Faná graced (the Prophet who said) ‘Poverty is my pride’: he became shadowless like the flame of a candle.
فقر فخری را فنا پیرایه شد ** چون زبانه‌ی شمع او بی‌سایه شد
(When) the candle has become entirely flame from head to foot, the shadow hath no passage (way of approach) around it.
شمع جمله شد زبانه پا و سر ** سایه را نبود بگرد او گذر
The wax (candle) fled from itself and from the shadow into the radiance for the sake of Him who moulded the candle.675
موم از خویش و ز سایه در گریخت ** در شعاع از بهر او کی شمع ریخت
He said, ‘I moulded thee for the sake of faná (self-naughting).’ It replied, ‘I accordingly took refuge in faná.’
گفت او بهر فنایت ریختم ** گفت من هم در فنا بگریختم
This is the necessary everlasting radiance, not the radiance of the perishable accidental candle.
این شعاع باقی آمد مفترض ** نه شعاع شمع فانی عرض
When the candle is wholly naughted in the fire (of Divine illumination), you will not see any trace of the candle or rays (of its light).
شمع چون در نار شد کلی فنا ** نه اثر بینی ز شمع و نه ضیا
Manifestly, in dispelling the darkness, the external (material) flame is maintained by a wax candle;
هست اندر دفع ظلمت آشکار ** آتش صورت به مومی پایدار
(But) the candle (which is) the body is contrary to the wax candle, since in proportion as that (the body) dwindles, the light of the spirit is increased.680
برخلاف موم شمع جسم کان ** تا شود کم گردد افزون نور جان
This is the everlasting radiance, and that (bodily candle) is perishable: the candle of the spirit hath a Divine flame.
این شعاع باقی و آن فانیست ** شمع جان را شعله‌ی ربانیست
Since this tongue of fire was (really) light, ’twas far from it to become a perishable shadow.
این زبانه‌ی آتشی چون نور بود ** سایه‌ی فانی شدن زو دور بود