Ahmad (Mohammed) says, “Had (his) faith been greater, even the air would have carried him safely,
گوید احمد گر یقینش افزون بدی ** خود هوایش مرکب و مامون بدی
Like me, who rode upon the air on the night of the Ascension and sought communion (with God).”
هم‌چو من که بر هوا راکب شدم ** در شب معراج مستصحب شدم
He (Hilál) said, “How is a blind filthy dog that sprang up from sleep and found itself to be a lion?—
گفت چون باشد سگی کوری پلید ** جست او از خواب خود را شیر دید
Not such a lion as any one could shoot; nay, but (such an one that) by the terror of it sword and javelin would be shattered.1190
نه چنان شیری که کس تیرش زند ** بل ز بیمش تیغ و پیکان بشکند
The blind man, (who was) going on his belly, like a snake— (how is he when) he has opened his eyes in the garden and in spring?”
کور بر اشکم رونده هم‌چو مار ** چشمها بگشاد در باغ و بهار
How is the “how” (contingent being) that has been freed from “how-ness” (conditionedness) and has attained unto the abounding life of “how-lessness”?
چون بود آن چون که از چونی رهید ** در حیاتستان بی‌چونی رسید
He has become a dispenser of “how-ness” in the world beyond locality: all “how's” are (gathered) round his table, like dogs.
گشت چونی‌بخش اندر لامکان ** گرد خوانش جمله چونها چون سگان
He gives (throws) to them a bone from (the table of) “how-lessness.” Do thou, (being) in the state of pollution, keep silence: do not recite this Súra (of the Qur’án).
او ز بی‌چونی دهدشان استخوان ** در جنابت تن زن این سوره مخوان
Until thou wash thyself entirely clean of “how-ness,” do not put thy hand on this (Holy) Book, O youth.1195
تا ز چونی غسل ناری تو تمام ** تو برین مصحف منه کف ای غلام
Whether I am dirty or clean, O (spiritual) princes, if I do not recite this, then what in the world shall I recite?
گر پلیدم ور نظیفم ای شهان ** این نخوانم پس چه خوانم در جهان
You say to me, “For the sake of the (Divine) reward, do not go into the water-tank without having washed”;
تو مرا گویی که از بهر ثواب ** غسل ناکرده مرو در حوض آب
(But) outside of the tank there is nothing but earth: no one who does not enter the tank is clean.
از برون حوض غیر خاک نیست ** هر که او در حوض ناید پاک نیست
If the waters have not the grace to receive filth continually,
گر نباشد آبها را این کرم ** کو پذیرد مر خبث را دم به دم
Alas for the longing lover and his hope! Oh, sorrow for his everlasting sorrow!1200
وای بر مشتاق و بر اومید او ** حسرتا بر حسرت جاوید او
(Nay, but) the water hath a hundred graces, a hundred (noble) pities, for it receives the defiled ones (and purifies them)—and peace (be with thee)!
آب دارد صد کرم صد احتشام ** که پلیدان را پذیرد والسلام
O thou Radiance of God, Husámu’ddín, the Light is thy protector from the worst of flying creatures.
ای ضیاء الحق حسام‌الدین که نور ** پاسبان تست از شر الطیور
The Light and its ascent are thy protector, O Sun who art concealed from the bat.
پاسبان تست نور و ارتقاش ** ای تو خورشید مستر از خفاش
The veil before the face of the Sun, what is it but excess of brilliance and intensity of splendour?
چیست پرده پیش روی آفتاب ** جز فزونی شعشعه و تیزی تاب
The veil over the Sun is just the Light of the Lord: the bat and the night have no lot therein.1205
پرده‌ی خورشید هم نور ربست ** بی‌نصیب از وی خفاشست و شبست
Inasmuch as both (of them) have remained far (from the Sun) and veiled (from it), they have remained either black-faced (like Night) or cold (like the bat).
هر دو چون در بعد و پرده مانده‌اند ** یا سیه‌رو یا فسرده مانده‌اند
Since thou hast written part of the story of the New-moon (Hilál), (now) put into words the tale of the Full-moon.
چون نبشتی بعضی از قصه‌ی هلال ** داستان بدر آر اندر مقال
The New-moon and the Full-moon have oneness (with each other): they are far from duality and from imperfection and corruption.
آن هلال و بدر دارند اتحاد ** از دوی دورند و از نقص و فساد
The new-moon is inwardly free from imperfection: its apparent imperfection is (due to its) increasing gradually.
آن هلال از نقص در باطن بریست ** آن به ظاهر نقص تدریج آوریست
Night by night it gives a lesson in gradualness, and with deliberation it produces relief (for itself).1210
درس گوید شب به شب تدریج را ** در تانی بر دهد تفریج را
With deliberation it says, “O hasty fool, (only) step by step can one mount to the roof.”
در تانی گوید ای عجول خام ** پایه‌پایه بر توان رفتن به بام