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
The pure water has become hidden in mud: the pure spirit has become bound in bodies.”
آب صافی در گلی پنهان شده ** جان صافی بسته‌‌ی ابدان شده
He (‘Umar) said, “Thou art making a profound inquiry, thou art confining a meaning in a word.
گفت تو بحثی شگرفی می‌‌کنی ** معنیی را بند حرفی می‌‌کنی
Thou hast imprisoned the free (unconditioned) meaning, thou hast bound the wind in a word.
حبس کردی معنی آزاد را ** بند حرفی کرده ای تو یاد را
This thou hast done for a benefit (good purpose), O thou who thyself art blind to the benefit (good purpose) of God.
از برای فایده این کرده‌‌ای ** تو که خود از فایده در پرده‌‌ای
He from whom (every) benefit was born, how should He not see that which was seen by us?1520
آن که از وی فایده زاییده شد ** چون نبیند آن چه ما را دیده شد
There are myriads of benefits, and every myriad is (but) a few beside that one.
صد هزاران فایده ست و هر یکی ** صد هزاران پیش آن یک اندکی
The breath of thy speech, which is a part of the parts (bodily members), became beneficial: why (then) is the whole of the whole (the universal connexion of spirit and body) devoid (of benefit)?
آن دم نطقت که جزو جزوهاست ** فایده شد کل کل خالی چراست