Rumi's Masnavi - (Whilst) consultation was going on as to bringing mankind into existence, their spirits were in the Sea of (Divine) Omnipotence up to the throat.

(Whilst) consultation was going on as to bringing mankind into existence, their spirits were in the Sea of (Divine) Omnipotence up to the throat.

مشورت می‏رفت در ایجاد خلق ** جانشان در بحر قدرت تا به حلق‏

When the angels were opposing that (creation of man), they (the Pírs) were secretly clapping their hands (in derision) at the angels.

چون ملایک مانع آن می‏شدند ** بر ملایک خفیه خنبک می‏زدند

He (the Pír) was made acquainted with the (material) form of every existent being, before this Universal Soul became fettered (by materiality).

مطلع بر نقش هر که هست شد ** پیش از آن کاین نفس کل پا بست شد

Before the (creation of the) heavens they have seen Saturn, before the (existence of) seeds they have seen the bread.

پیشتر ز افلاک کیوان دیده‏اند ** پیشتر از دانه‏ها نان دیده‏اند

Without brain and mind they were full of thought, without army and battle they gained victory. 175

بی‏دماغ و دل پر از فکرت بدند ** بی‏سپاه و جنگ بر نصرت زدند

That immediate intuition (intuitive knowledge) in relation to them is thought; else, indeed, in relation to those who are far (from God) it is vision.

آن عیان نسبت به ایشان فکرت است ** ور نه خود نسبت به دوران رویت است‏

Thought is of the past and future; when it is emancipated from these two, the difficulty is solved.

فکرت از ماضی و مستقبل بود ** چون از این دو رست مشکل حل شود

The spirit has beheld the wine in the grape, the spirit has beheld thing (entity) in nothing (nonentity);

روح از انگور می را دیده است ** روح از معدوم شی را دیده است‏

It has beheld every conditioned thing as unconditioned, it has beheld the genuine coin and the alloyed before (the existence of) the mine;

دیده چون بی‏کیف هر با کیف را ** دیده پیش از کان صحیح و زیف را

Before the creation of grapes it has quaffed wines and shown the excitements (of intoxication). 180

پیشتر از خلقت انگورها ** خورده می‏ها و نموده شورها