Its light overpowers (that of all other) pearls, (because) it desires such an (exalted) object of desire.2865
نور او بر ذرهها غالب شود ** آنچنان مطلوب را طالب شود
(All) the (spiritual) stations (attainments) of God's servants were visible to him (the Prophet): consequently God named him ‘The Witness.’
در نظر بودش مقامات العباد ** لاجرم نامش خدا شاهد نهاد
The weapons of the Witness are a trenchant (veracious) tongue and a keen eye, whose nightly vigil no secret can elude.
آلت شاهد زبان و چشم تیز ** که ز شبخیزش ندارد سر گریز
Though a thousand pretenders (false witnesses) may raise their heads, the Judge turns his ear towards the Witness.
گر هزاران مدعی سر بر زند ** گوش قاضی جانب شاهد کند
This is the practice of judges in dealing justice: to them the (truthful) witness is (like) two clear eyes.
قاضیان را در حکومت این فنست ** شاهد ایشان را دو چشم روشنست
The words (testimony) of the Witness are equivalent to the eye because he has seen the secret (of Reality) with a disinterested eye.2870
گفت شاهد زان به جای دیده است ** کو بدیدهی بیغرض سر دیده است
The pretender (false witness) has seen it (too), but with self-interest: self-interest is a veil upon the eye of the heart.
مدعی دیدهست اما با غرض ** پرده باشد دیدهی دل را غرض
God desires that you should become an ascetic (záhid) in order that you may abandon self-interest and become a Witness (sháhid);
حق همیخواهد که تو زاهد شوی ** تا غرض بگذاری و شاهد شوی
For these motives of self-interest are a veil upon the eye: they enfold (muffle) the sight, like a veil.
کین غرضها پردهی دیده بود ** بر نظر چون پرده پیچیده بود
Therefore he (the self-interested man) does not see the whole in (all its) various aspects: your love of (created) things makes you blind and deaf.
پس نبیند جمله را با طم و رم ** حبک الاشیاء یعمی و یصم
Since the (Divine) Sun caused a light to dwell in his (the Witness's) heart, the stars no longer had any values for him.2875
در دلش خورشید چون نوری نشاند ** پیشش اختر را مقادیری نماند
Therefore he beheld the mysteries without veil: (he beheld) the journey of the spirit of the true believers and the infidels.
پس بدید او بیحجاب اسرار را ** سیر روح مومن و کفار را
God hath not (created) in the earth or in the lofty heaven anything more occult than the spirit of Man.
در زمین حق را و در چرخ سمی ** نیست پنهانتر ز روح آدمی
God hath unfolded (the mystery of all things) moist or dry, (but) He hath sealed (the mystery of) the spirit: ‘(it is) of the amr of my Lord.’
باز کرد از رطب و یابس حق نورد ** روح را من امر ربی مهر کرد
Therefore, since the august eye (of the Witness) beheld that spirit, nothing remains hidden from him.
پس چو دید آن روح را چشم عزیز ** پس برو پنهان نماند هیچ چیز
He is the absolute witness in every dispute: his word crushes the crop-sickness (which is the cause) of every headache.2880
شاهد مطلق بود در هر نزاع ** بشکند گفتش خمار هر صداع
God is named ‘the Just,’ and the Witness belongs to Him: for this reason the just Witness is the eye of the Beloved.
نام حق عدلست و شاهد آن اوست ** شاهد عدلست زین رو چشم دوست
The object of God's regard in both worlds is the (pure) heart, for the king's gaze is fixed upon the favourite.
منظر حق دل بود در دو سرا ** که نظر در شاهد آید شاه را
God's love and the mystery of His dallying with His favourite were the origin of all His veil-making (creation of phenomena).
عشق حق و سر شاهدبازیش ** بود مایهی جمله پردهسازیش
(’Twas) on that account, then, (that) in meeting (the Prophet) on the night of the Ascension our (Lord who is) fond of dalliance said, ‘But for thee (I would not have created the heavens).’
پس از آن لولاک گفت اندر لقا ** در شب معراج شاهدباز ما
This (Divine) Destiny rules (everything) good and evil: does not the Witness become the ruler of Destiny?2885
این قضا بر نیک و بد حاکم بود ** بر قضا شاهد نه حاکم میشود
The bondsman of Destiny became the Commander of Destiny: hail to thee, O keen-sighted one who art pleasing (to God)!
شد اسیر آن قضا میر قضا ** شاد باش ای چشمتیز مرتضی
The knower made many a petition to the Known, saying, ‘O Thou who watchest over us in heat and cold,
عارف از معروف بس درخواست کرد ** کای رقیب ما تو اندر گرم و سرد
O Thou who givest us intimations in weal and woe, (though) our hearts are unaware of Thy intimations,
ای مشیر ما تو اندر خیر و شر ** از اشارتهات دلمان بیخبر
O (Lord) who daily and nightly seest us and whom we see not, (our) regarding the secondary cause (instead of the Causer) has muffled our eyes.
ای یرانا لانراه روز و شب ** چشمبند ما شده دید سبب