که عرض اظهار سر جوهرست ** وصف باقی وین عرض بر معبرست
For its object is to make manifest the inward nature of the spiritual substance: the attributes (of that substance) are permanent, though these accidents (such as acts and words) are fleeting.
این نشان زر نماند بر محک ** زر بماند نیک نام و بی ز شک
The mark of the gold on the touchstone does not remain, (but) the gold (itself) remains—of good renown and undoubted.
این صلات و این جهاد و این صیام ** هم نماند جان بماند نیک‌نام
Similarly, (all) this ritual prayer and holy war and fasting does not remain, but the spirit remains in good renown (for ever).
جان چنین افعال و اقوالی نمود ** بر محک امر جوهر را بسود 250
The spirit produced certain acts and words of this kind (as proofs): it rubbed its substance on the touchstone of the (Divine) command,
As though to say, “My belief is perfect: here is the witness!” (Yes), but there is doubt as regards the witnesses.
تزکیه باید گواهان را بدان ** تزکیش صدقی که موقوفی بدان
Know that the probity of the witnesses must be established: the means of establishing it is a (great) sincerity: thou art dependent on that.
حفظ لفظ اندر گواه قولیست ** حفظ عهد اندر گواه فعلیست
In the case of the word-witness, ’tis keeping thy word (that is the test); in the case of the act-witness, ’tis keeping thy covenant (to perform these acts).
The word-witness is rejected if it speaks falsely, and the act-witness is rejected if it does not run straight.
قول و فعل بی‌تناقض بایدت ** تا قبول اندر زمان بیش آیدت 255
Thou must have words and acts that are not self-contradictory, in order that thou mayst meet with immediate acceptance.
سعیکم شتی تناقض اندرید ** روز می‌دوزید شب بر می‌درید
Your efforts are diverse, ye are in contradiction: ye are sewing by day and tearing up (what ye have sewn) by night.
پس گواهی با تناقض کی شنود ** یا مگر حلمی کند از لطف خود
Who, then, will hearken to testimony that contradicts itself, unless indeed He (the Judge) graciously show a (great) forbearance?
فعل و قول اظهار سرست و ضمیر ** هر دو پیدا می‌کند سر ستیر
Act and word are (for) the manifestation of the inward thought and hidden mind: both are divulging the veiled secret.
چون گواهت تزکیه شد شد قبول ** ورنه محبوس است اندر مول مول
When thy witness has been proved honest, it is accepted; otherwise, it is kept in detention as a prisoner.
تا تو بستیزی ستیزند ای حرون ** فانتظرهم انهم منتظرون 260
O recalcitrant one, so long as thou contendest (with the holy saints) they will contend (with thee). Lie in wait for them, then! Verily, they are lying in wait (for thee).
عرضه کردن مصطفی علیه‌السلام شهادت را بر مهمان خویش
How Mustafá, on whom be peace, offered the Testimony (profession of the Faith) to his guest.
این سخن پایان ندارد مصطفی ** عرضه کرد ایمان و پذرفت آن فتی
This discourse hath no end. Mustafá offered the Faith, and the youth accepted
آن شهادت را که فرخ بوده است ** بندهای بسته را بگشوده است
That Testimony which hath ever been blessed and hath ever loosed the fastbound chains.
گشت مؤمن گفت او را مصطفی ** که امشبان هم باش تو مهمان ما
He became a true believer. Mustafá said to him, “Be my guest to-night also.”
گفت والله تا ابد ضیف توم ** هر کجا باشم بهر جا که روم
“By God,” said he, “I am thy guest unto everlasting. Wheresoever I be, to whatsoever place I go,
زنده کرده و معتق و دربان تو ** این جهان و آن جهان بر خوان تو 265
I am made living by thee and liberated by thee, and am thy doorkeeper (eating) at thy table in this world and in the next.
هر که بگزیند جزین بگزیده خوان ** عاقبت درد گلویش ز استخوان
Whosoever chooses any but this choice table, in the end his gullet will be torn by the bone (of perdition).
هر که سوی خوان غیر تو رود ** دیو با او دان که هم‌کاسه بود
Whosoever goes to the table of any but thee, know that the Devil shares his cup.
هر که از همسایگی تو رود ** دیو بی‌شکی که همسایه‌ش شود
Whosoever departs from thy neighbourhood, without any doubt the Devil will become his neighbour;
ور رود بی‌تو سفر او دوردست ** دیو بد همراه و هم‌سفره‌ی ویست
And if without thee he go on a far journey, the wicked Devil is his fellow-traveller and table-companion;
ور نشیند بر سر اسپ شریف ** حاسد ماهست دیو او را ردیف 270
And if he mount a noble horse, (since) he is envious of the Moon, the Devil sits behind him;
ور بچه گیرد ازو شهناز او ** دیو در نسلش بود انباز او
And if his Shahnáz be got with child by him, the Devil is his partner in begetting it.”
در نبی شارکهم گفتست حق ** هم در اموال و در اولاد ای شفق
O thou that glowest (with faith), God hath said in the Qur’án, “Share with them in their wealth and children.”
