I have a certain darkness in comparison with the (spiritual) suns, (but) I have light for the darknesses of (human) souls.
ظلمتی دارم به نسبت با شموس ** نور دارم بهر ظلمات نفوس
I am faint (less bright than the Sun) in order that thou mayst be able to bear (my beams), for thou art not the man for (a man who can bear) the most radiant Sun.
ز آن ضعیفم تا تو تابی آوری ** که نه مرد آفتاب انوری
I was woven (mingled) together, like honey and vinegar, that I might find the way to (cure) sickness of heart.
همچو شهد و سرکه در هم بافتم ** تا سوی رنج جگر ره یافتم
Since thou hast recovered from thine illness, O thou (that wert) in thrall (to it), leave the vinegar and continue to eat the honey.”
چون ز علت وارهیدی ای رهین ** سرکه را بگذار و میخور انگبین
(If) the throne of the heart has become restored to soundness and purged of sensuality, behold how the Merciful God is seated on His Throne.3665
تخت دل معمور شد پاک از هوا ** بین که الرحمن علی العرش استوی
After this, God controls the heart without intermediary, since the heart has attained to this relation (with Him).
حکم بر دل بعد از این بیواسطه ** حق کند چون یافت دل این رابطه
This discourse hath no end. Where is Zayd, that I may counsel him not to seek notoriety?
این سخن پایان ندارد زید کو ** تا دهم پندش که رسوایی مجو
The (author's) return to the story of Zayd.
رجوع به حکایت زید
You will not find Zayd now, for he has fled: he has darted away from the shoe-row and dropped his shoes.
زید را اکنون نیابی کاو گریخت ** جست از صف نعال و نعل ریخت
Who are you (that you should hope to find him)? Zayd cannot even find himself, (he has vanished) like the star on which the sun shone.
تو که باشی زید هم خود را نیافت ** همچو اختر که بر او خورشید تافت
You will find neither mark nor trace of him, you will not find a straw (star) in the straw-strewn Way (the Milky Way).3670
نی از او نقشی بیابی نی نشان ** نی کهی یابی نه راه کهکشان
Our senses and finite speech (reason) are obliterated in the light of the knowledge of our (Divine) King.
شد حواس و نطق با پایان ما ** محو نور دانش سلطان ما
Their (the God-intoxicated mystics') senses and understandings within (them) are (tossed), wave on wave, in (the sea of) they are assembled before Us.
حسها و عقلهاشان در درون ** موج در موج لدينا محضرون
When dawn comes, ’tis again the time of (bearing) the burden: the stars, which had become hidden, go (again) to work.
چون شب آمد باز وقت بار شد ** انجم پنهان شده بر کار شد
God gives back to the senseless ones their (lost) senses: (they return to consciousness) troop after troop, with rings (of mystic knowledge) in their ears,
بیهشان را وادهد حق هوشها ** حلقه حلقه حلقهها در گوشها
Dancing, waving their hands in praise (of God), triumphing (and crying), “O Lord, Thou hast brought us to life.”3675
پای کوبان دست افشان در ثنا ** ناز نازان ربنا أحییتنا
Those crumbled skins and bones have become (like) horsemen and have raised the dust:
آن جلود و آن عظام ریخته ** فارسان گشته غبار انگیخته
At Resurrection both the thankful and the ungrateful rush along from non-existence towards existence.
حمله آرند از عدم سوی وجود ** در قیامت هم شکور و هم کنود
Why do you turn away your head and pretend not to see? Did you not turn away your head at first, (when you were) in non-existence (and disbelieved that you would ever come into existence)?
سر چه میپیچی کنی نادیدهای ** در عدم ز اول نه سرپیچیدهای
You had planted your foot (firmly) in non-existence, saying, “Who will uproot me from my place?”
در عدم افشرده بودی پای خویش ** که مرا که بر کند از جای خویش
Are not you beholding the action of your Lord, who dragged you (into existence) by the forelock,3680
مینبینی صنع ربانیت را ** که کشید او موی پیشانیت را
Until He drew you into (all) these various states (of being), which were not in your thought or fancy?
تا کشیدت اندر این انواع حال ** که نبودت در گمان و در خیال
That non-existence is always His slave: work (in His service), O demon! Solomon is living.
آن عدم او را هماره بنده است ** کار کن دیوا سلیمان زنده است
The demon is making large bowls like watering-troughs: he dare not say a word in refusal or in retort.
دیو میسازد جفان کالجواب ** زهره نی تا دفع گوید یا جواب
Look at yourself, how you are trembling with fear (of non-existence): know that nonexistence also is constantly trembling (lest God should bring it into existence).
خویش را بین چون همیلرزی ز بیم ** مر عدم را نیز لرزان دان مقیم
And if you are grasping at (worldly) dignities, ’tis from fear too that you are suffering agony of spirit.3685
ور تو دست اندر مناصب میزنی ** هم ز ترس است آن که جانی میکنی