Since sand was turned into flour for the Friend (Abraham), know that the wheat is deposed from its office, O noble one.
چونک ریگی آرد شد بهر خلیل ** دانک معزولست گندم ای نبیل
Form is brought into existence by the Formless, just as smoke is produced by a fire.
صورت از بیصورت آید در وجود ** همچنانک از آتشی زادست دود
The least blemish in the qualities of that which is endowed with form becomes annoying when you regard it continually;
کمترین عیب مصور در خصال ** چون پیاپی بینیش آید ملال
(But) Formlessness throws you into absolute bewilderment: from non-instrumentality a hundred kinds of instruments are born.
حیرت محض آردت بیصورتی ** زاده صد گون آلت از بیآلتی
Handlessness is weaving (fashioning) hands: the Soul of the soul makes a (fully) formed Man.3715
بی ز دستی دستها بافد همی ** جان جان سازد مصور آدمی
’Tis like as (when) from separation and union diverse fancies are woven (conceived) in the heart.
آنچنان که اندر دل از هجر و وصال ** میشود بافیده گوناگون خیال
Does this cause ever resemble its effect? Does the cry (of pain) and lamentation ever resemble the loss (that caused it)?
هیچ ماند این مثر با اثر ** هیچ ماند بانگ و نوحه با ضرر
The lamentation has a form, the loss is formless: they (the losers) gnaw their hands on account of a loss that has no hand.
نوحه را صورت ضرر بیصورتست ** دست خایند از ضرر کش نیست دست
This comparison, O seeker of guidance, does not fit (the case), (but) ’tis the best effort a poor man can make to explain it.
این مثل نالایقست ای مستدل ** حیلهی تفهیم را جهد المقل
The formless working (of God) sows (the seed of) a form (idea), (whence) there grows up a body endowed with senses and a (rational) faculty,3720
صنع بیصورت بکارد صورتی ** تن بروید با حواس و آلتی
So that the form (idea), whatever it be, according to its own nature brings the body into (a state of) good or evil.
تا چه صورت باشد آن بر وفق خود ** اندر آرد جسم را در نیک و بد
If it be a form (idea) of beneficence, it (the body) turns to thanksgiving; if it be a form of deferment, it (the body) becomes patient;
صورت نعمت بود شاکر شود ** صورت مهلت بود صابر شود
If it be a form of mercy, it (the body) becomes flourishing; if it be a form of repulse, it (the body) becomes full of moans;
صورت رحمی بود بالان شود ** صورت زخمی بود نالان شود
If it be the form of a city, it (the body) takes a journey (thither); if it be the form of an arrow, it (the body) takes a shield (in defence);
صورت شهری بود گیرد سفر ** صورت تیری بود گیرد سپر
If it be the form of fair ones, it (the body) indulges in enjoyment; if it be a form of the unseen world, it (the body) practises religious seclusion.3725
صورت خوبان بود عشرت کند ** صورت غیبی بود خلوت کند
The form of want leads (the body) to earn (the means of livelihood); the form of strength of arm leads (the body) to seize (the property of others) by force.
صورت محتاجی آرد سوی کسب ** صورت بازو وری آرد به غصب
These (ideas) are boundless and immeasurable (in number): the motive to action (arises) from various sorts of (such) phantasy.
این ز حد و اندازهها باشد برون ** داعی فعل از خیال گونهگون
All the infinite ways of life and (all) the crafts are the shadow (reflexion) of the form of thoughts.
بینهایت کیشها و پیشهها ** جمله ظل صورت اندیشهها
(For example, when) happy folk (are) standing on the edge of a roof, observe the shadow of each one on the ground.
بر لب بام ایستاده قوم خوش ** هر یکی را بر زمین بین سایهاش
The form of thought is on the lofty roof (of the spirit), while the (resultant) action appears, like a shadow, on the pillars (bodily limbs).3730
صورت فکرست بر بام مشید ** وآن عمل چون سایه بر ارکان پدید
The action is (manifested) on the pillars, while the thought (that produces it) is concealed; but the two are combined in the correlation of cause and effect.
فعل بر ارکان و فکرت مکتتم ** لیک در تاثیر و وصلت دو به هم
The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.
آن صور در بزم کز جام خوشیست ** فایدهی او بیخودی و بیهشیست
The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—hinc nascitur perturbatio animi in coitu. [The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—their result at the time of sexual union (is mental) distraction.]
صورت مرد و زن و لعب و جماع ** فایدهش بیهوشی وقت وقاع
The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.
صورت نان و نمک کان نعمتست ** فایدهش آن قوت بیصورتست
On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory.3735
در مصاف آن صورت تیغ و سپر ** فایدهش بیصورتی یعنی ظفر