Who are we? In this tangled (complex) world what (thing other than He) indeed hath He (who is single) like alif? Nothing, nothing.
ما که‌‌ایم اندر جهان پیچ پیچ ** چون الف او خود چه دارد هیچ هیچ
How the ambassador asked ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, concerning the cause of the tribulation suffered by spirits in this clay of the body.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر از سبب ابتلای ارواح با این آب و گل اجساد
He said, “O ‘Umar, what was the wisdom and mystery of imprisoning that pure one (the spirit) in this dirty place?1515
گفت یا عمر چه حکمت بود و سر ** حبس آن صافی در این جای کدر
The pure water has become hidden in mud: the pure spirit has become bound in bodies.”
آب صافی در گلی پنهان شده ** جان صافی بسته‌‌ی ابدان شده
He (‘Umar) said, “Thou art making a profound inquiry, thou art confining a meaning in a word.
گفت تو بحثی شگرفی می‌‌کنی ** معنیی را بند حرفی می‌‌کنی
Thou hast imprisoned the free (unconditioned) meaning, thou hast bound the wind in a word.
حبس کردی معنی آزاد را ** بند حرفی کرده ای تو یاد را
This thou hast done for a benefit (good purpose), O thou who thyself art blind to the benefit (good purpose) of God.
از برای فایده این کرده‌‌ای ** تو که خود از فایده در پرده‌‌ای
He from whom (every) benefit was born, how should He not see that which was seen by us?1520
آن که از وی فایده زاییده شد ** چون نبیند آن چه ما را دیده شد
There are myriads of benefits, and every myriad is (but) a few beside that one.
صد هزاران فایده ست و هر یکی ** صد هزاران پیش آن یک اندکی
The breath of thy speech, which is a part of the parts (bodily members), became beneficial: why (then) is the whole of the whole (the universal connexion of spirit and body) devoid (of benefit)?
آن دم نطقت که جزو جزوهاست ** فایده شد کل کل خالی چراست
Thou who art a part—thy act (of speaking) is beneficial: why (then) dost thou lift thy hand to assail the whole?
تو که جزوی کار تو با فایده ست ** پس چرا در طعن کل آری تو دست
If there is no benefit in speech, do not speak; and if there is, leave off making objections, and endeavour to give thanks.”
گفت را گر فایده نبود مگو ** ور بود هل اعتراض و شکر جو
Thanksgiving to God is a collar on every neck (every one's duty); it is not (thanksgiving) to dispute and make one's face look sour.1525
شکر یزدان طوق هر گردن بود ** نه جدال و رو ترش کردن بود
If thanksgiving is only to look sour, then there is no thanks-giver like vinegar.
گر ترش رو بودن آمد شکر و بس ** پس چو سرکه شکر گویی نیست کس
If vinegar wants (to find) the way to the liver, let it become oxymel by (being mixed with) sugar.
سرکه را گر راه باید در جگر ** گو بشو سرکنگبین او از شکر
The meaning in poetry has no sureness of direction: it is like the sling, it is not under control.
معنی اندر شعر جز با خبط نیست ** چون قلاسنگ است اندر ضبط نیست
On the inner sense of “Let him who desires to sit with God sit with the Súfís.”
در معنی آن که من أراد أن یجلس مع الله فلیجلس مع أهل التصوف
The ambassador became beside himself from these one or two cups (of spiritual discourse): neither embassage nor message remained in his memory.
آن رسول از خود بشد زین یک دو جام ** نه رسالت یاد ماندش نه پیام
He became distraught at the power of God. The ambassador arrived at this place (state) and became a king.1530
واله اندر قدرت الله شد ** آن رسول اینجا رسید و شاه شد
When the torrent reached the sea, it became the sea; when the seed reached the cornland, it became the crop of corn.
سیل چون آمد به دریا بحر گشت ** دانه چون آمد به مزرع گشت کشت
When the bread attained to connexion with Man, the dead bread became living and endowed with knowledge.
چون تعلق یافت نان با بو البشر ** نان مرده زنده گشت و با خبر
When the wax and firewood were devoted to the fire, their dark essence became (filled with) light.
موم و هیزم چون فدای نار شد ** ذات ظلمانی او انوار شد
When the (powdered) stone of antimony went into the eyes, it turned to sight and there became a scout (one who observes the enemy from some point of vantage).
سنگ سرمه چون که شد در دیده‌‌گان ** گشت بینایی شد آن جا دیدبان
Oh, happy is the man who was freed from himself and united with the existence of a living one!1535
ای خنک آن مرد کز خود رسته شد ** در وجود زنده‌‌ای پیوسته شد
Alas for the living one who consorted with the dead! He became dead, and life sped away from him.
وای آن زنده که با مرده نشست ** مرده گشت و زندگی از وی بجست
When you have fled (for refuge) to the Qur’án of God, you have mingled with the spirit of the prophets.
چون تو در قرآن حق بگریختی ** با روان انبیا آمیختی
The Qur’án is (a description of) the states of the prophets, (who are) the fishes of the holy sea of (Divine) Majesty.
هست قرآن حالهای انبیا ** ماهیان بحر پاک کبریا
And if you read and do not accept (take to heart) the Qur’án, suppose you have seen the prophets and saints (what will that avail you?);
ور بخوانی و نه‌‌ای قرآن پذیر ** انبیا و اولیا را دیده گیر
But if you are accepting (the Qur’án), when you read the stories (of the prophets), the bird, your soul, will be distressed in its cage.1540
ور پذیرایی چو بر خوانی قصص ** مرغ جانت تنگ آید در قفص
The bird that is a prisoner in a cage, (if it) is not seeking to escape, ’tis from ignorance.
مرغ کاو اندر قفس زندانی است ** می‌‌نجوید رستن از نادانی است
The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.