If thou fancy thou hast a “before” and “behind,” thou art tied to body and deprived of spirit.
گر تو خود را پیش و پس داری گمان ** بستهی جسمی و محرومی ز جان
“Below” and “above,” “before” and “behind” are attributes of the body: the essence of the bright spirit is without relations (not limited by relations of place).
زیر و بالا پیش و پس وصف تن است ** بیجهت آن ذات جان روشن است
Open thy (inward) vision with the pure light of the King. Beware of fancying, like one who is short-sighted,
بر گشا از نور پاک شه نظر ** تا نپنداری تو چون کوته نظر
That thou art only this very (body living) in grief and joy. O (thou who art really) non-existence, where (are) “before” and “behind” (appertaining) to non-existence?2010
که همینی در غم و شادی و بس ** ای عدم کو مر عدم را پیش و پس
’Tis a day of rain: journey on till night—not (sped) by this (earthly) rain but by the rain of the Lord.
روز باران است میرو تا به شب ** نی از این باران از آن باران رب
The story of ‘Á’isha, may God be well-pleased with her, how she asked Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, saying, “It rained to-day: since thou wentest to the graveyard, how is it that thy clothes are not wet?”
قصهی سؤال کردن عایشه از مصطفی علیه السلام که امروز باران بارید چون تو سوی گورستان رفتی جامههای تو چون تر نیست
One day Mustafá went to the graveyard: he went with the bier of a man (who was one) of his friends.
مصطفی روزی به گورستان برفت ** با جنازهی مردی از یاران برفت
He made the earth so that it filled his grave: he quickened his seed under the earth.
خاک را در گور او آگنده کرد ** زیر خاک آن دانهاش را زنده کرد
These trees are like the interred ones: they have lifted up their hands from the earth.
این درختانند همچون خاکیان ** دستها بر کردهاند از خاکدان
They are making a hundred signs to the people and speaking plainly to him that hath ears (to hear).2015
سوی خلقان صد اشارت میکنند ** و آن که گوش استش عبارت میکنند
With green tongue and with long hand (fingers) they are telling secrets from the earth's conscience (inmost heart).
با زبان سبز و با دست دراز ** از ضمیر خاک میگویند راز
(Sunk in earth) like ducks that have plunged their heads in water, they have become (gay as) peacocks, though (in winter) they were (dark and bare) as crows.
همچو بطان سر فرو برده به آب ** گشته طاوسان و بوده چون غراب
If during the winter He imprisoned them (in ice and snow), God made those “crows” “peacocks” (in spring).
در زمستانشان اگر محبوس کرد ** آن غرابان را خدا طاوس کرد
Although He put them to death in winter, He revived them by means of spring and gave (them) leaves.
در زمستانشان اگر چه داد مرگ ** زندهشان کرد از بهار و داد برگ
The sceptics say, “This (creation), surely, is eternal: why should we fix it on a beneficent Lord?”2020
منکران گویند خود هست این قدیم ** این چرا بندیم بر رب کریم
God, in despite of them, caused (spiritual) gardens and plots of sweet flowers to grow in the hearts of His friends.
کوری ایشان درون دوستان ** حق برویانید باغ و بوستان
Every rose that is sweet-scented within, that rose is telling of the secrets of the rose.
هر گلی کاندر درون بویا بود ** آن گل از اسرار کل گویا بود
Their scent, to the confusion of the sceptics, is going round the world, rending the veil (of doubt and disbelief).
بوی ایشان رغم انف منکران ** گرد عالم میرود پرده دران
The sceptics, (shrinking) from the scent of the rose like a beetle, or like a delicate (sensitive) brain at the noise of the drum,
منکران همچون جعل ز آن بوی گل ** یا چو نازک مغز در بانگ دهل
Feign themselves to be occupied and absorbed, and withdraw their eyes from the flash of the lightning.2025