In that quarter where the illimitable Light has shone, infidelity has become faith and the Devil has attained unto Islam.2075
کفر ایمان گشت و دیو اسلام یافت ** آن طرف کان نور بی‌اندازه تافت
He (the saint) is a theatre for the manifestation of the (Divine) Glory, and he is the real beloved (of God): he has carried off the prize from (taken precedence over) all the Cherubim.
مظهر عزست و محبوب به حق ** از همه کروبیان برده سبق
The worship of Adam (by the angels) is clear evidence of his superiority: the husk always bows down (pays homage) to the kernel.
سجده آدم را بیان سبق اوست ** سجده آرد مغز را پیوست پوست
O old woman, (if) you puff (try to put out) God's candle, you will be burnt, you and your head at the same time, O foul-mouthed one.
شمع حق را پف کنی تو ای عجوز ** هم تو سوزی هم سرت ای گنده‌پوز
How should the sea be defiled by a dog's muzzle? How should the sun be extinguished by a puff?
کی شود دریا ز پوز سگ نجس ** کی شود خورشید از پف منطمس
Even if you judge (only) by appearances, tell (me), what is more apparent than this Light?2080
حکم بر ظاهر اگر هم می‌کنی ** چیست ظاهرتر بگو زین روشنی
In comparison with this appearance all apparent things are in the utmost degree of imperfection and default.
جمله ظاهرها به پیش این ظهور ** باشد اندر غایت نقص و قصور
If any one puff at God's candle, how should the candle be extinguished? His jaws and nose will be burnt.
هر که بر شمع خدا آرد پف او ** شمع کی میرد بسوزد پوز او
Bats like you often dream that this world will be left orphaned (deprived) of the Sun.
چون تو خفاشان بسی بینند خواب ** کین جهان ماند یتیم از آفتاب
The fierce waves of the seas of the Spirit are a hundred times as many as was (the multitude of waves in) the Flood of Noah;
موجهای تیز دریاهای روح ** هست صد چندان که بد طوفان نوح
But hair grew (and formed an obstruction) in the eye of Canaan: he forsook Noah and the Ark and sought the mountain.2085
لیک اندر چشم کنعان موی رست ** نوح و کشتی را بهشت و کوه جست
Then half a wave swept the mountain and Canaan down into the abyss of dishonour.
کوه و کنعان را فرو برد آن زمان ** نیم موجی تا به قعر امتهان
The moon scatters her light and the dog bays: how should the dog feed on the light of the moon?
مه فشاند نور و سگ وع وع کند ** سگ ز نور ماه کی مرتع کند
Those who travel by night and move swiftly with the moon on her way, how should they relinquish their journey because of the dog's yelping?
شب روان و همرهان مه بتگ ** ترک رفتن کی کنند از بانگ سگ
The part is speeding like an arrow towards the Whole: how should it stop on account of any old hag?
جزو سوی کل دوان مانند تیر ** کی کند وقف از پی هر گنده‌پیر
The gnostic is the soul of religion and the soul of piety: gnosis is the result of past asceticism.2090
جان شرع و جان تقوی عارفست ** معرفت محصول زهد سالفست
Asceticism is the labour of sowing; gnosis is the growth of the seed.
زهد اندر کاشتن کوشیدنست ** معرفت آن کشت را روییدنست
Therefore the (ascetic's) hard struggle and his firm religious conviction are like the body, (while) the soul of this sowing is the growth (of the seed) and its harvesting.
پس چو تن باشد جهاد و اعتقاد ** جان این کشتن نباتست و حصاد
He (the gnostic) is both the command to do right and the right (itself); he is both the revealer of mysteries and that which is revealed.
امر معروف او و هم معروف اوست ** کاشف اسرار و هم مکشوف اوست
He is our king to-day and to-morrow: the husk is for ever a slave to his goodly kernel,
شاه امروزینه و فردای ماست ** پوست بنده‌ی مغز نغزش دایماست
When the Shaykh (Halláj) said ‘I am God’ and carried it through (to the end), he throttled (vanquished) all the blind (sceptics).2095
چون انا الحق گفت شیخ و پیش برد ** پس گلوی جمله کوران را فشرد
When a man's ‘I’ is negated (and eliminated) from existence, then what remains? Consider, O denier.
چون انای بنده لا شد از وجود ** پس چه ماند تو بیندیش ای جحود
If you have an eye, open it and look! After ‘not,’ why, what else remains?
گر ترا چشمیست بگشا در نگر ** بعد لا آخر چه می‌ماند دگر