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1
1503-1527

  • At the time when the intellectual quest was in keeping (with the circumstances), this ‘Umar was intimate with Bu ’l-Hakam,
  • آن زمان که بحث عقلی ساز بود ** این عمر با بو الحکم هم راز بود

  • (But) when ‘Umar went away from intellect towards spirit, Bu ’l-Hakam became Bú Jahl (the father of ignorance) in the case of that (spiritual quest).
  • چون عمر از عقل آمد سوی جان ** بو الحکم بو جهل شد در حکم آن‌‌

  • He is perfect on the side of sense-perception and understanding, though indeed he is ignorant in regard to the spirit. 1505
  • سوی حس و سوی عقل او کامل است ** گر چه خود نسبت به جان او جاهل است‌‌

  • Know that the quest of the intellect and the senses is (concerned with) effects or secondary causes. The spiritual quest is either wonder or the father of wonder (either wonderful or beyond wonder).
  • بحث عقل و حس اثر دان یا سبب ** بحث جانی یا عجب یا بو العجب‌‌

  • The illumination of the spirit comes: (then) there remains not, O thou who seekest illumination, conclusion and premise or that which contradicts (a statement) (or) that which renders (its acceptance) necessary,
  • ضوء جان آمد نماند ای مستضی ** لازم و ملزوم و نافی مقتضی‌‌

  • Because the seer on whom His (God's) Light is dawning is quite independent of the (logical) proof which resembles a (blind man's) staff.
  • ز آن که بینایی که نورش بازغ است ** از دلیل چون عصا بس فارغ است‌‌

  • Commentary on “And He is with you wheresoever ye be.”
  • تفسیر و هو معکم أين ما کنتم

  • Once more we come back to the tale: when, indeed, did we go forth from the tale?
  • بار دیگر ما به قصه آمدیم ** ما از آن قصه برون خود کی شدیم‌‌

  • If we come to ignorance, that is His prison, and if we come to knowledge, that is His palace; 1510
  • گر به جهل آییم آن زندان اوست ** ور به علم آییم آن ایوان اوست‌‌

  • And if we come to sleep, we are His intoxicated ones; and if to wakefulness, we are in His hands;
  • ور به خواب آییم مستان وی‌‌ایم ** ور به بیداری به دستان وی‌‌ایم‌‌

  • And if we weep, we are His cloud shedding rain-drops abundantly; and if we laugh, at that time we are His lightning;
  • ور بگرییم ابر پر زرق وی‌‌ایم ** ور بخندیم آن زمان برق وی‌‌ایم‌‌

  • And if (we come) to wrath and war, ’tis the reflexion of His Might; and if to peace and forgiveness, ’tis the reflexion of His Love.
  • ور به خشم و جنگ عکس قهر اوست ** ور به صلح و عذر عکس مهر اوست‌‌

  • Who are we? In this tangled (complex) world what (thing other than He) indeed hath He (who is single) like alif? Nothing, nothing.
  • ما که‌‌ایم اندر جهان پیچ پیچ ** چون الف او خود چه دارد هیچ هیچ‌‌

  • How the ambassador asked ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, concerning the cause of the tribulation suffered by spirits in this clay of the body.
  • سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر از سبب ابتلای ارواح با این آب و گل اجساد

  • He said, “O ‘Umar, what was the wisdom and mystery of imprisoning that pure one (the spirit) in this dirty place? 1515
  • گفت یا عمر چه حکمت بود و سر ** حبس آن صافی در این جای کدر

  • The pure water has become hidden in mud: the pure spirit has become bound in bodies.”
  • آب صافی در گلی پنهان شده ** جان صافی بسته‌‌ی ابدان شده‌‌

  • He (‘Umar) said, “Thou art making a profound inquiry, thou art confining a meaning in a word.
  • گفت تو بحثی شگرفی می‌‌کنی ** معنیی را بند حرفی می‌‌کنی‌‌

  • Thou hast imprisoned the free (unconditioned) meaning, thou hast bound the wind in a word.
  • حبس کردی معنی آزاد را ** بند حرفی کرده ای تو یاد را

  • This thou hast done for a benefit (good purpose), O thou who thyself art blind to the benefit (good purpose) of God.
  • از برای فایده این کرده‌‌ای ** تو که خود از فایده در پرده‌‌ای‌‌

  • He from whom (every) benefit was born, how should He not see that which was seen by us? 1520
  • آن که از وی فایده زاییده شد ** چون نبیند آن چه ما را دیده شد

  • There are myriads of benefits, and every myriad is (but) a few beside that one.
  • صد هزاران فایده ست و هر یکی ** صد هزاران پیش آن یک اندکی‌‌

  • The breath of thy speech, which is a part of the parts (bodily members), became beneficial: why (then) is the whole of the whole (the universal connexion of spirit and body) devoid (of benefit)?
  • آن دم نطقت که جزو جزوهاست ** فایده شد کل کل خالی چراست‌‌

  • Thou who art a part—thy act (of speaking) is beneficial: why (then) dost thou lift thy hand to assail the whole?
  • تو که جزوی کار تو با فایده ست ** پس چرا در طعن کل آری تو دست‌‌

  • If there is no benefit in speech, do not speak; and if there is, leave off making objections, and endeavour to give thanks.”
  • گفت را گر فایده نبود مگو ** ور بود هل اعتراض و شکر جو

  • Thanksgiving to God is a collar on every neck (every one's duty); it is not (thanksgiving) to dispute and make one's face look sour. 1525
  • شکر یزدان طوق هر گردن بود ** نه جدال و رو ترش کردن بود

  • If thanksgiving is only to look sour, then there is no thanks-giver like vinegar.
  • گر ترش رو بودن آمد شکر و بس ** پس چو سرکه شکر گویی نیست کس‌‌

  • If vinegar wants (to find) the way to the liver, let it become oxymel by (being mixed with) sugar.
  • سرکه را گر راه باید در جگر ** گو بشو سرکنگبین او از شکر