If any one wish to see a dead man walking thus visibly on the earth,
هرکه خواهد که ببیند بر زمین ** مردهای را میرود ظاهر چنین
Let him behold Abú Bakr, the devout, (who) through being a true witness (siddíq) became the Prince of the Resurrected.
مر ابوبکر تقی را گو ببین ** شد ز صدیقی امیرالمحشرین
In this (earthly) life look at the Siddíq (Abú Bakr), that you may believe more firmly in the Resurrection.”
اندرین نشات نگر صدیق را ** تا به حشر افزون کنی تصدیق را
Mohammed, then, was a hundred (spiritual) resurrections here and now, for he was dissolved (naughted) in dying to (temporal) loosing and binding.750
پس محمد صد قیامت بود نقد ** زانک حل شد در فنای حل و عقد
Ahmad (Mohammed) is the twice-born in this world: he was manifestly a hundred resurrections.
زادهی ثانیست احمد در جهان ** صد قیامت بود او اندر عیان
They asked him concerning the Resurrection, saying, “O (thou who art the) Resurrection, how long is the way to the Resurrection?”
زو قیامت را همیپرسیدهاند ** ای قیامت تا قیامت راه چند
And often he would say with mute eloquence, “Does any one ask (me who am) the Resurrection concerning the Resurrection?”
با زبان حال میگفتی بسی ** که ز محشر حشر را پرسید کسی
Hence the Messenger of good tidings said, (speaking) symbolically, “Die before ye die, O nobles,
بهر این گفت آن رسول خوشپیام ** رمز موتوا قبل موت یا کرام
Even as I have died before death and brought from Yonder this fame and renown.”755
همچنانک مردهام من قبل موت ** زان طرف آوردهام این صیت و صوت
Do thou, then, become the (spiritual) resurrection and (thereby) see (experience) the resurrection: this (becoming) is the necessary condition for seeing (knowing and experiencing the real nature of) anything.
پس قیامت شو قیامت را ببین ** دیدن هر چیز را شرطست این
Until thou become it, thou wilt not know it completely, whether it be light or darkness.
تا نگردی او ندانیاش تمام ** خواه آن انوار باشد یا ظلام
(If) thou become Reason, thou wilt know Reason perfectly; if thou become Love, thou wilt know Love's (flaming) wick.
عقل گردی عقل را دانی کمال ** عشق گردی عشق را دانی ذبال
I would declare plainly the proof of this assertion, if there were an understanding fit to receive it.
گفتمی برهان این دعوی مبین ** گر بدی ادراک اندر خورد این
Figs are very cheap in this vicinity, if a fig-eating bird should arrive as a guest.760
هست انجیر این طرف بسیار و خوار ** گر رسد مرغی قنق انجیرخوار
(All), whether men or women, in the whole world are continually in the death-agony and are dying.
در همه عالم اگر مرد و زنند ** دم به دم در نزع و اندر مردنند
Regard their words as the (final) injunctions which a father gives at that moment to his son,
آن سخنشان را وصیتها شمر ** که پدر گوید در آن دم با پسر
That thereby consideration and pity may grow (in thy heart), so that the root of hatred and jealousy and enmity may be cut off.
تا بروید عبرت و رحمت بدین ** تا ببرد بیخ بغض و رشک و کین
Look on thy kinsman with that intention, so that thy heart may burn (with pity) for his death-agony.
تو بدان نیت نگر در اقربا ** تا ز نزع او بسوزد دل ترا
“Everything that is coming will come”: deem it (to have come) here and now, deem thy friend to be in the death-agony and in the act of losing (his life).765
کل آت آت آن را نقد دان ** دوست را در نزع و اندر فقد دان
And if (selfish) motives debar (thee) from this insight, cast these motives out of thy bosom;
وز غرضها زین نظر گردد حجاب ** این غرضها را برون افکن ز جیب
And if thou canst not (cast them out), do not stand inertly in a state of incapacity: know that with (every) incapable there is a goodly Incapacitator.
ور نیاری خشک بر عجزی مهایست ** دانک با عاجز گزیده معجزیست
Incapacity is a chain: He laid it upon thee: thou must open thine eye to (behold) Him who lays the chain.
عجز زنجیریست زنجیرت نهاد ** چشم در زنجیرنه باید گشاد
Therefore make humble entreaty, saying, “O Guide (in the ways) of life, I was free, (and now) I have fallen into bondage: what is the cause of this?
پس تضرع کن کای هادی زیست ** باز بودم بسته گشتم این ز چیست
I have planted my foot in evil more firmly (than ever), for through Thy omnipotence verily I am (engaged) in a losing business all the time.770
سختتر افشردهام در شر قدم ** که لفی خسرم ز قهرت دم به دم
I have been deaf to Thy admonitions: while professing to be an idol-breaker, I have (really) been an idol-maker.
از نصیحتهای تو کر بودهام ** بتشکن دعوی و بتگر بودهام