“(And We have put) behind them a barrier, and We have made a covering (of darkness) over them”: he is not seeing the barrier in front (of him) and behind.
خلفهم سدا فأغشیناهم ** می‌‌نبیند بند را پیش و پس او
The barrier that arose has the appearance of open country: he does not know that it is the barrier of the Divine destiny.
رنگ صحرا دارد آن سدی که خاست ** او نمی‌‌داند که آن سد قضاست
Your (earthly) beloved is a barrier to the face of the (Divine) Beloved: your (worldly) guide is a barrier to the words of the (true spiritual) guide.3245
شاهد تو سد روی شاهد است ** مرشد تو سد گفت مرشد است
Oh, many are the infidels that have a passionate longing for the Religion (Islam): their chain (stumbling-block) is reputation and pride in this and that (object of desire).
ای بسا کفار را سودای دین ** بندشان ناموس و کبر آن و این
The chain is hidden. but ’tis worse than iron: the iron chain is cut in pieces by the axe.
بند پنهان لیک از آهن بتر ** بند آهن را کند پاره تبر
The iron chain can be removed: none knows how to cure the invisible chain.
بند آهن را توان کردن جدا ** بند غیبی را نداند کس دوا
If a man is stung by a wasp, at that moment his nature is intent on a means of removing (the pain),
مرد را زنبور اگر نیشی زند ** طبع او آن لحظه بر دفعی تند
But since the stinging wound is from (inflicted by) your self-existence, the pain continues with violence and the anguish is not relieved.3250
زخم نیش اما چو از هستی تست ** غم قوی باشد نگردد درد سست
The (full) explanation of this (matter) is springing forth (seeking to escape) from my breast, but I am afraid it may give (you cause to) despair.
شرح این از سینه بیرون می‌‌جهد ** لیک می‌‌ترسم که نومیدی دهد
Nay, do not despair: make yourself cheerful, call for help to Him who comes at the call,
نی مشو نومید و خود را شاد کن ** پیش آن فریادرس فریاد کن
Saying, “Forgive us, O Thou who lovest to forgive, O Thou who hast a medicine for the old gangrenous disease!”
کای محب عفو از ما عفو کن ** ای طبیب رنج ناسور کهن
The reflexion of Wisdom led astray that miserable one (the Prophet's scribe): be not self-conceited, lest it (your self-conceit) raise up the dust from you (utterly destroy you).
عکس حکمت آن شقی را یاوه کرد ** خود مبین تا بر نیارد از تو گرد
O brother, Wisdom is flowing in upon you: it comes from the Abdál, and in you it is (only) a borrowed thing.3255
ای برادر بر تو حکمت جاریه ست ** آن ز ابدال است و بر تو عاریه ست
Although the house (your heart) has found a light within it, that (light) has shone forth from an illumined neighbour.
گر چه در خود خانه نوری یافته ست ** آن ز همسایه‌‌ی منور تافته ست
Render thanks, be not beguiled by vanity, do not turn up your nose (in disdain), hearken attentively, and do not show any self-conceit.
شکر کن غره مشو بینی مکن ** گوش دار و هیچ خود بینی مکن
’Tis a hundred pities and griefs that this borrowed (unreal) state (of self-assertion) has put the religious communities far from religious communion.
صد دریغ و درد کاین عاریتی ** امتان را دور کرد از امتی
I am the (devoted) slave of him who does not regard himself in every caravanseray (at every stage in his spiritual progress) as having attained to (the privilege of sitting at) the table (of union with God).
من غلام آن که او در هر رباط ** خویش را واصل نداند بر سماط
Many is the caravanseray that must be quitted, in order that one day the man may reach home.3260
بس رباطی که بباید ترک کرد ** تا به مسکن در رسد یک روز مرد
Though the iron has become red, it is not red (by nature): it (the redness) is a ray borrowed from something that strikes fire.
گر چه آهن سرخ شد او سرخ نیست ** پرتو عاریت آتش زنی است
If the window or the house is full of light, do not deem aught luminous except the sun.
گر شود پر نور روزن یا سرا ** تو مدان روشن مگر خورشید را
Every door and wall says, “I am luminous: I do not hold the rays of another, I (myself) am this (light).”
هر در و دیوار گوید روشنم ** پرتو غیری ندارم این منم
Then the sun says, “O thou who art not right (in thy belief), when I set ’twill become evident (thou wilt see what the truth is).”
پس بگوید آفتاب ای نارشید ** چون که من غارب شوم آید پدید
The plants say, “We are green of ourselves, we are gay and smiling (blooming) and we have very beauteous cheeks.”3265
سبزه‌‌ها گویند ما سبز از خودیم ** شاد و خندانیم و بس زیبا خدیم
The season of summer says (to them), “O peoples, behold yourselves when I depart!”
