باز می‌گردند چون استارها ** نور آن خورشید ازین دیوارها
They, the light of that Sun, turn back again, like the stars, from these (bodily) walls.
پرتو خورشید شد وا جایگاه ** ماند هر دیوار تاریک و سیاه
(When) the Sunbeam has gone home, every wall is left dark and black.
آنک کرد او در رخ خوبانت دنگ ** نور خورشیدست از شیشه‌ی سه رنگ
That which made thee amazed at the faces of the fair is the Light of the Sun (reflected) from the three-coloured glass.
شیشه‌های رنگ رنگ آن نور را ** می‌نمایند این چنین رنگین بما
The glasses of diverse hue cause that Light to seem coloured like this to us.
چون نماند شیشه‌های رنگ‌رنگ ** نور بی‌رنگت کند آنگاه دنگ 990
When the many-coloured glasses are no more, then the colourless Light makes thee amazed.
خوی کن بی‌شیشه دیدن نور را ** تا چو شیشه بشکند نبود عمی
Make it thy habit to behold the Light without the glass, in order that when the glass is shattered there may not be blindness (in thee).
قانعی با دانش آموخته ** در چراغ غیر چشم افروخته
Thou art content with knowledge learned (from others): thou hast lit thine eye at another's lamp.
او چراغ خویش برباید که تا ** تو بدانی مستعیری نی‌فتا
He takes away his lamp, that thou mayst know thou art a borrower, not a giver.
گر تو کردی شکر و سعی مجتهد ** غم مخور که صد چنان بازت دهد
If thou hast rendered thanks (to God for what thou hast received) and made the utmost exertion (in doing so), be not grieved (at its loss), for He will give (thee) a hundred such (gifts) in return;
ور نکردی شکر اکنون خون گری ** که شدست آن حسن از کافر بری 995
But if thou hast not rendered thanks, weep (tears of) blood now, for that (spiritual) excellence has become quit of (has abandoned) the ungrateful.
امة الکفران اضل اعمالهم ** امة الایمان اصلح بالهم
He (God) causeth the works of the unbelieving people to be lost; He maketh the state of the believing people to prosper.
گم شد از بی‌شکر خوبی و هنر ** که دگر هرگز نبیند زان اثر
From the ungrateful man (his) excellence and knowledge disappear, so that never again does he see a trace of them.
خویشی و بی‌خویشی و سکر وداد ** رفت زان سان که نیاردشان به یاد
(His feelings of) affinity and non-affinity and gratitude and affection vanish in such wise that he cannot remember them;
که اضل اعمالهم ای کافران ** جستن کامست از هر کام‌ران
For, O ingrates, (the words) He causeth their works to be lost are (signify) the flight of (every) object of desire from every one who has obtained his desire (in this world),
جز ز اهل شکر و اصحاب وفا ** که مریشان راست دولت در قفا 1000
Excepting the thankful and faithful who are attended by fortune.
دولت رفته کجا قوت دهد ** دولت آینده خاصیت دهد
How should the past fortune bestow strength (on its possessors)? ’Tis the future fortune that bestows a special virtue.
قرض ده زین دولت اندر اقرضوا ** تا که صد دولت ببینی پیش رو
In (obedience to the Divine command) “Lend,” make a loan (to God) from this (worldly) fortune, that thou mayst see a hundred fortunes before thy face.
اندکی زین شرب کم کن بهر خویش ** تا که حوض کوثری یابی به پیش
Diminish a little for thine own sake this (eating and) drinking, that thou mayst find in front (of thee) the basin of Kawthar.
جرعه بر خاک وفا آنکس که ریخت ** کی تواند صید دولت زو گریخت
He who poured a draught on the earth of faithfulness, how should the prey, fortune, be able to flee from him?
خوش کند دلشان که اصلح بالهم ** رد من بعد التوی انزالهم 1005
He (God) gladdens their hearts, for He maketh their state to prosper: He restoreth their (worldly) entertainment after they have perished.
ای اجل وی ترک غارت‌ساز ده ** هر چه بردی زین شکوران باز ده
(He says), “O Death, O Turcoman who plunderest the village, give back whatsoever thou hast taken from these thankful ones.”
وا دهد ایشان بنپذیرند آن ** زانک منعم گشته‌اند از رخت جان
He (Death) gives it back; (but) they will not receive it, for they have been endowed with the goods of spiritual life.
صوفییم و خرقه‌ها انداختیم ** باز نستانیم چون در باختیم
(They say), “We are Súfís and have cast off our (bodily) mantles: we will not take (them) back after we have gambled (them) away.
ما عوض دیدیم آنگه چون عوض ** رفت از ما حاجت و حرص و غرض
We have seen the recompense (from God)—(and) how (can there be) a (worldly) recompense then (after that)? Want and desire and object are gone from us.
