His (the true believer's) name is loved on account of its essence (which is true faith); this one's (the hypocrite's) name is loathed on account of its pestilent qualities.
نام او محبوب از ذات وی است ** نام این مبغوض از آفات وی است
(The four letters) mím and wáw and mím and nún do not confer honour: the word múmin (true believer) is only for the sake of denotation.
میم و واو و میم و نون تشریف نیست ** لفظ مومن جز پی تعریف نیست
If you call him (the true believer) hypocrite, this vile name is stinging (him) within like a scorpion.
گر منافق خوانی‌‌اش این نام دون ** همچو کژدم می‌‌خلد در اندرون
If this name is not derived from Hell, then why is there the taste of Hell in it?
گرنه این نام اشتقاق دوزخ است ** پس چرا در وی مذاق دوزخ است
The foulness of that ill name is not from the letters; the bitterness of that sea-water is not from the vessel (containing it).295
زشتی آن نام بد از حرف نیست ** تلخی آن آب بحر از ظرف نیست
The letters are the vessel: therein the meaning is (contained) like water; (but) the sea of the meaning is (with God)—with Him is the Ummu ’l-Kitáb.
حرف ظرف آمد در او معنی چو آب ** بحر معنی عنده أم الکتاب
In this world the bitter sea and the sweet sea (are divided)— between them is a barrier which they do not seek to cross.
بحر تلخ و بحر شیرین در جهان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان
Know that both these flow from one origin. Pass on from them both, go (all the way) to their origin!
وانگه این هر دو ز یک اصلی روان ** بر گذر زین هر دو رو تا اصل آن
Without the touchstone you will never know in the assay adulterated gold and fine gold by (using your own) judgement.
زر قلب و زر نیکو در عیار ** بی‌‌محک هرگز ندانی ز اعتبار
Any one in whose soul God shall put the touchstone, he will distinguish every certainty from doubt.300
هر که را در جان خدا بنهد محک ** هر یقین را باز داند او ز شک