He said, ‘I moulded thee for the sake of faná (self-naughting).’ It replied, ‘I accordingly took refuge in faná.’
گفت او بهر فنایت ریختم ** گفت من هم در فنا بگریختم
This is the necessary everlasting radiance, not the radiance of the perishable accidental candle.
این شعاع باقی آمد مفترض ** نه شعاع شمع فانی عرض
When the candle is wholly naughted in the fire (of Divine illumination), you will not see any trace of the candle or rays (of its light).
شمع چون در نار شد کلی فنا ** نه اثر بینی ز شمع و نه ضیا
Manifestly, in dispelling the darkness, the external (material) flame is maintained by a wax candle;
هست اندر دفع ظلمت آشکار ** آتش صورت به مومی پایدار
(But) the candle (which is) the body is contrary to the wax candle, since in proportion as that (the body) dwindles, the light of the spirit is increased.680
برخلاف موم شمع جسم کان ** تا شود کم گردد افزون نور جان
This is the everlasting radiance, and that (bodily candle) is perishable: the candle of the spirit hath a Divine flame.
این شعاع باقی و آن فانیست ** شمع جان را شعلهی ربانیست
Since this tongue of fire was (really) light, ’twas far from it to become a perishable shadow.
این زبانهی آتشی چون نور بود ** سایهی فانی شدن زو دور بود
The cloud's shadow falls on the earth: the shadow never consorts with the moon.
ابر را سایه بیفتد در زمین ** ماه را سایه نباشد همنشین
Selflessness is cloudlessness, O well-disposed one: in (the state of) selflessness thou wilt be like the orb of the moon.
بیخودی بیابریست ای نیکخواه ** باشی اندر بیخودی چون قرص ماه
Again, when a cloud comes, driven along, the light goes: of the moon there remains (only) a phantom.685
باز چون ابری بیاید رانده ** رفت نور از مه خیالی مانده
Its light is made feeble by the cloud-veil: that noble full-moon becomes less than the new moon.
از حجاب ابر نورش شد ضعیف ** کم ز ماه نو شد آن بدر شریف
The moon is made to appear a phantom by clouds and dust: the cloud, (which is) the body, has caused us to conceive phantasies.
مه خیالی مینماید ز ابر و گرد ** ابر تن ما را خیالاندیش کرد
Behold the kindness of the (Divine) Moon; for this too is His kindness, that He hath said, ‘The clouds are enemies to Us.’
لطف مه بنگر که این هم لطف اوست ** که بگفت او ابرها ما را عدوست
The Moon is independent of clouds and dust: the Moon hath His orbit aloft in the (spiritual) sky.
مه فراغت دارد از ابر و غبار ** بر فراز چرخ دارد مه مدار
The cloud is our mortal enemy and adversary because it hides the Moon from our eyes.690
ابر ما را شد عدو و خصم جان ** که کند مه را ز چشم ما نهان
This veil makes the houri (to appear as) a hag: it makes the full-moon less than a new moon.
حور را این پرده زالی میکند ** بدر را کم از هلالی میکند
The Moon hath seated us in the lap of glory: He hath called our foe His enemy.
ماه ما را در کنار عز نشاند ** دشمن ما را عدوی خویش خواند
The splendour and beauty of the cloud is (derived) from the Moon, (but) whoever calls the cloud the Moon is much astray.
تاب ابر و آب او خود زین مهست ** هر که مه خواند ابر را بس گمرهست
Since the light of the Moon has been poured down upon the cloud, its (the cloud's) dark face has been transfigured by the Moon.
نور مه بر ابر چون منزل شدست ** روی تاریکش ز مه مبدل شدست
Although it is of the same colour as the Moon and is associated with (the Moon's) empire, (yet) in the cloud the light of the Moon is (only) borrowed (impermanent).695
گرچه همرنگ مهست و دولتیست ** اندر ابر آن نور مه عاریتیست
At the Resurrection the sun and moon are discharged (from their office): the eye is occupied in (contemplating) the Source of (their) radiance,
در قیامت شمس و مه معزول شد ** چشم در اصل ضیا مشغول شد
In order that it may know (distinguish) the (permanent) possession from the (temporary) loan, and this perishable caravanseray from the everlasting abode.
تا بداند ملک را از مستعار ** وین رباط فانی از دارالقرار
The nurse is borrowed for three or four days: do thou, O Mother, take us into thy bosom!
دایه عاریه بود روزی سه چار ** مادرا ما را تو گیر اندر کنار
My feathers are (like) the cloud and are a veil and gross: (only) by the reflexion of God's loveliness are they made lovely.
پر من ابرست و پردهست و کثیف ** ز انعکاس لطف حق شد او لطیف
I will pluck my feathers and their beauty from the Way (to God), that I may behold the Moon's beauty (by immediate illumination) from the Moon.700
بر کنم پر را و حسنش را ز راه ** تا ببینم حسن مه را هم ز ماه