The moon (the spirit of Ahmad) is entirely a bounteous light-diffusing hand: if the moon have no hand (with which to bestow light), let it have none!
مه همه کفست معطی نورپاش ** ماه را گر کف نباشد گو مباش
If Ahmad should display that glorious pinion (his spiritual nature), Gabriel would remain dumbfounded unto everlasting.3800
احمد ار بگشاید آن پر جلیل ** تا ابد بیهوش ماند جبرئیل
When Ahmad passed beyond the Lote-tree (on the boundary of Paradise) and his (Gabriel's) place of watch and station and farthest limit,
چون گذشت احمد ز سدره و مرصدش ** وز مقام جبرئیل و از حدش
He said to him (Gabriel), “Hark, fly after me.” He (Gabriel) said, “Go, go; I am not thy companion (any farther).”
گفت او را هین بپر اندر پیم ** گفت رو رو من حریف تو نیم
He answered him, saying, “Come, O destroyer of veils: I have not yet advanced to my zenith.”
باز گفت او را بیا ای پرده‌سوز ** من باوج خود نرفتستم هنوز
He replied, “O my illustrious friend, if I take one flight beyond this limit, my wings will be consumed.”
گفت بیرون زین حد ای خوش‌فر من ** گر زنم پری بسوزد پر من
This tale of the elect losing their senses in (contemplation of) the most elect is (naught but) amazement on amazement.3805
حیرت اندر حیرت آمد این قصص ** بیهشی خاصگان اندر اخص
Here all (other) unconsciousnesses are (a mere) play. How long will you keep possession of your soul? for it is (a case of) abandoning your soul.
بیهشیها جمله اینجا بازیست ** چند جان داری که جان پردازیست
O “Gabriel,” though you are noble and revered, you are not the moth nor the candle either.
جبرئیلا گر شریفی و عزیز ** تو نه‌ای پروانه و نه شمع نیز
When the candle calls at the moment of illumination, the soul of the moth does not shrink from burning.
شمع چون دعوت کند وقت فروز ** جان پروانه نپرهیزد ز سوز
Bury this topsy-turvy discourse: make the lion contrariously the prey of the onager.
این حدیث منقلب را گور کن ** شیر را برعکس صید گور کن
Stop up thy word-sweating water-skin, do not open the bag of thy reckless talk.3810
بند کن مشک سخن‌شاشیت را ** وا مکن انبان قلماشیت را
He whose (intellectual and spiritual) parts have not passed beyond the earth— this is absurd and reckless talk in his view.
آنک بر نگذشت اجزاش از زمین ** پیش او معکوس و قلماشیست این
Do not resist them, O my beloved; deal gently with them, O stranger lodging in their home.
لا تخالفهم حبیبی دارهم ** یا غریبا نازلا فی دارهم
Give (them) what they wish and desire, and satisfy them, O emigrant dwelling in their land.
اعط ما شائوا وراموا وارضهم ** یا ظعینا ساکنا فی‌ارضهم
Till (the hour of) coming to the king and to sweet delight, O man of Rayy be on good terms with the man of Merv.
تا رسیدن در شه و در ناز خوش ** رازیا با مرغزی می‌ساز خویش
O “Moses,” in presence of the Pharaoh of the time you must speak softly with mild words.3815
موسیا در پیش فرعون زمن ** نرم باید گفت قولا لینا
If you put water into boiling oil, you will destroy (both) the trivet and the kettle.
آب اگر در روغن جوشان کنی ** دیگدان و دیگ را ویران کنی
Speak softly, but do not speak aught except the truth: do not offer temptation in your mildness of address.
نرم گو لیکن مگو غیر صواب ** وسوسه مفروش در لین الخطاب
The time of afternoon is come: cut short the discourse, O thou whose expression (of the hidden truth) makes (the people of) the age acquainted (with reality).
وقت عصر آمد سخن کوتاه کن ** ای که عصرت عصر را آگاه کن
Do thou tell the clay-eater that sugar is better: do not show injurious softness, do not give him clay.
گو تو مر گل‌خواره را که قند به ** نرمی فاسد مکن طینش مده
Speech would be a spiritual garden to the soul, if it were independent of letters and sounds.3820
نطق جان را روضه‌ی جانیستی ** گر ز حرف و صوت مستغنیستی
Oh, there is many a one in whom this donkey's head amidst the sugar plantation has fixed a thorn!
این سر خر در میان قندزار ** ای بسا کس را که بنهادست خار
He, (seeing it) from afar, supposed that it (the sugar-plantation) is just that (donkey's head), nothing more; (so) he was retiring, like a ram vanquished in fight.
ظن ببرد از دور کان آنست و بس ** چون قج مغلوب وا می‌رفت پس
Know for sure that the (literal) form (of speech) is (like) that donkey's head in the vineyard and highest Paradise of the spiritual reality.
صورت حرف آن سر خر دان یقین ** در رز معنی و فردوس برین