Grasp in a blind man's fashion the rope of Allah: do not cling to aught but the Divine commandments and prohibitions.
دست کورانه به حبل الله زن ** جز بر امر و نهی یزدانی متن
What is the rope of Allah? To renounce self-will, for this self-will was a roaring wind (of destruction) to (the people of) ‘Ád.
چیست حبلالله رها کردن هوا ** کین هوا شد صرصری مر عاد را
’Tis from self-will that folk are sitting in gaol, ’tis from self-will that the (trapped) bird's wings are tied.
خلق در زندان نشسته از هواست ** مرغ را پرها ببسته از هواست
’Tis from self-will that the fish is (cooked) in a hot pan, ’tis from self-will that shame (bashfulness) is gone from the modest.3495
ماهی اندر تابهی گرم از هواست ** رفته از مستوریان شرم از هواست
The anger of the police magistrate is a fiery spark from self-will; crucifixion and the awfulness of the gallows are (the consequence) of self-will.
خشم شحنه شعلهی نار از هواست ** چارمیخ و هیبت دار از هواست
You have seen the magistrate (who carries out the punishment) of bodies on the earth: (now) see also the magistrate who executes judgements against the soul.
شحنهی اجسام دیدی بر زمین ** شحنهی احکام جان را هم ببین
Verily tortures are inflicted on the soul in the world invisible, but until you escape (from self-will) the torture is concealed (from view).
روح را در غیب خود اشکنجههاست ** لیک تا نجهی شکنجه در خفاست
When you are freed you will behold the torture and perdition (of the soul), because contrary is made manifest by contrary.
چون رهیدی بینی اشکنجه و دمار ** زانک ضد از ضد گردد آشکار
He that was born in the well (of the material world) and the black water, how should he know the pleasantness of the open country and (distinguish it from) the pain of (being in) the well?3500
آنک در چه زاد و در آب سیاه ** او چه داند لطف دشت و رنج چاه
When, from fear of God, you have relinquished self-will, the goblet (of drink) from God's Tasním will arrive.
چون رها کردی هوا از بیم حق ** در رسد سغراق از تسنیم حق
Do not in your self-will make a way: ask of God's Majesty the way to Salsabíl.
لا تطرق فی هواک سل سبیل ** من جناب الله نحو السلسبیل
Be not submissive to self-will (and yielding) like hay: in sooth the shade of the Divine Throne is better than the summer-house (of the world).
لا تکن طوع الهوی مثل الحشیش ** ان ظل العرش اولی من عریش
The Sultan said, “Take the horse back (to the Amír) and with all speed redeem (deliver) me from (committing) this wrong.”
گفت سلطان اسپ را وا پس برید ** زودتر زین مظلمه بازم خرید
The King did not say in his heart, “Do not (seek to) deceive the lion so greatly by means of the head of an ox.3505
با دل خود شه نفرمود این قدر ** شیر را مفریب زین راس البقر
You (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) drag in the ox in order to cheat (me): begone, God does not stick the horns of an ox upon a horse.”
پای گاو اندر میان آری ز داو ** رو ندوزد حق بر اسپی شاخ گاو
This renowned Master-builder observes great congruity in His workmanship: how should He attach to a horse's body part of (the body of) an ox?
بس مناسب صنعتست این شهره زاو ** کی نهد بر جسم اسپ او عضو گاو
The Master-builder has made (all) bodies congruously: He has constructed moving palaces,
زاو ابدان را مناسب ساخته ** قصرهای منتقل پرداخته
(With) balconies in them and cisterns (distributing water) from this (part of the palace) to that;
در میان قصرها تخریجها ** از سوی این سوی آن صهریجها
And within them an infinite world: all this (vast) expanse (is contained) in a single tent.3510
وز درونشان عالمی بیمنتها ** در میان خرگهی چندین فضا
Now He causes (one beautiful as) the moon to seem like an incubus (nightmare), now He causes the bottom of a well to have the semblance of a garden.
گه چو کابوسی نماید ماه را ** گه نماید روضه قعر چاه را
Inasmuch as the closing and opening of the eye of the heart by the Almighty is continually working lawful magic,
قبض و بسط چشم دل از ذوالجلال ** دم به دم چون میکند سحر حلال
For this reason Mustafá (Mohammed) entreated God, saying, “Let the false appear as false and the true as true,
زین سبب درخواست از حق مصطفی ** زشت را هم زشت و حق را حقنما
So that at last, when Thou turnest the leaf, I may not (be stricken) by sorrow (and) fall into agitation.”
تا به آخر چون بگردانی ورق ** از پشیمانی نه افتم در قلق
(’Twas) the Lord of the Kingdom (that) guided the peerless ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk to the deception which he practised.3515
مکر که کرد آن عماد الملک فرد ** مالک الملکش بدان ارشاد کرد
God's deception is the fountainhead of (all) these deceptions: the heart is between the two fingers of the (Divine) Majesty.
مکر حق سرچشمهی این مکرهاست ** قلب بین اصبعین کبریاست