Thus meditating, he folded his hands reverently. After a while ‘Umar sprang up from sleep.
اندر این فکرت به حرمت دست بست ** بعد یک ساعت عمر از خواب جست
How the ambassador of Rúm saluted the Commander of the Faithful, may God be well pleased with him.
سلام کردن رسول روم بر عمر
He did homage to ‘Umar and salaamed: the Prophet said, “(First) the salaam, then the talk.”
کرد خدمت مر عمر را و سلام ** گفت پیغمبر سلام آن گه کلام
Then he (‘Umar) said, “To thee (greeting),” called him (to come) forward, reassured him, and bade him sit down by his side.
پس علیکش گفت و او را پیش خواند ** ایمنش کرد و به پیش خود نشاند
Fear ye not is the hospitality offered to those who fear: that is proper (entertainment) for one who is afraid.
لا تخافوا هست نزل خایفان ** هست در خور از برای خایف آن
When any one is afraid, they make him (feel) secure; they soothe (his) fearful heart.1430
هر که ترسد مر و را ایمن کنند ** مر دل ترسنده را ساکن کنند
How should you say “Fear not” to one who has no fear? Why give lessons (to him)? He needs no lessons.
آن که خوفش نیست چون گویی مترس ** درس چه دهی نیست او محتاج درس
He (‘Umar) made that disturbed mind (be) of good cheer and made his desolate heart (be) flourishing (happy).
آن دل از جا رفته را دل شاد کرد ** خاطر ویرانش را آباد کرد
Afterwards he addressed to him subtle discourses and (spoke) of the holy attributes of God—how good a Friend is He!—
بعد از آن گفتش سخنهای دقیق ** وز صفات پاک حق نعم الرفیق
And of the loving kindnesses of God to the Abdál (saints), in order that he (the ambassador) might know (the meaning of) maqám (permanent station) and hál (passing state).
وز نوازشهای حق ابدال را ** تا بداند او مقام و حال را
The hál is like the unveiling of that beauteous bride, while the maqám is the (king's) being alone with the bride.1435
حال چون جلوه ست ز آن زیبا عروس ** وین مقام آن خلوت آمد با عروس
The unveiling is witnessed by the king and by others as well, (but) at the time of being alone (with the bride) there is no one except the mighty king.
جلوه بیند شاه و غیر شاه نیز ** وقت خلوت نیست جز شاه عزیز
The bride unveils before nobles and commons (alike); in the bridal chamber the king is (alone) with the bride.
جلوه کرده خاص و عامان را عروس ** خلوت اندر شاه باشد با عروس
There is many a one of the Súfís who enjoys hál, (but) he that has attained to maqám is rare amongst them.
هست بسیار اهل حال از صوفیان ** نادر است اهل مقام اندر میان
He (‘Umar) reminded him of the stages traversed by the soul, and he reminded him of the journeys of the spirit,
از منازلهای جانش یاد داد ** وز سفرهای روانش یاد داد
And of the Time which has (ever) been void of time, and of the Station of Holiness which has (ever) been majestical,1440
وز زمانی کز زمان خالی بده ست ** وز مقام قدس که اجلالی بده ست
And of the atmosphere wherein the Símurgh of the spirit, before this (material life), has flown and experienced (the bounty of Divine) grace,
وز هوایی کاندر او سیمرغ روح ** پیش از این دیده ست پرواز و فتوح
Every single flight thereof (being) greater than the horizons (of this world) and greater than the hope and greed of the longing lover.
هر یکی پروازش از آفاق بیش ** وز امید و نهمت مشتاق بیش
When ‘Umar found the stranger in appearance a friend (in reality), he found (that) his soul (was) seeking (to learn) the (Divine) mysteries.
چون عمر اغیار رو را یار یافت ** جان او را طالب اسرار یافت
The Shaykh (‘Umar) was adept and the disciple (the ambassador) eager: the man (rider) was quick (dexterous) and the beast belonged to the royal court (was nobly bred and docile).
شیخ کامل بود و طالب مشتهی ** مرد چابک بود و مرکب درگهی
That spiritual guide (‘Umar) perceived that he (the ambassador) possessed (the capacity for receiving) guidance: he sowed the good seed in the good soil.1445
دید آن مرشد که او ارشاد داشت ** تخم پاک اندر زمین پاک کاشت
How the ambassador of Rúm questioned the Commander of the Faithful, may God be well-pleased with him.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر
The man said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful, how did the spirit come to the earth from above?
مرد گفتش کای امیر المؤمنین ** جان ز بالا چون در آمد در زمین
How did the infinite bird go into the cage?” He replied, “God recited spells and incantations over the spirit.
مرغ بیاندازه چون شد در قفص ** گفت حق بر جان فسون خواند و قصص
When He recites spells over the non-existences which have no eye or ear, they begin to stir.
بر عدمها کان ندارد چشم و گوش ** چون فسون خواند همیآید به جوش
Because of His spells the non-existences at that very moment are dancing joyously into existence.
از فسون او عدمها زود زود ** خوش معلق میزند سوی وجود
When, again, He recited a spell over the existent, at His word the existent marched (back) post-haste into non-existence.1450
باز بر موجود افسونی چو خواند ** زو دو اسبه در عدم موجود راند