گفت پیغامبر ز غیب این را جلی ** در مقالات نوادر با علی
The Prophet, (who drew inspiration) from the Unseen, explained this (matter) clearly in his marvellous discourses with ‘Alí.
یا رسول‌الله رسالت را تمام ** تو نمودی هم‌چو شمس بی‌غمام
“O Prophet of Allah, thou hast displayed (the truth of) thy prophetic mission completely, like the cloudless sun.
این که تو کردی دو صد مادر نکرد ** عیسی از افسونش با عازر نکرد 275
Two hundred mothers never did (to their children) this which thou hast done (to me); Jesus by his (life-giving) spells never did (so much as this) to ‘Ázar (Lazarus).
از تو جانم از اجل نک جان ببرد ** عازر ار شد زنده زان دم باز مرد
Lo, through thee, my soul hath been delivered from death: if ‘Ázar was revived by that breath (of Jesus), yet he died again.”
گشت مهمان رسول آن شب عرب ** شیر یک بز نیمه خورد و بست لب
The Arab became the Prophet's guest that night: he drank half the milk of a single goat and (then) closed his lips.
کرد الحاحش بخور شیر و رقاق ** گفت گشتم سیر والله بی‌نفاق
He (the Prophet) urged him to drink the milk and eat the scones. “By God,” said he, “in all sincerity I have eaten my fill.
این تکلف نیست نی ناموس و فن ** سیرتر گشتم از آنک دوش من
This is not hypocrisy or affectation and artifice: I have become fuller than I was yesternight.”
در عجب ماندند جمله اهل بیت ** پر شد این قندیل زین یک قطره زیت 280
All the people of the (Prophet's) house were left in astonishment (to think that) this lamp had been filled by this one drop of oil,
آنچ قوت مرغ بابیلی بود ** سیری معده‌ی چنین پیلی شود
And that what is (only) a swift's (portion of) food should become the (means of) filling the belly of such an elephant.
فجفجه افتاد اندر مرد و زن ** قدر پشه می‌خورد آن پیل‌تن
Whispering arose amongst the men and women—“That man who has the body of an elephant eats as little as a fly!”
حرص و وهم کافری سرزیر شد ** اژدها از قوت موری سیر شد
The greed and vanity of unbelief was overthrown: the dragon was satisfied with the food of an ant.
آن گدا چشمی کفر از وی برفت ** لوت ایمانیش لمتر کرد و زفت
The beggar-like greediness of unbelief departed from him: the sweet food of the Faith made him stout and strong.
آنک از جوع البقر او می‌طپید ** هم‌چو مریم میوه‌ی جنت بدید 285
He who was quivering from ravenous hunger beheld, like Mary, the fruit of Paradise.
میوه‌ی جنت سوی چشمش شتافت ** معده‌ی چون دوزخش آرام یافت
The fruit of Paradise sped to his body: his Hell-like belly gained repose.
ذات ایمان نعمت و لوتیست هول ** ای قناعت کرده از ایمان به قول
The essence of the Faith is a mighty blessing and exceedingly delicious food, O thou who art content with naught of the Faith but the profession!
بیان آنک نور که غذای جانست غذای جسم اولیا می‌شود تا او هم یار می‌شود روح را کی اسلم شیطانی علی یدی
Explaining that the Light which is the food of the spirit becomes the food of the saint's body, so that it (his body) also becomes friendly with the spirit (according to the saying of the Prophet), “My satan hath accepted Islam at my hands.”
گرچه آن مطعوم جانست و نظر ** جسم را هم زان نصیبست ای پسر
Although that (Light) is the food of the spirit and the (spiritual) sight, the body too partakes of it, O son.
گر نگشتی دیو جسم آن را اکول ** اسلم الشیطان نفرمودی رسول
If the devilish body had not become fond of eating it, the Prophet would not have said, “The devil accepted Islam.”
دیو زان لوتی که مرده حی شود ** تا نیاشامد مسلمان کی شود 290
How should the devil become a Moslem until it drink of the sweet food by which the dead is made living?
دیو بر دنیاست عاشق کور و کر ** عشق را عشقی دگر برد مگر
The devil is passionately in love with the world, blind and deaf; (but this) love, no doubt, may be cut off by another love.
از نهان‌خانه‌ی یقین چون می‌چشد ** اندک‌اندک رخت عشق آنجا کشد
When it tastes the wine from the cellar of clairvoyance, little by little it will transfer its love thither.
یا حریص االبطن عرج هکذا ** انما المنهاج تبدیل الغذا
O thou whose belly is greedy, turn away thus (from the world): the only method is change of food.
یا مریض القلب عرج للعلاج ** جملة التدبیر تبدیل المزاج
O thou whose heart is sick, turn to the remedy: the entire regimen is change of disposition.
ایها المحبوس فی رهن الطعام ** سوف تنجو ان تحملت الفطام 295
O thou who art kept in pawn to food, thou wilt escape if thou suffer thyself to be weaned.
ان فی‌الجوع طعام وافر ** افتقدها وارتج یا نافر
Verily, in hunger there is plenteous food: search after it diligently and cherish the hope (of finding it), O shrinker.