Again, the intellect flies (moves) in a more occult manner than the (vital) spirit: (your mental) perception makes its way to (apprehends) the (vital) spirit sooner (than it apprehends the intellect).
باز عقل از روح مخفیتر بود ** حس سوی روح زوتر ره برد
(If) you see a movement, you know that he (who moves) is alive; (but) this you do not know, that he is full of intellect,3255
جنبشی بینی بدانی زنده است ** این ندانی که ز عقل آگنده است
Until regulated movements appear, and he by means of knowledge turns the motion of copper into gold.
تا که جنبشهای موزون سر کند ** جنبش مس را به دانش زر کند
From manual actions being conformable (to reason) you may perceive that there is intellect (behind them).
ز آن مناسب آمدن افعال دست ** فهم آید مر ترا که عقل هست
The spirit (that partakes) of Divine inspiration is more concealed than the intellect, because it is of the Unseen: it belongs to that side.
روح وحی از عقل پنهانتر بود ** ز انکه او غیب است او ز ان سر بود
The intellect of Ahmad (Mohammed) was not hidden from any one; (but) his spirit of (prophetic) inspiration was not apprehended by every soul.
عقل احمد از کسی پنهان نشد ** روح وحیش مدرک هر جان نشد
The spirit of prophecy also has actions conformable (to reason), (but) the intellect does not apprehend (them), for that (spirit) is exalted (above intellectual apprehension).3260
روح وحیی را مناسبهاست نیز ** در نیابد عقل کان آمد عزیز
Sometimes he (the man of intellect) regards (the actions of one endowed with the spirit) as madness, sometimes he is bewildered, since it (all) depends on his becoming that (other one);
گه جنون بیند گهی حیران شود ** ز انکه موقوف است تا او آن شود
As (for example) the intellect of Moses was troubled by seeing the reasonable actions of Khadir.
چون مناسبهای افعال خضر ** عقل موسی بود در دیدش کدر
His actions seemed unreasonable to Moses, since he (Moses) had not his (Khadir's) state (of Divine inspiration).
نامناسب مینمود افعال او ** پیش موسی چون نبودش حال او
Inasmuch as the intellect of Moses becomes tied up (perplexed and helpless) in (the matter of) the mysterious (inspiration), who (what) is the intellect of a (mere) mouse, O excellent (reader)?
عقل موسی چون شود در غیب بند ** عقل موشی خود کی است ای ارجمند
Conventional knowledge is (only) for sale (self-advertisement): when it finds a purchaser, it glows with delight.3265
علم تقلیدی بود بهر فروخت ** چون بیابد مشتری خوش بر فروخت
The purchaser of real knowledge is God: its market is always splendid.
مشتری علم تحقیقی حق است ** دایما بازار او با رونق است
He (the owner of real knowledge) has closed his lips (and is) enraptured in (his) trading: the purchasers are without end, for God hath purchased.
لب ببسته مست در بیع و شری ** مشتری بیحد که الله اشتری
The angels purchase Adam's teaching; the devils and Jinn are not privileged to receive it.
درس آدم را فرشته مشتری ** محرم درسش نه دیو است و پری
Adam, inform them of the Names, give (them) teaching, explain the mysteries of God, hair by hair.
آدم أنبئهم بأسما درس گو ** شرح کن اسرار حق را مو به مو
Such a person as is short-sighted, plunged in variability and without steadfastness,3270
آن چنان کس را که کوته بین بود ** در تلون غرق و بیتمکین بود
I called a “mouse,” because his place is in the earth (of the body): earth is the place of living for the mouse.
موش گفتم ز انکه در خاک است جاش ** خاک باشد موش را جای معاش
He knows (many) ways, but (only) underground: he has pierced the earth in every direction.
راهها داند ولی در زیر خاک ** هر طرف او خاک را کرده ست چاک
The mouse-soul is naught but a nibbler: to the mouse is given a mind proportionate to its need,
نفس موشی نیست الا لقمه رند ** قدر حاجت موش را عقلی دهند
Because without need the Almighty God does not give anything to any one.
ز انکه بیحاجت خداوند عزیز ** مینبخشد هیچ کس را هیچ چیز
If the earth had not been needed by the (inhabitants of the) world, the Lord of all beings would not have created any (earth);3275
گر نبودی حاجت عالم زمین ** نافریدی هیچ رب العالمین
And if this quaking earth had not needed mountains, He would not have created them sublime (as they are);
وین زمین مضطرب محتاج کوه ** گر نبودی نافریدی پر شکوه
And if there had not been need of the heavenly spheres also, He would not have created from non-existence the Seven Skies.
ور نبودی حاجت افلاک هم ** هفت گردون نافریدی از عدم
The sun and moon and these stars—how did they come plain into view except through need?
آفتاب و ماه و این استارگان ** جز به حاجت کی پدید آمد عیان