There is naught more bitter than separation from Thee: without Thy protection there is naught but perplexity.
تلختر از فرقت تو هیچ نیست ** بیپناهت غیر پیچا پیچ نیست
Our (worldly) goods waylay (and plunder) our (spiritual) goods: our bodies tear the garment (of spirituality) from our souls.
رخت ما هم رخت ما را راه زن ** جسم ما مر جان ما را جامه کن
Inasmuch as (the evil wrought by) our hand devours (the good towards which we move) our foot, how shall any one save his soul without Thy security?
دست ما چون پای ما را میخورد ** بیامان تو کسی جان چون برد
And (even) if (unaided) he save his soul from these awful dangers, he will (only) have saved a stock of misfortune and fear,3905
ور برد جان زین خطرهای عظیم ** برده باشد مایهی ادبار و بیم
Because the soul, when it is not united with the Beloved, is blind and blue (miserable) with itself for ever.
ز آن که جان چون واصل جانان نبود ** تا ابد با خویش کور است و کبود
When Thou wilt not give him admission (to Thy presence) —even suppose he has saved his soul, regard as dead the soul that would live without Thee.
چون تو ندهی راه جان خود برده گیر ** جان که بیتو زنده باشد مرده گیر
If Thou art upbraiding Thy slaves, that is suitable to Thee, O Thou whose every wish is fulfilled.
گر تو طعنه میزنی بر بندگان ** مر ترا آن میرسد ای کامران
And if Thou utter abuse of the moon and sun, and if Thou say that the (straight) stature of the cypress is (bent) double,
ور تو ماه و مهر را گویی جفا ** ور تو قد سرو را گویی دوتا
And if Thou call the sky and the empyrean contemptible, and if Thou say that the mine and the sea are poor—3910
ور تو چرخ و عرش را خوانی حقیر ** ور تو کان و بحر را گویی فقیر
That is proper in reference to Thy perfection: Thine is the power of perfecting (all) mortalities,
آن به نسبت با کمال تو رواست ** ملک اکمال فناها مر تراست
For Thou art holy (and free) from danger and from non-existence: Thou art He that brings the non-existent ones into being and endows (them with existence).
که تو پاکی از خطر و ز نیستی ** نیستان را موجد و معنیستی
He that made to grow can burn (destroy), because when He has torn, He can sew (mend).
آن که رویانید داند سوختن ** ز آن که چون بدرید داند دوختن
Every autumn He burns (withers) the garden; (then) He makes to grow again the rose that dyes (the garden),
میبسوزد هر خزان مر باغ را ** باز رویاند گل صباغ را
Saying, “O thou who wert withered, come forth, be fresh, once more be fair and of fair renown!”3915
کای بسوزیده برون آ تازه شو ** بار دیگر خوب و خوب آوازه شو
The eye of the narcissus became blind: He restored it; the throat of the reed was cut: He himself fostered it again (and revived it).
چشم نرگس کور شد بازش بساخت ** حلق نی ببرید و بازش خود نواخت
Since we are made (by God) and are not makers, we are not (entitled to be anything) but humble and content.
ما چو مصنوعیم و صانع نیستیم ** جز زبون و جز که قانع نیستیم
We all are of the flesh and busy with fleshliness: if Thou call us not (to Thyself), we all are Ahrimans (Devils).
ما همه نفسی و نفسی میزنیم ** گر نخوانی ما همه اهرمنیم
(If) we have been delivered from Ahriman, (it is only) because Thou hast redeemed our souls from blindness.
ز آن ز اهرمن رهیدستیم ما ** که خریدی جان ما را از عمی
Thou art the Guide of every one that hath life: what is the blind man without staff and guide?3920
تو عصا کش هر که را که زندگی است ** بیعصا و بیعصا کش کور چیست
Excepting Thee (alone), whatsoever is sweet or unsweet is man-destroying and the essence of fire.
غیر تو هر چه خوش است و ناخوش است ** آدمی سوز است و عین آتش است
Any one to whom fire is a refuge and support becomes both a Magian and a Zoroaster.
هر که را آتش پناه و پشت شد ** هم مجوسی گشت و هم زردشت شد
Everything except Allah is vain: verily the grace of Allah is a cloud pouring abundantly and continually.
کل شیء ما خلا الله باطل ** إن فضل الله غیم هاطل
Returning to the story of ‘Alí—may God honour his person!— and how generously he behaved to his murderer.
باز گشتن به حکایت امیر المؤمنین علی کرم الله وجهه و مسامحت کردن او با خونی خویش
Go back to ‘Alí and his murderer, and the kindness he showed to the murderer, and his superiority (moral and spiritual excellence).
باز رو سوی علی و خونیاش ** و آن کرم با خونی و افزونیاش
He said, “Day and night I see the enemy with my eyes, (but) I have no anger against him,3925
گفت دشمن را همی بینم به چشم ** روز و شب بر وی ندارم هیچ خشم
Because death has become sweet as manna to me: my death has laid fast hold of resurrection.”
ز آنکه مرگم همچو من خوش آمده ست ** مرگ من در بعث چنگ اندر زده ست