خود ملایک نیز ناهمتا بدند ** زین سبب بر آسمان صف صف شدند
Even the angels too were not peers: for this reason they formed diverse ranks in Heaven.
کودکان گرچه به یک مکتب درند ** در سبق هر یک ز یک بالاترند
Children, though they are at one (the same) school, surpass each other in (their) lessons.
مشرقی و مغربی را حسهاست ** منصب دیدار حس چشم‌راست
Sense-perceptions are possessed by Easterner and Westerner, (but) the function of sight belongs to the ocular sense (alone).
صد هزاران گوشها گر صف زنند ** جمله محتاجان چشم روشن‌اند
Though a hundred thousand ears be arrayed in rank, they all are in need of the clear eye.
باز صف گوشها را منصبی ** در سماع جان و اخبار و نبی2020
Again, the ranks of ears have a (special) function in respect of hearing the (words of the) Spirit and the Traditions (of the Prophet) and the Revelation.
صد هزاران چشم را آن راه نیست ** هیچ چشمی از سماع آگاه نیست
A hundred thousand eyes do not possess that avenue (faculty): no eye is acquainted with hearing.
هم‌چنین هر حس یک یک می‌شمر ** هر یکی معزول از آن کار دگر
Similarly, enumerate each sense, one by one: each one is removed from (incapable of doing) the work of another.
پنج حس ظاهر و پنج اندرون ** ده صف‌اند اندر قیام الصافون
The five external and the five internal senses are (arrayed) in ten ranks in the standing posture of the (angels) ranked (for worship of God).
هر کسی کو از صف دین سرکشست ** می‌رود سوی صفی کان واپسست
Any one who (disobediently) draws back from the rank of (the true) religion will go into the rank that is behind.
تو ز گفتار تعالوا کم مکن ** کیمیای بس شگرفست این سخن2025
Do not make little of the (Divine) Word ta‘álaw (come ye): this Word is an exceedingly great elixir.
گر مسی گردد ز گفتارت نفیر ** کیمیا را هیچ از وی وام گیر
If a copper (a base person) turn away in repugnance from your saying (this Word), by no means withhold the elixir from him.
این زمان گر بست نفس ساحرش ** گفت تو سودش کند در آخرش
If his magician-like soul has bound (cast a spell upon) him at the present time, (yet) your saying will profit him in his latter end.
قل تعالوا قل تعالوا ای غلام ** هین که ان الله یدعوا للسلام
O slave (of God), say, Come ye, say, Come ye: take heed, for verily God inviteth unto the (Abode of) Peace.
خواجه باز آ از منی و از سری ** سروری جو کم طلب کن سروری
Then come back, sire, from egoism and headship: seek a leader, do not desire leadership.
اعتراض کردن معترضی بر رسول علیه‌السلام بر امیر کردن آن هذیلی
How an objector objected to the Prophet's—on whom be peace— appointing the man of Hudhayl to be commander.
چون پیمبر سروری کرد از هذیل ** از برای لشکر منصور خیل2030
When the Prophet appointed a leader from (the tribe of) Hudhayl for the army whose troops were Divinely aided,
بوالفضولی از حسد طاقت نداشت ** اعتراض و لانسلم بر فراشت
An insolent fellow, through envy, could not endure (to keep silence): he raised objection and opposition.
خلق را بنگر که چون ظلمانی‌اند ** در متاع فانیی چون فانی‌اند
Behold humankind, how dark (unenlightened) they are, and how they are perishing in (desire for) a perishable piece of goods.
از تکبر جمله اندر تفرقه ** مرده از جان زنده‌اند از مخرقه
On account of pride they all are in separation (from God), dead to the spirit, living in deception.
این عجب که جان به زندان اندرست ** وانگهی مفتاح زندانش به دست
’Tis wonderful that the spirit is in prison, and then (all that time) the key of the prison is in its hand!
پای تا سر غرق سرگین آن جوان ** می‌زند بر دامنش جوی روان2035
That youth (the spirit) is plunged in dung from head to foot, (whilst) the flowing river is (almost) touching his skirt!
دایما پهلو به پهلو بی‌قرار ** پهلوی آرامگاه و پشت‌دار
(He is) always moving restlessly from side to side beside the place of repose and the couch where he might recline!
نور پنهانست و جست و جو گواه ** کز گزافه دل نمی‌جوید پناه
The (Divine) light is hidden, and search is the evidence (of its existence), for the heart (spirit) does not seek shelter in vain.
گر نبودی حبس دنیا را مناص ** نه بدی وحشت نه دل جستی خلاص
If this world's prison had no refuge, neither would there be any feeling of aversion nor would the heart seek release.
وحشتت هم‌چون موکل می‌کشد ** که بجو ای ضال منهاج رشد
Thy aversion is dragging thee along, like a custodian, saying, “O man astray, seek the path of righteousness.”
هست منهاج و نهان در مکمنست ** یافتش رهن گزافه جستنست2040
The path is there, but it is hidden in a secret place: its discovery is in pawn to (involves) seeking in vain (before it can be found).
