The present world is the Creator's penitentiary: since you have chosen (to incur) punishment, suffer punishment!1890
هست دنیا قهرخانهی کردگار ** قهر بین چون قهر کردی اختیار
Contemplate the bones and hair of the punished ones (whom) the sword of (Divine) punishment overthrew on sea and land.
استخوان و موی مقهوران نگر ** تیغ قهر افکنده اندر بحر و بر
Consider the bird's feathers and feet (lying) around the trap and silently expounding (the nature of) God's punishment.
پر و پای مرغ بین بر گرد دام ** شرح قهر حق کننده بیکلام
He (the worldling) dies and leaves a (sepulchral) vault to occupy his place; and (in the case of) one who has lain for ages (in the earth), even the vault has disappeared.
مرد او بر جای خرپشته نشاند ** وآنک کهنه گشت هم پشته نماند
The justice of God hath mated every one (with one of his own kind)—elephant with elephant and gnat with gnat.
هر کسی را جفت کرده عدل حق ** پیل را با پیل و بق را جنس بق
The familiar associates of Ahmad (Mohammed) were the Four Friends, (while) the familiars of Bú Jahl were ‘Utba and Dhu ’l-Khimár.1895
مونس احمد به مجلس چار یار ** مونس بوجهل عتبه و ذوالخمار
The Ka‘ba of Gabriel and the (celestial) spirits is a Lotus-tree; the qibla of the belly-slave is a table-cloth (covered with dishes of food).
کعبهی جبریل و جانها سدرهای ** قبلهی عبدالبطون شد سفرهای
The qibla of the gnostic is the light of union (with God); the qibla of the philosopher's intellect is phantasy.
قبلهی عارف بود نور وصال ** قبلهی عقل مفلسف شد خیال
The qibla of the ascetic is the Gracious God; the qibla of the flatterer is a purse of gold.
قبلهی زاهد بود یزدان بر ** قبلهی مطمع بود همیان زر
The qibla of the spiritual is patience and long-suffering; the qibla of form worshippers is the image of stone.
قبلهی معنیوران صبر و درنگ ** قبلهی صورتپرستان نقش سنگ