ز آب شور و مهلکی بیرون شدیم ** بر رحیق و چشمه‌ی کوثر زدیم 1010
We have emerged from a briny and destroying water, we have attained to the pure wine (of Paradise) and the fountain of Kawthar.
آنچ کردی ای جهان با دیگران ** بی‌وفایی و فن و ناز گران
O World, that which thou hast shown unto others—faithlessness and deceit and grievous pride—
بر سرت ریزیم ما بهر جزا ** که شهیدیم آمده اندر غزا
We pour (it all) on thy head in repayment, for we are martyrs come to war (against thee).”
تا بدانی که خدای پاک را ** بندگان هستند پر حمله و مری
(This is) in order that you may know that the Holy God hath servants impetuous and combative,
سبلت تزویر دنیا بر کنند ** خیمه را بر باروی نصرت زنند
(Who) tear out the moustache of worldly hypocrisy and pitch their tents on the rampart of (Divine) aid.
این شهیدان باز نو غازی شدند ** وین اسیران باز بر نصرت زدند 1015
These martyrs have become warriors anew, and these captives have gained the victory once more;
سر برآوردند باز از نیستی ** که ببین ما را گر اکمه نیستی
They have lifted up their heads again from non-existence, saying, “Behold us if thou art not blind from birth,”
تا بدانی در عدم خورشیدهاست ** وآنچ اینجا آفتاب آنجا سهاست
That you may know that in non-existence there are suns, and that what is a sun here is (only) a small star yonder.
در عدم هستی برادر چون بود ** ضد اندر ضد چون مکنون بود
How, O brother, is existence (contained) in non-existence? How is opposite concealed in opposite?
یخرج الحی من المیت بدان ** که عدم آمد امید عابدان
He brings forth the living from the dead: know that the hope of (His) worshippers is non-existence.
مرد کارنده که انبارش تهیست ** شاد و خوش نه بر امید نیستیست 1020
The sower whose barn is empty, is not he joyful and happy in hope of non-existence—
که بروید آن ز سوی نیستی ** فهم کن گر واقف معنیستی
(Namely, in the hope) that that (crop) will grow from the quarter of nonexistence? Apprehend (this) if thou art aware of (spiritual) reality.
دم به دم از نیستی تو منتظر ** که بیابی فهم و ذوق آرام و بر
Moment by moment thou art expecting from non-existence to gain understanding and (spiritual) perception and peace and good.
نیست دستوری گشاد این راز را ** ورنه بغدادی کنم ابخاز را
’Tis not permitted to divulge this mystery; else I should make Abkház a Baghdád.
پس خزانه‌ی صنع حق باشد عدم ** که بر آرد زو عطاها دم به دم
Non-existence, then, is God's factory from which He continually produces gifts.
مبدع آمد حق و مبدع آن بود ** که برآرد فرع بی‌اصل و سند 1025
God is the Originator, and an originator is he who produces a branch (derivative) without root (fundamental principle) or support (model).
مثال عالم هست نیست‌نما و عالم نیست هست‌نما
Parable of the world (really) existent that appears non-existent and the world (really) non-existent that appears existent.
نیست را بنمود هست و محتشم ** هست را بنمود بر شکل عدم
He (God) hath caused the non-existent to appear existent and magnificent; He hath caused the existent to appear in the form of non-existence.
بحر را پوشید و کف کرد آشکار ** باد را پوشید و بنمودت غبار
He hath concealed the Sea and made the foam visible; He hath concealed the Wind and displayed to thee the dust.
چون مناره‌ی خاک پیچان در هوا ** خاک از خود چون برآید بر علا
The dust is whirling in the air, (high) as a minaret: how should the dust rise aloft of itself?
خاک را بینی به بالا ای علیل ** باد را نی جز به تعریف دلیل
Thou seest the dust on high, O infirm (of sight): the Wind (thou seest) not, except through knowledge given by induction.
کف همی‌بینی روانه هر طرف ** کف بی‌دریا ندارد منصرف 1030
Thou seest the foam moving in every direction: without the Sea the foam hath no turning-place.
کف به حس بینی و دریا از دلیل ** فکر پنهان آشکارا قال و قیل
Thou seest the foam by sense perception and the Sea by induction: thought is hidden, speech manifest.
نفی را اثبات می‌پنداشتیم ** دیده‌ی معدوم‌بینی داشتیم
We deemed negation to be affirmation: we had an eye that saw (only) the nonexistent.
دیده‌ای که اندر نعاسی شد پدید ** کی تواند جز خیال و نیست دید
The eye that appeared (came into being) in a state of slumber, how should it be able to see aught but phantasy and non-existence?
لاجرم سرگشته گشتیم از ضلال ** چون حقیقت شد نهان پیدا خیال
Necessarily we were bewildered by error, since Reality was hidden and Phantasy visible,
این عدم را چون نشاند اندر نظر ** چون نهان کرد آن حقیقت از بصر 1035
(Wondering) why He (God) set up this non-existence in (full) view and why He caused that Reality to be hidden from sight.