Demand this testimony of acts and words from him (only) who is not united with the Sea like a river.
این گواه فعل و قول از وی بجو ** کو به دریا نیست واصل هم‌چو جو
Explaining that the light itself from within the illumined person bears witness to his light, without any act or word declaring it.
در بیان آنک نور خود از اندرون شخص منور بی‌آنک فعلی و قولی بیان کند گواهی دهد بر نور وی در بیان آنک آن‌نور خود را از اندرون سر عارف ظاهر کند بر خلقان بی‌فعل عارف و بی‌قول عارف افزون از آنک به قول و فعل او ظاهر شود چنانک آفتاب بلند شود بانگ خروس و اعلام مذن و علامات دیگر حاجت نیاید
But the (inner) light of the traveller (mystic) who has passed beyond the pale (of selfhood)—the deserts and plains are filled with his radiance.
لیک نور سالکی کز حد گذشت ** نور او پر شد بیابانها و دشت
(The fact of) his being a witness (to God) is independent of witnesses and works of supererogation and of self-devotion and self-sacrifice.
شاهدی‌اش فارغ آمد از شهود ** وز تکلفها و جانبازی و جود
Since the light of that (spiritual) substance has shone forth, he has gained independence of these hypocrisies.
نور آن گوهر چو بیرون تافتست ** زین تسلسها فراغت یافتست
Therefore do not demand of him the testimony of act and speech, for through him both the worlds have blossomed like a rose.245
پس مجو از وی گواه فعل و گفت ** که ازو هر دو جهان چون گل شکفت
What is this testimony? The making manifest of that which is hidden, whether (by) word or act or something else;
این گواهی چیست اظهار نهان ** خواه قول و خواه فعل و غیر آن
For its object is to make manifest the inward nature of the spiritual substance: the attributes (of that substance) are permanent, though these accidents (such as acts and words) are fleeting.
که عرض اظهار سر جوهرست ** وصف باقی وین عرض بر معبرست
The mark of the gold on the touchstone does not remain, (but) the gold (itself) remains—of good renown and undoubted.
این نشان زر نماند بر محک ** زر بماند نیک نام و بی ز شک
Similarly, (all) this ritual prayer and holy war and fasting does not remain, but the spirit remains in good renown (for ever).
این صلات و این جهاد و این صیام ** هم نماند جان بماند نیک‌نام
The spirit produced certain acts and words of this kind (as proofs): it rubbed its substance on the touchstone of the (Divine) command,250
جان چنین افعال و اقوالی نمود ** بر محک امر جوهر را بسود
As though to say, “My belief is perfect: here is the witness!” (Yes), but there is doubt as regards the witnesses.
Know that the probity of the witnesses must be established: the means of establishing it is a (great) sincerity: thou art dependent on that.
تزکیه باید گواهان را بدان ** تزکیش صدقی که موقوفی بدان
In the case of the word-witness, ’tis keeping thy word (that is the test); in the case of the act-witness, ’tis keeping thy covenant (to perform these acts).
حفظ لفظ اندر گواه قولیست ** حفظ عهد اندر گواه فعلیست
The word-witness is rejected if it speaks falsely, and the act-witness is rejected if it does not run straight.
Thou must have words and acts that are not self-contradictory, in order that thou mayst meet with immediate acceptance.255
قول و فعل بی‌تناقض بایدت ** تا قبول اندر زمان بیش آیدت
Your efforts are diverse, ye are in contradiction: ye are sewing by day and tearing up (what ye have sewn) by night.
سعیکم شتی تناقض اندرید ** روز می‌دوزید شب بر می‌درید
Who, then, will hearken to testimony that contradicts itself, unless indeed He (the Judge) graciously show a (great) forbearance?
پس گواهی با تناقض کی شنود ** یا مگر حلمی کند از لطف خود
Act and word are (for) the manifestation of the inward thought and hidden mind: both are divulging the veiled secret.
فعل و قول اظهار سرست و ضمیر ** هر دو پیدا می‌کند سر ستیر
When thy witness has been proved honest, it is accepted; otherwise, it is kept in detention as a prisoner.
چون گواهت تزکیه شد شد قبول ** ورنه محبوس است اندر مول مول
O recalcitrant one, so long as thou contendest (with the holy saints) they will contend (with thee). Lie in wait for them, then! Verily, they are lying in wait (for thee).260
تا تو بستیزی ستیزند ای حرون ** فانتظرهم انهم منتظرون
How Mustafá, on whom be peace, offered the Testimony (profession of the Faith) to his guest.
عرضه کردن مصطفی علیه‌السلام شهادت را بر مهمان خویش
This discourse hath no end. Mustafá offered the Faith, and the youth accepted
این سخن پایان ندارد مصطفی ** عرضه کرد ایمان و پذرفت آن فتی
That Testimony which hath ever been blessed and hath ever loosed the fastbound chains.
آن شهادت را که فرخ بوده است ** بندهای بسته را بگشوده است
He became a true believer. Mustafá said to him, “Be my guest to-night also.”
گشت مؤمن گفت او را مصطفی ** که امشبان هم باش تو مهمان ما
“By God,” said he, “I am thy guest unto everlasting. Wheresoever I be, to whatsoever place I go,
گفت والله تا ابد ضیف توم ** هر کجا باشم بهر جا که روم
I am made living by thee and liberated by thee, and am thy doorkeeper (eating) at thy table in this world and in the next.265
زنده کرده و معتق و دربان تو ** این جهان و آن جهان بر خوان تو