Infidels are content with the figures of the prophets which are painted (and kept) in churches;
کافران قانع بنقش انبیا ** که نگاریده‌ست اندر دیرها
(But) as we have (enjoy) a bright period (of inward illumination) from those moons, we have no care for a shadow-figure.3600
زان مهان ما را چو دور روشنیست ** هیچ‌مان پروای نقش سایه نیست
The one figure of him (the prophet) is seated in the (sublunary) world, while his other figure is in heaven, like the moon.
این یکی نقشش نشسته در جهان ** وآن دگر نقشش چو مه در آسمان
This mouth of him is speaking on subtle points (of religion) to those sitting beside him, while the other (mouth) is (engaged) in discourse with God and intimate (with Him).
این دهانش نکته‌گویان با جلیس ** و آن دگر با حق به گفتار و انیس
His outward ear is apprehending these (external) words, while his spiritual ear is drawing (into itself) the mysteries of (the Creative Word) Be.
گوش ظاهر این سخن را ضبط کن ** گوش جانش جاذب اسرار کن
His outward eye is apprehending human forms and features, while his inward eye is dazzled in (the glory of) the eye did not stray.
His outward feet stand evenly in the row (of worshippers) in the mosque, while his spiritual feet are (engaged) in circumambulation above the sky.3605
پای ظاهر در صف مسجد صواف ** پای معنی فوق گردون در طواف
Reckon up every member of him (and judge of it) in like fashion: this (bodily part) is within Time, while that (spiritual part) is beyond Time.
جزو جزوش را تو بشمر هم‌چنین ** این درون وقت و آن بیرون حین
This which is in Time endures till death, while the other is the associate of everlastingness and the peer of eternity.
این که در وقتست باشد تا اجل ** وان دگر یار ابد قرن ازل
One name of him is “owner of the two empires”; one description of him is “Imám of the two qiblas.”
هست یک نامش ولی الدولتین ** هست یک نعتش امام القبلتین
The religious seclusion and the forty days' fast are no longer incumbent on him: no cloud is overclouding him any more.
خلوت و چله برو لازم نماند ** هیچ غیمی مر ورا غایم نماند
His solitary cell is (resplendent as) the sun's orb: how should alien night throw a veil over it?3610
قرص خورشیدست خلوت‌خانه‌اش ** کی حجاب آرد شب بیگانه‌اش
Sickness and abstinence are gone, the crisis is past: his infidelity has become faith, and disbelief is no more.
علت و پرهیز شد بحران نماند ** کفر او ایمان شد و کفران نماند
Like (the letter) alif, he has taken the foremost place because of his straightness (rectitude): he retains nothing of his own qualities.
چون الف از استقامت شد به پیش ** او ندارد هیچ از اوصاف خویش
He has become separated from the garment of his own dispositions: his spirit has gone, naked, to Him who gives it increase of spirituality.
گشت فرد از کسوه‌ی خوهای خویش ** شد برهنه جان به جان‌افزای خویش
Inasmuch as it went naked into the presence of the incomparable King, the King made for it a raiment of holy qualities.
چون برهنه رفت پیش شاه فرد ** شاهش از اوصاف قدسی جامه کرد
It put on a robe of the King's qualities: it flew up from the pit to the palace of majesty.3615
خلعتی پوشید از اوصاف شاه ** بر پرید از چاه بر ایوان جاه
Such is the case: when dregs become pure, they rise from the bottom of the bowl to the top.
این چنین باشد چو دردی صاف گشت ** از بن طشت آمد او بالای طشت
Although it (the spirit) remained like dregs at the bottom of the bowl owing to the ill-luck of mixing with particles of earth, (this was not in accordance with its nature).
در بن طشت از چه بود او دردناک ** شومی آمیزش اجزای خاک
Its disagreeable companion had tied its wings and plumes; else (it would have risen, for) originally it was very soaring.
یار ناخوش پر و بالش بسته بود ** ورنه او در اصل بس برجسته بود
When they uttered the rebuke Get ye down, they suspended it, head first, like Hárút.
چون عتاب اهبطوا انگیختند ** هم‌چو هاروتش نگون آویختند
Hárút was one of the angels of Heaven: on account of a (Divine) rebuke he was suspended thus.3620
بود هاروت از ملاک آسمان ** از عتابی شد معلق هم‌چنان
He was (suspended), head downwards, because he remained far aloof from the Head and made himself the head and advanced alone.
سرنگون زان شد که از سر دور ماند ** خویش را سر ساخت و تنها پیش راند
When the basket saw itself to be full of water, it behaved with independence and parted from the sea.
آن سپد خود را چو پر از آب دید ** کر استغنا و از دریا برید
(Afterwards, when) not a single drop of water remained inside it, the sea showed mercy and called it back.
بر جگر آبش یکی قطره نماند ** بحر رحمت کرد و او را باز خواند