The sciences of the followers of (external) sense became a muzzle, so that he (the believer in sense-perception) might not receive milk from that sublime knowledge.
علمهای اهل حس شد پوز بند ** تا نگیرد شیر ز آن علم بلند
(But) into the blood-drop (core) of the heart there fell a jewel which He (God) gave not to the seas and skies.
قطرهی دل را یکی گوهر فتاد ** کان به دریاها و گردونها نداد
How long (this regard for) form? After all, O form-worshipper, has thy reality-lacking soul not (yet) escaped from form?
چند صورت آخر ای صورت پرست ** جان بیمعنیت از صورت نرست
If a human being were a man in virtue of form, Ahmad (Mohammed) and Bú Jahl would be just the same.
گر به صورت آدمی انسان بدی ** احمد و بو جهل خود یکسان بدی
The painting on the wall is like Adam: see from the (pictured) form what thing in it is wanting.1020
نقش بر دیوار مثل آدم است ** بنگر از صورت چه چیز او کم است
The spirit is wanting in that resplendent form: go, seek that jewel rarely found!
جان کم است آن صورت با تاب را ** رو بجو آن گوهر کمیاب را
The heads of all the lions in the world were laid low when They (God) gave a hand to (bestowed favour on) the dog of the Companions (of the Cave).
شد سر شیران عالم جمله پست ** چون سگ اصحاب را دادند دست
What loss does it suffer from that abhorred shape, inasmuch as its spirit was plunged in the ocean of light?
چه زیان استش از آن نقش نفور ** چون که جانش غرق شد در بحر نور
’Tis not in pens to describe (the outward) form: (what is written) in letters is (qualities like) “learned” and “just”;
وصف صورت نیست اندر خامهها ** عالم و عادل بود در نامهها
(And qualities like) “learned” and “just” are only the spiritual essence which thou wilt not find in (any) place or in front or behind.1025
عالم و عادل همه معنی است بس ** کش نیابی در مکان و پیش و پس