و نعل ریخت
You will not find Zayd now, for he has fled: he has darted away from the shoe-row and dropped his shoes.
تو که باشی زید هم خود را نیافت ** همچو اختر که بر او خورشید تافت
Who are you (that you should hope to find him)? Zayd cannot even find himself, (he has vanished) like the star on which the sun shone.
نی از او نقشی بیابی نی نشان ** نی کهی یابی نه راه کهکشان3670
You will find neither mark nor trace of him, you will not find a straw (star) in the straw-strewn Way (the Milky Way).
شد حواس و نطق با پایان ما ** محو نور دانش سلطان ما
Our senses and finite speech (reason) are obliterated in the light of the knowledge of our (Divine) King.
حسها و عقلهاشان در درون ** موج در موج لدينا محضرون
Their (the God-intoxicated mystics') senses and understandings within (them) are (tossed), wave on wave, in (the sea of) they are assembled before Us.
چون شب آمد باز وقت بار شد ** انجم پنهان شده بر کار شد
When dawn comes, ’tis again the time of (bearing) the burden: the stars, which had become hidden, go (again) to work.
بیهشان را وادهد حق هوشها ** حلقه حلقه حلقهها در گوشها
God gives back to the senseless ones their (lost) senses: (they return to consciousness) troop after troop, with rings (of mystic knowledge) in their ears,
پای کوبان دست افشان در ثنا ** ناز نازان ربنا أحییتنا3675
Dancing, waving their hands in praise (of God), triumphing (and crying), “O Lord, Thou hast brought us to life.”
آن جلود و آن عظام ریخته ** فارسان گشته غبار انگیخته
Those crumbled skins and bones have become (like) horsemen and have raised the dust:
حمله آرند از عدم سوی وجود ** در قیامت هم شکور و هم کنود
At Resurrection both the thankful and the ungrateful rush along from non-existence towards existence.
سر چه میپیچی کنی نادیدهای ** در عدم ز اول نه سرپیچیدهای
Why do you turn away your head and pretend not to see? Did you not turn away your head at first, (when you were) in non-existence (and disbelieved that you would ever come into existence)?
در عدم افشرده بودی پای خویش ** که مرا که بر کند از جای خویش
You had planted your foot (firmly) in non-existence, saying, “Who will uproot me from my place?”
مینبینی صنع ربانیت را ** که کشید او موی پیشانیت را3680
Are not you beholding the action of your Lord, who dragged you (into existence) by the forelock,
تا کشیدت اندر این انواع حال ** که نبودت در گمان و در خیال
Until He drew you into (all) these various states (of being), which were not in your thought or fancy?
آن عدم او را هماره بنده است ** کار کن دیوا سلیمان زنده است
That non-existence is always His slave: work (in His service), O demon! Solomon is living.
دیو میسازد جفان کالجواب ** زهره نی تا دفع گوید یا جواب
The demon is making large bowls like watering-troughs: he dare not say a word in refusal or in retort.
خویش را بین چون همیلرزی ز بیم ** مر عدم را نیز لرزان دان مقیم
Look at yourself, how you are trembling with fear (of non-existence): know that nonexistence also is constantly trembling (lest God should bring it into existence).
ور تو دست اندر مناصب میزنی ** هم ز ترس است آن که جانی میکنی3685
And if you are grasping at (worldly) dignities, ’tis from fear too that you are suffering agony of spirit.
هر چه جز عشق خدای احسن است ** گر شکر خواری است آن جان کندن است
Except love of the most beauteous God everything, though (outwardly) it is (pleasant like) eating sugar, is (in truth) agony of spirit.
چیست جان کندن سوی مرگ آمدن ** دست در آب حیاتی نازدن
What is agony of spirit? To advance towards death and not grasp the Water of Life.
خلق را دو دیده در خاک و ممات ** صد گمان دارند در آب حیات
People fix both their eyes on earth and death: they have a hundred doubts concerning the Water of Life.
جهد کن تا صد گمان گردد نود ** شب برو ور تو بخسبی شب رود
Strive that the hundred doubts may become ninety (may decrease): go (towards God) in the night (of this world), for if you slumber, the night will go (from you).
در شب تاریک جوی آن روز را ** پیش کن آن عقل ظلمت سوز را3690
In the dark night seek that (shining) Day: put in front (follow) the darkness consuming Reason.
در شب بد رنگ بس نیکی بود ** آب حیوان جفت تاریکی بود
In the evil-coloured night there is much good: the Water of Life is the mate of darkness.
سر ز خفتن کی توان برداشتن ** با چنین صد تخم غفلت کاشتن
How is it possible to lift up the head from slumber, whilst you are sowing a hundred such seeds of slothfulness?
خواب مرده لقمهی مرده یار شد ** خواجه خفت و دزد شب بر کار شد
Slumber is dead (unlawful) food is dead; they are friends (to each other): the merchant fell asleep and the night-thief got to work.
تو نمیدانی که خصمانت کیاند ** ناریان خصم وجود خاکیاند
Do you not know who your enemies are? Those made of fire are enemies to the existence of those made of earth.
نار خصم آب و فرزندان اوست ** همچنان که آب خصم جان اوست3695
Fire is the enemy of water and its children, even as water is an enemy to the life of fire.