Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: may that which is unseen never fail!
حمله شان پیدا و ناپیداست باد ** آن که ناپیداست هرگز کم مباد
Our wind (that whereby we are moved) and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing (us) into being.605
باد ما و بود ما از داد تست ** هستی ما جمله از ایجاد تست
Thou didst show the delightfulness of Being unto not-being, (after) thou hadst caused not-being to fall in love with thee.
لذت هستی نمودی نیست را ** عاشق خود کرده بودی نیست را
Take not away the delightfulness of thy bounty; take not away thy dessert and wine and wine-cup!
لذت انعام خود را وامگیر ** نقل و باده و جام خود را وامگیر
And if thou take it away, who will make inquiry of thee? How should the picture strive with the painter?
ور بگیری کیت جستجو کند ** نقش با نقاش چون نیرو کند
Do not look on us, do not fix thy gaze on us: look on thine own kindness and generosity.
منگر اندر ما، مکن در ما نظر ** اندر اکرام و سخای خود نگر
We were not, and there was no demand on our part, (yet) thy grace was hearkening to our unspoken prayer (and calling us into existence).”610
ما نبودیم و تقاضامان نبود ** لطف تو ناگفتهی ما میشنود
Before the painter and the brush the picture is helpless and bound like a child in the womb.
نقش باشد پیش نقاش و قلم ** عاجز و بسته چو کودک در شکم
Before Omnipotence all the people of the (Divine) court of audience (the world) are as helpless as the (embroiderer's) fabric before the needle.
پیش قدرت خلق جمله بارگه ** عاجزان چون پیش سوزن کارگه
Now He makes the picture thereon (one of) the Devil, now (of) Adam; now He makes the picture thereon (one of) joy, now (one of) grief.
گاه نقشش دیو و گه آدم کند ** گاه نقشش شادی و گه غم کند
There is no power (to any one) that he should move a hand in defence; no (right of) speech, that he should utter a word concerning injury or benefit.
دست نه تا دست جنباند به دفع ** نطق نه تا دم زند در ضر و نفع
Recite from the Qur’án the interpretation of (i.e. a text which interprets) the (preceding) verse: God said, Thou didst not throw when thou threwest.615
تو ز قرآن باز خوان تفسیر بیت ** گفت ایزد ما رميت إذ رمیت
If we let fly an arrow, that (action) is not from us: we are (only) the bow, and the shooter of the arrow is God.
گر بپرانیم تیر آن نه ز ماست ** ما کمان و تیر اندازش خداست
This is not jabr (compulsion); it is the meaning of jabbárí (almightiness): the mention of almightiness is for the sake of (inspiring us with) humility.
این نه جبر این معنی جباری است ** ذکر جباری برای زاری است
Our humility is evidence of necessity, (but) our sense of guilt is evidence of freewill.
زاری ما شد دلیل اضطرار ** خجلت ما شد دلیل اختیار
If there were not freewill, what is this shame? And what is this sorrow and guilty confusion and abashment?
گر نبودی اختیار این شرم چیست ** وین دریغ و خجلت و آزرم چیست
Why is there chiding between pupils and masters? Why is the mind changing (so as to depart) from plans (already formed)?620
زجر استادان و شاگردان چراست ** خاطر از تدبیرها گردان چراست
And if you say that he (the assertor of free-will) takes no heed of the (Divine) compulsion, (and that) God's moon (majesty) hides its face (from him) in the cloud (of his own blindness),
ور تو گویی غافل است از جبر او ** ماه حق پنهان کند در ابر رو
There is a good answer to this; if you hearken, you will relinquish unbelief and incline towards the (true) religion.
هست این را خوش جواب ار بشنوی ** بگذری از کفر و در دین بگروی
Remorse and humility occur at the time of illness: the time of illness is wholly wakefulness (of conscience).
حسرت و زاری گه بیماری است ** وقت بیماری همه بیداری است
At the time when you are becoming ill, you pray God to forgive your trespass;
آن زمان که میشوی بیمار تو ** میکنی از جرم استغفار تو
The foulness of your sin is shown to you, you resolve to come back to the (right) way;625
مینماید بر تو زشتی گنه ** میکنی نیت که باز آیم به ره
You make promises and vows that henceforth your chosen course (of action) will be nothing but obedience (to God):
عهد و پیمان میکنی که بعد از این ** جز که طاعت نبودم کار گزین
Therefore it has become certain that illness gives to you conscience and wakefulness.
پس یقین گشت این که بیماری ترا ** میببخشد هوش و بیداری ترا
Note, then, this principle, O thou that seekest the principle; every one who suffers pain has caught the scent (thereof):
پس بدان این اصل را ای اصل جو ** هر که را درد است او برده ست بو