Therefore in every epoch (after Mohammed) a saint arises (to act as his vicegerent): the probation (of the people) lasts until the Resurrection.815
پس به هر دوری ولیی قایم است ** تا قیامت آزمایش دایم است
Whosoever has a good disposition is saved; whosoever is of frail heart is broken.
هر که را خوی نکو باشد برست ** هر کسی کاو شیشه دل باشد شکست
That saint, then, is the living Imám who arises (in every age), whether he be a descendant of ‘Umar or of ‘Alí.
پس امام حی قایم آن ولی است ** خواه از نسل عمر خواه از علی است
He is the Mahdí (the God-guided one) and the Hádí (the Guide), O seeker of the (right) way: he is both hidden (from you) and seated before your face.
مهدی و هادی وی است ای راه جو ** هم نهان و هم نشسته پیش رو
He is as the Light (of Mohammed), and (Universal) Reason is his Gabriel; the saint that is lesser than he is his lamp (and receives illumination from him).
او چو نور است و خرد جبریل اوست ** و آن ولی کم از او قندیل اوست
That (saint) who is lesser than this lamp is our lamp-niche: the Light has gradations in degree,820
و انکه زین قندیل کم مشکات ماست ** نور را در مرتبه ترتیبهاست
Because the Light of God has seven hundred veils: regard the veils of the Light as so many tiers.
ز انکه هفصد پرده دارد نور حق ** پردههای نور دان چندین طبق
Behind each veil a certain class (of saints) has its place of abode: these veils of theirs are (in ascending order), rank by rank, up to the Imám.
از پس هر پرده قومی را مقام ** صف صفاند این پردههاشان تا امام
Those in the last (lowest) rank, through their weakness, (are such that) their eyes cannot endure the light in front (of them);
اهل صف آخرین از ضعف خویش ** چشمشان طاقت ندارد نور بیش
And that front rank, from weakness of sight, cannot support the light that is more advanced.
و آن صف پیش از ضعیفی بصر ** تاب نارد روشنایی بیشتر