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
And if we come to sleep, we are His intoxicated ones; and if to wakefulness, we are in His hands;
ور به خواب آییم مستان وی‌‌ایم ** ور به بیداری به دستان وی‌‌ایم
And if we weep, we are His cloud shedding rain-drops abundantly; and if we laugh, at that time we are His lightning;
ور بگرییم ابر پر زرق وی‌‌ایم ** ور بخندیم آن زمان برق وی‌‌ایم
And if (we come) to wrath and war, ’tis the reflexion of His Might; and if to peace and forgiveness, ’tis the reflexion of His Love.
ور به خشم و جنگ عکس قهر اوست ** ور به صلح و عذر عکس مهر اوست
Who are we? In this tangled (complex) world what (thing other than He) indeed hath He (who is single) like alif? Nothing, nothing.
ما که‌‌ایم اندر جهان پیچ پیچ ** چون الف او خود چه دارد هیچ هیچ
How the ambassador asked ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, concerning the cause of the tribulation suffered by spirits in this clay of the body.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر از سبب ابتلای ارواح با این آب و گل اجساد
He said, “O ‘Umar, what was the wisdom and mystery of imprisoning that pure one (the spirit) in this dirty place?1515
گفت یا عمر چه حکمت بود و سر ** حبس آن صافی در این جای کدر