(Yet) the intellectual quest, though it be (fine as) pearls and coral, is other than the spiritual quest.
بحث عقلی گر در و مرجان بود ** آن دگر باشد که بحث جان بود
The spiritual quest is on another plane: the spiritual wine has another consistency.
بحث جان اندر مقامی دیگر است ** باده‌‌ی جان را قوامی دیگر است
At the time when the intellectual quest was in keeping (with the circumstances), this ‘Umar was intimate with Bu ’l-Hakam,
آن زمان که بحث عقلی ساز بود ** این عمر با بو الحکم هم راز بود
(But) when ‘Umar went away from intellect towards spirit, Bu ’l-Hakam became Bú Jahl (the father of ignorance) in the case of that (spiritual quest).
چون عمر از عقل آمد سوی جان ** بو الحکم بو جهل شد در حکم آن
He is perfect on the side of sense-perception and understanding, though indeed he is ignorant in regard to the spirit.1505
سوی حس و سوی عقل او کامل است ** گر چه خود نسبت به جان او جاهل است
Know that the quest of the intellect and the senses is (concerned with) effects or secondary causes. The spiritual quest is either wonder or the father of wonder (either wonderful or beyond wonder).
بحث عقل و حس اثر دان یا سبب ** بحث جانی یا عجب یا بو العجب
The illumination of the spirit comes: (then) there remains not, O thou who seekest illumination, conclusion and premise or that which contradicts (a statement) (or) that which renders (its acceptance) necessary,
ضوء جان آمد نماند ای مستضی ** لازم و ملزوم و نافی مقتضی
Because the seer on whom His (God's) Light is dawning is quite independent of the (logical) proof which resembles a (blind man's) staff.
ز آن که بینایی که نورش بازغ است ** از دلیل چون عصا بس فارغ است
Commentary on “And He is with you wheresoever ye be.”
تفسیر و هو معکم أين ما کنتم
Once more we come back to the tale: when, indeed, did we go forth from the tale?
بار دیگر ما به قصه آمدیم ** ما از آن قصه برون خود کی شدیم
If we come to ignorance, that is His prison, and if we come to knowledge, that is His palace;1510
گر به جهل آییم آن زندان اوست ** ور به علم آییم آن ایوان اوست