The Prophet, (who drew inspiration) from the Unseen, explained this (matter) clearly in his marvellous discourses with ‘Alí.
گفت پیغامبر ز غیب این را جلی ** در مقالات نوادر با علی
“O Prophet of Allah, thou hast displayed (the truth of) thy prophetic mission completely, like the cloudless sun.
یا رسولالله رسالت را تمام ** تو نمودی همچو شمس بیغمام
Two hundred mothers never did (to their children) this which thou hast done (to me); Jesus by his (life-giving) spells never did (so much as this) to ‘Ázar (Lazarus).275
این که تو کردی دو صد مادر نکرد ** عیسی از افسونش با عازر نکرد
Lo, through thee, my soul hath been delivered from death: if ‘Ázar was revived by that breath (of Jesus), yet he died again.”
از تو جانم از اجل نک جان ببرد ** عازر ار شد زنده زان دم باز مرد
The Arab became the Prophet's guest that night: he drank half the milk of a single goat and (then) closed his lips.
گشت مهمان رسول آن شب عرب ** شیر یک بز نیمه خورد و بست لب
He (the Prophet) urged him to drink the milk and eat the scones. “By God,” said he, “in all sincerity I have eaten my fill.
کرد الحاحش بخور شیر و رقاق ** گفت گشتم سیر والله بینفاق
This is not hypocrisy or affectation and artifice: I have become fuller than I was yesternight.”
این تکلف نیست نی ناموس و فن ** سیرتر گشتم از آنک دوش من
All the people of the (Prophet's) house were left in astonishment (to think that) this lamp had been filled by this one drop of oil,280
در عجب ماندند جمله اهل بیت ** پر شد این قندیل زین یک قطره زیت
And that what is (only) a swift's (portion of) food should become the (means of) filling the belly of such an elephant.
آنچ قوت مرغ بابیلی بود ** سیری معدهی چنین پیلی شود
Whispering arose amongst the men and women—“That man who has the body of an elephant eats as little as a fly!”
فجفجه افتاد اندر مرد و زن ** قدر پشه میخورد آن پیلتن
The greed and vanity of unbelief was overthrown: the dragon was satisfied with the food of an ant.
حرص و وهم کافری سرزیر شد ** اژدها از قوت موری سیر شد
The beggar-like greediness of unbelief departed from him: the sweet food of the Faith made him stout and strong.
آن گدا چشمی کفر از وی برفت ** لوت ایمانیش لمتر کرد و زفت
He who was quivering from ravenous hunger beheld, like Mary, the fruit of Paradise.285
آنک از جوع البقر او میطپید ** همچو مریم میوهی جنت بدید
The fruit of Paradise sped to his body: his Hell-like belly gained repose.
میوهی جنت سوی چشمش شتافت ** معدهی چون دوزخش آرام یافت
The essence of the Faith is a mighty blessing and exceedingly delicious food, O thou who art content with naught of the Faith but the profession!
ذات ایمان نعمت و لوتیست هول ** ای قناعت کرده از ایمان به قول
Explaining that the Light which is the food of the spirit becomes the food of the saint's body, so that it (his body) also becomes friendly with the spirit (according to the saying of the Prophet), “My satan hath accepted Islam at my hands.”
بیان آنک نور که غذای جانست غذای جسم اولیا میشود تا او هم یار میشود روح را کی اسلم شیطانی علی یدی
Although that (Light) is the food of the spirit and the (spiritual) sight, the body too partakes of it, O son.
گرچه آن مطعوم جانست و نظر ** جسم را هم زان نصیبست ای پسر
If the devilish body had not become fond of eating it, the Prophet would not have said, “The devil accepted Islam.”
گر نگشتی دیو جسم آن را اکول ** اسلم الشیطان نفرمودی رسول
How should the devil become a Moslem until it drink of the sweet food by which the dead is made living?290
دیو زان لوتی که مرده حی شود ** تا نیاشامد مسلمان کی شود
The devil is passionately in love with the world, blind and deaf; (but this) love, no doubt, may be cut off by another love.
دیو بر دنیاست عاشق کور و کر ** عشق را عشقی دگر برد مگر
When it tastes the wine from the cellar of clairvoyance, little by little it will transfer its love thither.
از نهانخانهی یقین چون میچشد ** اندکاندک رخت عشق آنجا کشد
O thou whose belly is greedy, turn away thus (from the world): the only method is change of food.
یا حریص االبطن عرج هکذا ** انما المنهاج تبدیل الغذا
O thou whose heart is sick, turn to the remedy: the entire regimen is change of disposition.
یا مریض القلب عرج للعلاج ** جملة التدبیر تبدیل المزاج
O thou who art kept in pawn to food, thou wilt escape if thou suffer thyself to be weaned.295
ایها المحبوس فی رهن الطعام ** سوف تنجو ان تحملت الفطام
Verily, in hunger there is plenteous food: search after it diligently and cherish the hope (of finding it), O shrinker.
ان فیالجوع طعام وافر ** افتقدها وارتج یا نافر
Feed on the Light, be like the eye, be in accord with the angels, O best of mankind.
اغتذ بالنور کن مثل البصر ** وافق الاملاک یا خیر البشر