If He takes offence at His own act, (yet) He causes gardens (of good) to grow from that taking offence.3855
گر کند بر فعل خود او اعتراض ** ز اعتراض خود برویاند ریاض
It beseems Him to take offence at His own act, inasmuch as in vengeance and mercy He is One.
اعتراض او را رسد بر فعل خود ** ز آن که در قهر است و در لطف او احد
In this city of phenomena He is the Prince; in (all) the realms (of the world) He is the Ruler.
اندر این شهر حوادث میر اوست ** در ممالک مالک تدبیر اوست
If He breaks His own instrument, He mends that which has become broken.”
آلت خود را اگر او بشکند ** آن شکسته گشته را نیکو کند
Recognise, O noble sir, the indication of (the text), (Whatever) verse We shall cancel or cause to be forgotten, followed by We shall bring a better.
رمز ننسخ آیه او ننسها ** نأت خیرا در عقب میدان مها
Every (religious) law that God has cancelled—He has taken away grass and brought roses in exchange.3860
هر شریعت را که حق منسوخ کرد ** او گیا برد و عوض آورد ورد
Night cancels the business of day: behold an inanimateness (inertia) that enlightens the intellect!
شب کند منسوخ شغل روز را ** بین جمادی خرد افروز را
Again, night is cancelled by the light of day, so that the inanimateness is consumed by that fire-kindling one.
باز شب منسوخ شد از نور روز ** تا جمادی سوخت ز آن آتش فروز
Although that sleep and rest are darkness, is not the Water of Life within the darkness?
گر چه ظلمت آمد آن نوم و سبات ** نی درون ظلمت است آب حیات
Did not minds become refreshed in that darkness? Did not a pause (in recitation) become the source of (increased beauty in) the voice?
نی در آن ظلمت خردها تازه شد ** سکتهای سرمایهی آوازه شد
For contraries are manifested by means of contraries: in the black core (of the heart) He (God) created the light (of love).3865
که ز ضدها ضدها آمد پدید ** در سویدا روشنایی آفرید
The wars of the Prophet became the pivot (determining cause) of peace: the peace of this latter age was (produced) from those wars.
جنگ پیغمبر مدار صلح شد ** صلح این آخر زمان ز آن جنگ بد
That heart-ravisher cut off hundreds of thousands of heads, in order that the heads of the (whole) world's people might win security.
صد هزاران سر برید آن دلستان ** تا امان یابد سر اهل جهان
The gardener lops the harmful bough, in order that the date-palm may gain (tallness of) stature and goodness.
باغبان ز آن میبرد شاخ مضر ** تا بیابد نخل قامتها و بر
The expert (gardener) digs up the weeds from the garden, in order that his garden and fruit may look flourishing.
میکند از باغ دانا آن حشیش ** تا نماید باغ و میوه خرمیش
The physician extracts bad teeth, in order that the beloved (patient) may be saved from pain and sickness.3870
میکند دندان بد را آن طبیب ** تا رهد از درد و بیماری حبیب
Advantages, then, are (concealed) within defects: for martyrs there is life in death.
بس زیادتها درون نقصهاست ** مر شهیدان را حیات اندر فناست
When the (martyr's) throat has been cut that swallowed the daily bread, (the spiritual blessings implied in the text) receiving the (Divine) bounty, rejoicing, shall be delicious (to him).
چون بریده گشت حلق رزق خوار ** یرزقون فرحین شد گوار
When the throat of an animal is cut duly (in the manner prescribed by law), there grows (from it) the throat of man, and its excellence is increased (thereby).
حلق حیوان چون بریده شد به عدل ** حلق انسان رست و افزون گشت فضل
When a (martyred) man's throat is cut, come, consider what the result will be! Judge of this (case) by the analogy of that (case).
حلق انسان چون ببرد هین ببین ** تا چه زاید کن قیاس آن بر این
A third throat will be born, and care of it will be (taken by) the sherbet of God and His lights.3875
حلق ثالث زاید و تیمار او ** شربت حق باشد و انوار او
The throat that has been cut drinks (the Divine) sherbet, but (only) the throat that has been delivered from Nay and has died in Yea.
حلق ببریده خورد شربت ولی ** حلق از لا رسته مرده در بلی
Make an end, O pusillanimous short-fingered (infirm) one! How long will the life of thy spirit be (sustained) by bread?
بس کن ای دون همت کوته بنان ** تا کیات باشد حیات جان به نان
Like the willow, thou hast no fruit, because thou hast lost thine honour for the sake of white bread.
ز آن نداری میوهای مانند بید ** کآبرو بردی پی نان سپید
If the sensual soul cannot refrain from this bread, take the elixir and turn thy copper into gold.
گر ندارد صبر زین نان جان حس ** کیمیا را گیر و زر گردان تو مس