The Fire (of Hell) in sooth is (only) an atom of God's wrath; it is (only) a whip to threaten the base.
آتش از قهر خدا خود ذره‌ایست ** بهر تهدید لیمان دره‌ایست
Notwithstanding such a wrath, which is mighty and surpassing all, observe that the coolness of His clemency is prior to it.
با چنین قهری که زفت و فایق است ** برد لطفش بین که بر وی سابق است
(’Tis) a spiritual priority, unqualified and unconditioned. Have you seen the prior and the posterior without duality (have you seen them to be one)?
سبق بی‌چون و چگونه‌ی معنوی ** سابق و مسبوق دیدی بی‌دوی
If you have not seen them (as one), that is because of feeble understanding; for the minds of God's creatures are (but) a single grain of that mine.3745
گر ندیدی آن بود از فهم پست ** که عقول خلق زان کان یک جوست
Lay the blame on yourself, not on the evidences of the (true) Religion: how should the bird of clay reach the sky of the (true) Religion?
عیب بر خود نه نه بر آیات دین ** کی رسد بر چرخ دین مرغ گلین
The bird's lofty soaring-place is (only) the air, since its origin is from lust and sensuality.
مرغ را جولانگه عالی هواست ** زانک نشو او ز شهوت وز هواست
Therefore be dumbfounded without nay or yea, in order that a litter may come from (the Divine) Mercy to carry you.
پس تو حیران باش بی‌لا و بلی ** تا ز رحمت پیشت آید محملی
Forasmuch as you are too dull to apprehend these wonders (of God), if you say “yea” you will be prevaricating;
چون ز فهم این عجایب کودنی ** گر بلی گویی تکلف می‌کنی
And if you say “nay,” the “nay” will behead (undo) you: on account of that “nay” (the Divine) Wrath will shut your (spiritual) window.3750
ور بگویی نی زند نی گردنت ** قهر بر بندد بدان نی روزنت
Be, then, only dumbfounded and distraught, nothing else, that God's aid may come in from before and behind.
پس همین حیران و واله باش و بس ** تا درآید نصر حق از پیش و پس