تفرقه‌جویان جمع اندر کمین ** تو درین طالب رخ مطلوب بین
Separation is secretly in quest of union: in this seeker do thou discern the face of the sought.
مردگان باغ برجسته ز بن ** کان دهنده‌ی زندگی را فهم کن
The dead (trees and plants) of the orchard spring up from the root, saying, “Perceive the Giver of life!”
چشم این زندانیان هر دم به در ** کی بدی گر نیستی کس مژده‌ور
How should the eyes of these prisoners (of the world) be always (fixed) on (what lies) beyond, if there were no bringer of the good news (of deliverance)?
صد هزار آلودگان آب‌جو ** کی بدندی گر نبودی آب جو
How should there be a hundred thousand befouled ones seeking water, if there were no water in the river?
بر زمین پهلوت را آرام نیست ** دان که در خانه لحاف و بستریست2045
(If) there is no rest for thy side upon the earth, (yet) know that there is a coverlet and mattress at home.
بی‌مقرگاهی نباشد بی‌قرار ** بی‌خمار اشکن نباشد این خمار
Without (there being) a resting-place there would not be the restless (seeker); without (there being) that which takes away the headache of intoxication, there would not be this headache.
گفت نه نه یا رسول الله مکن ** سرور لشکر مگر شیخ کهن
He (the objector) said, “Nay, nay, O Messenger of God, do not appoint any but an old Shaykh to be chief of the army.
یا رسول الله جوان ار شیرزاد ** غیر مرد پیر سر لشکر مباد
O Messenger of God, (even) if the youth is lion-born (heroic), may none but an old man be head of the army!
هم تو گفتستی و گفت تو گوا ** پیر باید پیر باید پیشوا
Thou too hast said, and thy word is (a true) witness, ‘The leader must be old, must be old.’
یا رسول‌الله درین لشکر نگر ** هست چندین پیر و از وی پیشتر2050
O Messenger of God, look on this army, (in which) there are so many elders and (persons) superior to him.”
زین درخت آن برگ زردش را مبین ** سیبهای پخته‌ی او را بچین
Do not regard the yellow leaves of this tree, (but) pick its ripe apples.
برگهای زرد او خود کی تهیست ** این نشان پختگی و کاملیست
How, in sooth, are its yellow leaves void (of worth)? This is the sign of maturity and perfection.
برگ زرد ریش و آن موی سپید ** بهر عقل پخته می‌آرد نوید
The yellow leaf of the (elder's) beard and his white hair bring tidings of joy on account of his mature intelligence.
برگهای نو رسیده‌ی سبزفام ** شد نشان آنک آن میوه‌ست خام
The newly-arrived green-coloured leaves signify that this fruit is unripe.
برگ بی‌برگی نشان عارفیست ** زردی زر سرخ رویی صارفیست2055
The provision of leaflessness (spiritual poverty) is the sign of being a gnostic; the yellowness of gold is the (cause of the) money-changer's ruddiness of face (cheerful countenance).
آنک او گل عارضست ار نو خطست ** او به مکتب گاه مخبر نوخطست
If he that (still) is rosy-cheeked has fresh down (on his face), (yet) he has just begun to learn writing in the school of knowledge.
حرفهای خط او کژمژ بود ** مزمن عقلست اگر تن می‌دود
The letters of his handwriting are very crooked (misshapen): he is a cripple in respect of intelligence, though his body moves with agility.
پای پیر از سرعت ار چه باز ماند ** یافت عقل او دو پر بر اوج راند
Although an old man's feet are deprived of rapid movement, his intelligence has gotten two wings and has sped to the zenith.
گر مثل خواهی به جعفر در نگر ** داد حق بر جای دست و پاش پر
If you wish for an example (of this), look at Ja‘far: God gave him wings instead of hands and feet.
بگذر از زر کین سخت شد محتجب ** هم‌چو سیماب این دلم شد مضطرب2060
Cease from (speaking of) gold (pallor), for this topic is recondite: this heart of mine has become agitated like quicksilver.
ز اندرونم صدخموش خوش‌نفس ** دست بر لب می‌زند یعنی که بس
From within me a hundred sweet-breathing silent ones put their hands on their lips, signifying, “It is enough.”
خامشی بحرست و گفتن هم‌چو جو ** بحر می‌جوید ترا جو را مجو
Silence is the sea, and speech is like the river. The sea is seeking thee: do not seek the river.
از اشارتهای دریا سر متاب ** ختم کن والله اعلم بالصواب
Do not turn thy head away from the indications given by the sea: conclude (the subject)—and God best knoweth the right course.
هم‌چنین پیوسته کرد آن بی‌ادب ** پیش پیغامبر سخن زان سرد لب
That irreverent (objector) made no pause in the words (which he poured forth) in this fashion from those cold (insipid) lips (of his) in the presence of the Prophet.
دست می‌دادش سخن او بی‌خبر ** که خبر هرزه بود پیش نظر2065
Words were assisting (did not fail) him, (but) he was ignorant that hearsay (traditional knowledge) is mere babble in the presence of sight (immediate vision).