The Shaykh (‘Umar) was adept and the disciple (the ambassador) eager: the man (rider) was quick (dexterous) and the beast belonged to the royal court (was nobly bred and docile).
شیخ کامل بود و طالب مشتهی ** مرد چابک بود و مرکب درگهی
That spiritual guide (‘Umar) perceived that he (the ambassador) possessed (the capacity for receiving) guidance: he sowed the good seed in the good soil.1445
دید آن مرشد که او ارشاد داشت ** تخم پاک اندر زمین پاک کاشت
How the ambassador of Rúm questioned the Commander of the Faithful, may God be well-pleased with him.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر
The man said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful, how did the spirit come to the earth from above?
مرد گفتش کای امیر المؤمنین ** جان ز بالا چون در آمد در زمین
How did the infinite bird go into the cage?” He replied, “God recited spells and incantations over the spirit.
مرغ بی‌‌اندازه چون شد در قفص ** گفت حق بر جان فسون خواند و قصص
When He recites spells over the non-existences which have no eye or ear, they begin to stir.
بر عدمها کان ندارد چشم و گوش ** چون فسون خواند همی‌‌آید به جوش
Because of His spells the non-existences at that very moment are dancing joyously into existence.
از فسون او عدمها زود زود ** خوش معلق می‌‌زند سوی وجود
When, again, He recited a spell over the existent, at His word the existent marched (back) post-haste into non-existence.1450
باز بر موجود افسونی چو خواند ** زو دو اسبه در عدم موجود راند
He spake into the ear of the rose and made it laughing (blooming); He spake to the stone and made it a cornelian of the mine.
گفت در گوش گل و خندانش کرد ** گفت با سنگ و عقیق کانش کرد
He spake to the body a sign (message), so that it became spirit; He spake to the sun, so that it became radiant.
گفت با جسم آیتی تا جان شد او ** گفت با خورشید تا رخشان شد او
Again He breathes into its ear a fearful saying, and upon the face of the sun fall a hundred eclipses.
باز در گوشش دمد نکته‌‌ی مخوف ** در رخ خورشید افتد صد کسوف