But (it is) the action of the Lord (that), without (using) any instrument, makes his free-will a noose for him (to catch Zayd).
لیک بی هیچ آلتی صنع صمد ** اختیارش را کمند او کند
His (God's) free-will makes him a fetter for Zayd: God makes him (Zayd's captor) His prey without (the help of) dog or snare.
اختیارش زید را قدیش کند ** بیسگ و بیدام حق صیدش کند
The carpenter has authority over a piece of wood, and the artist has authority over (the portrait of) a beauty;
آن دروگر حاکم چوبی بود ** وآن مصور حاکم خوبی بود
The ironsmith is a superintendent of iron; the builder also is a ruler over his tools.
هست آهنگر بر آهن قیمی ** هست بنا هم بر آلت حاکمی
This (matter) is extraordinary; for all this (human) free-will is bowing low, like a slave, in (homage to) His (God's) free-will.3095
نادر این باشد که چندین اختیار ** ساجد اندر اختیارش بندهوار
When did the power forcibly exercised by you over inanimate objects deprive them of (their) inanimateness?
قدرت تو بر جمادات از نبرد ** کی جمادی را از آنها نفی کرد
Similarly, His (God's) power over (our) acts of free-will does not deprive any act of free-will of that (quality).
قدرتش بر اختیارات آنچنان ** نفی نکند اختیاری را از آن
Declare that His (God's) will is (exercised) in a complete manner, (but) without there being (involved in it) the attribution (to Him) of compulsion (jabr) and (responsibility for) error (disobedience to His commands).
خواستش میگوی بر وجه کمال ** که نباشد نسبت جبر و ضلال
Since you have said, ‘My unbelief is willed by Him,’ know that it is also willed by yourself;
چونک گفتی کفر من خواست ویست ** خواست خود را نیز هم میدان که هست
For without your will your unbelief does not exist at all: involuntary unbelief is a self-contradiction.3100
زانک بیخواه تو خود کفر تو نیست ** کفر بیخواهش تناقض گفتنیست
’Tis abominable and blameworthy to lay a command on one incapable (of obeying it); and anger (on account of his disobedience) is worse, especially from the Merciful Lord.
امر عاجز را قبیحست و ذمیم ** خشم بتر خاصه از رب رحیم
An ox is beaten if he refuse the yoke: is an ox (ever) reduced to misery because he will not fly?
گاو گر یوغی نگیرد میزنند ** هیچ گاوی که نپرد شد نژند
Since the ox is not excused for frowardness, wherefore is the owner of the ox (to be held) excusable and infirm?
گاو چون معذور نبود در فضول ** صاحب گاو از چه معذورست و دول
Since you are not ill, don't bandage your head: you have freewill, don't laugh at your moustache.
چون نهای رنجور سر را بر مبند ** اختیارت هست بر سبلت مخند
Endeavour to gain freshness (spiritual grace) from God's cup (of love): then you will become selfless and volitionless.3105
جهد کن کز جام حق یابی نوی ** بیخود و بیاختیار آنگه شوی
Then all volition will belong to that Wine, and you will be absolutely excusable, like a drunken man.
آنگه آن می را بود کل اختیار ** تو شوی معذور مطلق مستوار
Whatsoever you beat will (then) be beaten by the Wine; whatsoever you sweep away will (then) be swept away by the Wine.
هرچه گویی گفتهی می باشد آن ** هر چه روبی رفتهی می باشد آن
The drunken man who has quaffed wine from God's cup— how should he do aught but justice and right?
کی کند آن مست جز عدل و صواب ** که ز جام حق کشیدست او شراب
The magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘Stop! He that is drunken hath no care for his hands and feet.
جادوان فرعون را گفتند بیست ** مست را پروای دست و پای نیست
The wine of the One (God) is our (real) hands and feet; the apparent hand is (but) a shadow and worthless.’3110
دست و پای ما می آن واحدست ** دست ظاهر سایه است و کاسدست
The meaning of ‘whatever God willed came to be,’ i.e. ‘the will is His will and pleasure. Seek His pleasure, be not distressed by the anger of others and the disapproval of others.’ Although the word ‘kána’ (came to be) denotes the past, yet there is no past or future in the action of God, for with God there is neither morn nor eve.
معنی ما شاء الله کان یعنی خواست خواست او و رضا رضای او جویید از خشم دیگران و رد دیگران دلتنگ مباشید آن کان اگر چه لفظ ماضیست لیکن در فعل خدا ماضی و مستقبل نباشد کی لیس عند الله صباح و لا مساء
The saying of (God's) servant, ‘whatever God wills comes to pass’ does not signify ‘be lazy (inactive) in that (matter)’;
قول بنده ایش شاء الله کان ** بهر آن نبود که تنبل کن در آن
Nay, it is an incitement to entire self-devotion and exertion, meaning, ‘Make yourself exceedingly ready to perform that service.’
بلک تحریضست بر اخلاص و جد ** که در آن خدمت فزون شو مستعد
If you are told, O sage, that what you wish (will come to pass, and that) you have full power to act according to your desire,
گر بگویند آنچ میخواهی تو راد ** کار کار تست برحسب مراد
Then, if you are neglectful (in serving God), ’tis permissible; for what you wish and say will come to pass.
آنگهان تنبل کنی جایز بود ** کانچ خواهی و آنچ گویی آن شود
When (on the contrary) you are told that whatever God wills shall come to pass, and that to Him belongs the authority absolute and everlasting,3115
چون بگویند ایش شاء الله کان ** حکم حکم اوست مطلق جاودان