This way is not long for this caravan: how should the desert show itself formidable to him who has been granted success (by God)?
نیست بر این کاروان این ره دراز ** کی مفازه زفت آید با مفاز
The heart (spirit) is faring to the Ka‘ba at every moment, and through (Divine) bounty the body assumes the nature of the heart.
دل به کعبه میرود در هر زمان ** جسم طبع دل بگیرد ز امتنان
This longness and shortness appertains to the body: where God is, what is “long” and “short”?
این دراز و کوتهی مر جسم راست ** چه دراز و کوته آنجا که خداست
When God has transmuted the body, He makes its faring to be without league or mile.535
چون خدا مر جسم را تبدیل کرد ** رفتنش بیفرسخ و بیمیل کرد
There are a hundred hopes at this (present) time. Step (forward), O youth, like a (true) lover and relinquish (idle) disputation.
صد امیدست این زمان بردار گام ** عاشقانه ای فتی خل الکلام
Albeit thou art closing thine eyelids, thou art asleep in the ship and voyaging (in safety).
گرچه پلهی چشم بر هم میزنی ** در سفینه خفتهای ره میکنی
Exposition of the Hadíth, "The parable of my community is the parable of the Ship (Ark) of Noah: whoso shall cleave to it is saved, and whoso shall hold back from it is drowned."
تفسیر این حدیث کی مثل امتی کمثل سفینة نوح من تمسک بها نجا و من تخلف عنها غرق
On this account the Prophet said, “I am as the Ship (Ark) in the Flood of Time.
بهر این فرمود پیغامبر که من ** همچو کشتیام به طوفان زمن
I and my Companions are as the Ship of Noah: whoso clings (to us) will gain (spiritual) graces.”
ما و اصحابم چو آن کشتی نوح ** هر که دست اندر زند یابد فتوح
When you are with the Shaykh you are far removed from wickedness: day and night you are a traveller and in a ship.540
چونک با شیخی تو دور از زشتیی ** روز و شب سیاری و در کشتیی
You are under the protection of a life-giving spirit: you are asleep in the ship, you are going on the way.
در پناه جان جانبخشی توی ** کشتی اندر خفتهای ره میروی
Do not break with the prophet of your days: do not rely on your own skill and footsteps.
مسکل از پیغامبر ایام خویش ** تکیه کم کن بر فن و بر کام خویش
Lion though you are, you are self-conceited and in error and contemptible when you go on the way without a guide.
گرچه شیری چون روی ره بیدلیل ** خویشبین و در ضلالی و ذلیل
Beware! Do not fly but with the wings of the Shaykh, that you may see (receive) the aid of the armies of the Shaykh.
هین مپر الا که با پرهای شیخ ** تا ببینی عون و لشکرهای شیخ
At one time the wave of his mercy is your pinion, at another moment the fire of his wrath is your carrier.545
یک زمانی موج لطفش بال تست ** آتش قهرش دمی حمال تست
Do not reckon his wrath to be the contrary of his mercy: behold the oneness of both (these qualities) in the effect.
قهر او را ضد لطفش کم شمر ** اتحاد هر دو بین اندر اثر
At one time he will make you green like the earth, at another time he will make you full of wind, and big.
یک زمان چون خاک سبزت میکند ** یک زمان پر باد و گبزت میکند
He gives the quality of inorganic things to the body of the knower (of God), in order that gay roses and eglantines may grow on it;
جسم عارف را دهد وصف جماد ** تا برو روید گل و نسرین شاد
But he (the Shaykh) alone sees (them), none sees but he: Paradise yields no scent but to the purified brain.
لیک او بیند نبیند غیر او ** جز به مغز پاک ندهد خلد بو
Empty your brain of disbelief in the Friend, that it may feel sweet odours from the rose-garden of the Friend;550
مغز را خالی کن از انکار یار ** تا که ریحان یابد از گلزار یار
So that you may feel the scent of Paradise from my Friend, as Mohammed the scent of the Merciful (God) from Yemen.
تا بیابی بوی خلد از یار من ** چون محمد بوی رحمن از یمن
If you stand in the rank of those who make the (spiritual) ascension, not-being (self-naughtedness) will bear you aloft, like Buráq.
در صف معراجیان گر بیستی ** چون براقت بر کشاند نیستی
’Tis not like the ascension of a piece of earth (an earthly being) to the moon; nay, but like the ascension of a cane to sugar.
نه چو معراج زمینی تا قمر ** بلک چون معراج کلکی تا شکر
’Tis not like the ascension of a vapour to the sky; nay, but like the ascension of an embryo to rationality.
نه چو معراج بخاری تا سما ** بل چو معراج جنینی تا نهی
The steed of not-being (self-naughtedness) became a goodly Buráq: it brings you to (real) existence, if you are non-existent (self-naughted).555
خوش براقی گشت خنگ نیستی ** سوی هستی آردت گر نیستی
Its hoof brushes the mountains and seas till it puts the world of sense perception behind.
کوه و دریاها سمش مس میکند ** تا جهان حس را پس میکند