A hoopoe brought the letter with the (royal) sign-manual from Solomon—a few eloquent words.
هدهدی نامه بیاورد و نشان ** از سلیمان چند حرفی با بیان
(When) she read those pregnant sayings, she did not look with contempt on the messenger.
خواند او آن نکتهای با شمول ** با حقارت ننگرید اندر رسول
Her body saw him as a hoopoe, (but) her spirit saw him as the ‘Anqá; her senses saw him as a fleck of foam, (but) her heart saw him as the sea.
جسم هدهد دید و جان عنقاش دید ** حس چو کفی دید و دل دریاش دید
Because of these two-coloured (diverse) talismans (appearance and reality) the intellect is at war with the senses, as Mohammed with the likes of Abú Jahl.1605
عقل با حس زین طلسمات دو رنگ ** چون محمد با ابو جهلان به جنگ
The infidels regarded Ahmad (Mohammed) as (only) a man, since they did not see in him (the Prophetic nature which was manifested by the miracle) the moon was cleft asunder.
کافران دیدند احمد را بشر ** چون ندیدند از وی انشق القمر
Throw dust on your sense-perceiving eye: the sensuous eye is the enemy of intellect and religion.
خاک زن در دیدهی حس بین خویش ** دیدهی حس دشمن عقل است و کیش
God has called the sensuous eye blind; He has said that it is an idolater and our foe,
دیدهی حس را خدا اعماش خواند ** بت پرستش گفت و ضد ماش خواند
Because it saw the foam and not the sea, because it saw the present and not to-morrow.
ز انکه او کف دید و دریا را ندید ** ز انکه حالی دید و فردا را ندید
The master of to-morrow and of the present (is) before it; (yet) of a (whole) treasure it sees only a groat.1610
خواجهی فردا و حالی پیش او ** او نمیبیند ز گنجی جز تسو
(If) a mote bring a message from yonder Sun, the sun would become a slave to that mote.
ذرهای ز آن آفتاب آرد پیام ** آفتاب آن ذره را گردد غلام
The drop that has become an envoy from the Sea of Unity— the seven seas would be captive to that drop.
قطرهای کز بحر وحدت شد سفیر ** هفت بحر آن قطره را باشد اسیر
If a handful of earth become His courier, His heavens will lay their heads (in homage) before His earth.
گر کف خاکی شود چالاک او ** پیش خاکش سر نهد افلاک او
Since the earth of Adam became God's courier, God's angels lay their heads (in worship) before His earth.
خاک آدم چون که شد چالاک حق ** پیش خاکش سر نهند املاک حق
Wherefore (was it), pray, that heaven was rent asunder? Because of one (spiritual) eye that an earthly creature opened.1615
السماء انشقت آخر از چه بود ** از یکی چشمی که خاکی بر گشود
Earth, from its grossness, settles beneath water; (but) see how earth has sped beyond the empyrean!
خاک از دردی نشیند زیر آب ** خاک بین کز عرش بگذشت از شتاب
Know, then, that the subtlety (of water) is not (derived) from the water: ’tis only the gift of the Bounteous Originator.
آن لطافت پس بدان کز آب نیست ** جز عطای مبدع وهاب نیست
If He make air and fire low (in place), and if He let the thorn surpass the rose,
گر کند سفلی هوا و نار را ** ور ز گل او بگذراند خار را
He is the Ruler and (the One who said) God doeth what He willeth: from the very self of pain He raises the remedy.
حاکم است و یفعل الله ما یشاء ** کاو ز عین درد انگیزد دوا
If He make air and fire low (in place), and make (them assume the qualities of) darkness and grossness and heaviness,1620
گر هوا و نار را سفلی کند ** تیرگی و دردی و ثقلی کند
And if He make earth and water high (in place), and make the path of heaven (to be) traversed by foot—
ور زمین و آب را علوی کند ** راه گردون را بپا مطوی کند
Then it has become certain that Thou exaltest whomso Thou wilt: He (God) said to an earthly creature, “Unfold thy wings.”
پس یقین شد که تعز من تشاء ** خاکیی را گفت پرها بر گشا
To the creature of fire He said, “Go, become Iblís: begone under the Seventh Earth with (thy) imposture!
آتشی را گفت رو ابلیس شو ** زیر هفتم خاک با تلبیس شو
O earthly Adam, go thou above (the star) Suhá; O fiery Iblís, go to (the bottom of) the Earth.
آدم خاکی برو تو بر سها ** ای بلیس آتشی رو تا ثری
I am not the four temperaments or the first cause, I am ever remaining in (absolute) control.1625
چار طبع و علت اولی نیام ** در تصرف دایما من باقیام
My action is uncaused and upright (independent): I have (the power of) predetermination, (I have) no cause, O infirm one.
کار من بیعلت است و مستقیم ** هست تقدیرم نه علت ای سقیم