(It contains not) the explanation and definition of every station and stage, so that by means of the wings thereof a man of heart (a mystic) should soar.
شرح و حد هر مقام و منزلی ** که بپر زو بر پرد صاحب‌دلی
When the Book of God (the Qur’án) came (down), the unbelievers railed likewise at it too,
چون کتاب الله بیامد هم بر آن ** این چنین طعنه زدند آن کافران
Saying, “It is (mere) legends and paltry tales; there is no profound inquiry and lofty speculation;
که اساطیرست و افسانه‌ی نژند ** نیست تعمیقی و تحقیقی بلند
The little children understand it; ’tis naught but things approved and disapproved—
کودکان خرد فهمش می‌کنند ** نیست جز امر پسند و ناپسند
The account of Joseph, the account of his curly locks, the account of Jacob and Zalíkhá and her passion.4240
ذکر یوسف ذکر زلف پر خمش ** ذکر یعقوب و زلیخا و غمش
It is plain, and every one finds the way (to its meaning): where is the exposition in which the intellect becomes lost?”
ظاهرست و هرکسی پی می‌برد ** کو بیان که گم شود در وی خرد
He (God) said, “If this seems easy to thee, say (compose) one Súra (in the style that is) so ‘easy’ as this (Qur’án).
گفت اگر آسان نماید این به تو ** این چنین آسان یکی سوره بگو
Let the Jinn and mankind and the skilled among you produce a single verse of this ‘easy’ (style).”
جنتان و انستان و اهل کار ** گو یکی آیت ازین آسان بیار
Commentary on the Tradition of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, that the Qur’án hath an exterior (sense) and an interior (sense), and that its interior (sense) hath an interior (sense), (and so on) to seven interior (senses).
تفسیر این خبر مصطفی علیه السلام کی للقران ظهر و بطن و لبطنه بطن الی سبعة ابطن
Know that the words of the Qur’án have an exterior (sense), and under the exterior (sense) an interior (sense), exceedingly overpowering;
حرف قرآن را بدان که ظاهریست ** زیر ظاهر باطنی بس قاهریست
And beneath that inward (sense) a third interior (sense), wherein all intellects become lost.4245
زیر آن باطن یکی بطن سوم ** که درو گردد خردها جمله گم