فصل تابستان بگوید ای امم ** خویش را بینید چون من بگذرم
The body is boasting of its beauty and comeliness, (while) the spirit, having concealed its glory and pinions and plumes,
تن همی‌‌نازد به خوبی و جمال ** روح پنهان کرده فر و پر و بال
Says to it, “O dunghill, who art thou? Through my beams thou hast come to life for a day or two.
گویدش ای مزبله تو کیستی ** یک دو روز از پرتو من زیستی
Thy coquetry and prideful airs are not contained in the world (go beyond all bounds), (but) wait till I spring up (and escape) from thee!
غنج و نازت می‌‌نگنجد در جهان ** باش تا که من شوم از تو جهان
They whose love warmed thee will dig a grave for thee, they will make thee a morsel for ants and reptiles.3270
گرم‌‌دارانت ترا گوری کنند ** طعمه‌‌ی موران و مارانت کنند
That one who many a time in thy presence was dying (with desire for thee) will hold his nose at thy stench.”
بینی از گند تو گیرد آن کسی ** کاو به پیش تو همی‌‌مردی بسی
The beams of the spirit are speech and eye and ear: the beam (effect) of fire is the bubbling in the water.
پرتو روح است نطق و چشم و گوش ** پرتو آتش بود در آب جوش
As the beam of the spirit falls on the body, so fall the beams of the Abdál on my soul.
آن چنان که پرتو جان بر تن است ** پرتو ابدال بر جان من است
When the Soul of the soul withdraws from the soul, the soul becomes even as the soulless (lifeless) body. Know (this for sure)!
جان جان چون واکشد پا را ز جان ** جان چنان گردد که بی‌‌جان تن بدان
For that reason I am laying my head (humbly) on the earth, so that she (the earth) may be my witness on the Day of Judgement.3275
سر از آن رو می‌‌نهم من بر زمین ** تا گواه من بود در روز دین
On the Day of Judgement, when she shall be made to quake mightily, this earth will bear witness to all that passed (in and from us);
یوم دین که زلزلت زلزالها ** این زمین باشد گواه حالها
For she will plainly declare what she knows: earth and rocks will begin to speak.
کاو تحدث جهرة أخبارها ** در سخن آید زمین و خاره‌‌ها
The philosopher, in his (vain) thought and opinion, becomes disbelieving: bid him go and dash his head against that wall!
فلسفی منکر شود در فکر و ظن ** گو برو سر را بر آن دیوار زن
The speech of water, the speech of earth, and the speech of mud are apprehended by the senses of them that have hearts (the mystics).
نطق آب و نطق خاک و نطق گل ** هست محسوس حواس اهل دل
The philosopher who disbelieves in the moaning pillar is a stranger to the senses of the saints.3280
فلسفی کاو منکر حنانه است ** از حواس اولیا بیگانه است
He says that the beam (influence) of melancholia brings many phantasies into people's minds.
گوید او که پرتو سودای خلق ** بس خیالات آورد در رای خلق
Nay, but the reflexion of his wickedness and infidelity cast this idle fancy of scepticism upon him.
بلکه عکس آن فساد و کفر او ** این خیال منکری را زد بر او
The philosopher comes to deny the existence of the Devil, and at the same time he is possessed by a devil.
فلسفی مر دیو را منکر شود ** در همان دم سخره‌‌ی دیوی بود
If thou hast not seen the Devil, behold thyself: without diabolic possession there is no blueness in the forehead.
گر ندیدی دیو را خود را ببین ** بی‌‌جنون نبود کبودی بر جبین
Whosoever hath doubt and perplexity in his heart, he in this world is a secret philosopher.3285
هر که را در دل شک و پیچانی است ** در جهان او فلسفی پنهانی است
He is professing firm belief, but some time or other that philosophical vein will blacken his face (bring him to shame).
می‌‌نماید اعتقاد و گاه گاه ** آن رگ فلسف کند رویش سیاه
Take care, O ye Faithful! for that (vein) is in you: in you is many an infinite world.
الحذر ای مومنان کان در شماست ** در شما بس عالم بی‌‌منتهاست
In thee are all the two-and-seventy sects: woe (to thee) if one day they gain the upper hand over thee.
جمله هفتاد و دو ملت در تو است ** وه که روزی آن بر آرد از تو دست
From fear of this, every one who has the fortune (barg) of (holding) that Faith (Islam) is trembling like a leaf (barg).
هر که او را برگ آن ایمان بود ** همچو برگ از بیم این لرزان بود
Thou hast laughed at Iblís and the devils because thou hast regarded thyself as a good man.3290
بر بلیس و دیو از آن خندیده‌‌ای ** که تو خود را نیک مردم دیده‌‌ای
When the soul shall turn its coat inside out (and be revealed as it really is), how many a “Woe is me” will arise from the followers of the (Mohammedan) Religion!
چون کند جان باژگونه پوستین ** چند واویلا بر آید اهل دین
On the counter (of the shop) everything (every gilded coin) that looks like gold is smiling, because the touchstone is out of sight.
بر دکان هر زرنما خندان شده ست ** ز آنکه سنگ امتحان پنهان شده ست