Our senses and finite speech (reason) are obliterated in the light of the knowledge of our (Divine) King.
شد حواس و نطق با پایان ما ** محو نور دانش سلطان ما
Their (the God-intoxicated mystics') senses and understandings within (them) are (tossed), wave on wave, in (the sea of) they are assembled before Us.
حسها و عقلهاشان در درون ** موج در موج لدينا محضرون
When dawn comes, ’tis again the time of (bearing) the burden: the stars, which had become hidden, go (again) to work.
چون شب آمد باز وقت بار شد ** انجم پنهان شده بر کار شد
God gives back to the senseless ones their (lost) senses: (they return to consciousness) troop after troop, with rings (of mystic knowledge) in their ears,
بیهشان را وادهد حق هوشها ** حلقه حلقه حلقهها در گوشها
Dancing, waving their hands in praise (of God), triumphing (and crying), “O Lord, Thou hast brought us to life.”3675
پای کوبان دست افشان در ثنا ** ناز نازان ربنا أحییتنا
Those crumbled skins and bones have become (like) horsemen and have raised the dust:
آن جلود و آن عظام ریخته ** فارسان گشته غبار انگیخته
At Resurrection both the thankful and the ungrateful rush along from non-existence towards existence.
حمله آرند از عدم سوی وجود ** در قیامت هم شکور و هم کنود
Why do you turn away your head and pretend not to see? Did you not turn away your head at first, (when you were) in non-existence (and disbelieved that you would ever come into existence)?
سر چه میپیچی کنی نادیدهای ** در عدم ز اول نه سرپیچیدهای
You had planted your foot (firmly) in non-existence, saying, “Who will uproot me from my place?”
در عدم افشرده بودی پای خویش ** که مرا که بر کند از جای خویش
Are not you beholding the action of your Lord, who dragged you (into existence) by the forelock,3680
مینبینی صنع ربانیت را ** که کشید او موی پیشانیت را
Until He drew you into (all) these various states (of being), which were not in your thought or fancy?
تا کشیدت اندر این انواع حال ** که نبودت در گمان و در خیال
That non-existence is always His slave: work (in His service), O demon! Solomon is living.
آن عدم او را هماره بنده است ** کار کن دیوا سلیمان زنده است
The demon is making large bowls like watering-troughs: he dare not say a word in refusal or in retort.
دیو میسازد جفان کالجواب ** زهره نی تا دفع گوید یا جواب
Look at yourself, how you are trembling with fear (of non-existence): know that nonexistence also is constantly trembling (lest God should bring it into existence).
خویش را بین چون همیلرزی ز بیم ** مر عدم را نیز لرزان دان مقیم
And if you are grasping at (worldly) dignities, ’tis from fear too that you are suffering agony of spirit.3685
ور تو دست اندر مناصب میزنی ** هم ز ترس است آن که جانی میکنی
Except love of the most beauteous God everything, though (outwardly) it is (pleasant like) eating sugar, is (in truth) agony of spirit.
هر چه جز عشق خدای احسن است ** گر شکر خواری است آن جان کندن است
What is agony of spirit? To advance towards death and not grasp the Water of Life.
چیست جان کندن سوی مرگ آمدن ** دست در آب حیاتی نازدن
People fix both their eyes on earth and death: they have a hundred doubts concerning the Water of Life.
خلق را دو دیده در خاک و ممات ** صد گمان دارند در آب حیات
Strive that the hundred doubts may become ninety (may decrease): go (towards God) in the night (of this world), for if you slumber, the night will go (from you).
جهد کن تا صد گمان گردد نود ** شب برو ور تو بخسبی شب رود
In the dark night seek that (shining) Day: put in front (follow) the darkness consuming Reason.3690
در شب تاریک جوی آن روز را ** پیش کن آن عقل ظلمت سوز را
In the evil-coloured night there is much good: the Water of Life is the mate of darkness.
در شب بد رنگ بس نیکی بود ** آب حیوان جفت تاریکی بود
How is it possible to lift up the head from slumber, whilst you are sowing a hundred such seeds of slothfulness?
سر ز خفتن کی توان برداشتن ** با چنین صد تخم غفلت کاشتن
Slumber is dead (unlawful) food is dead; they are friends (to each other): the merchant fell asleep and the night-thief got to work.
خواب مرده لقمهی مرده یار شد ** خواجه خفت و دزد شب بر کار شد
Do you not know who your enemies are? Those made of fire are enemies to the existence of those made of earth.
تو نمیدانی که خصمانت کیاند ** ناریان خصم وجود خاکیاند
Fire is the enemy of water and its children, even as water is an enemy to the life of fire.3695
نار خصم آب و فرزندان اوست ** همچنان که آب خصم جان اوست
Water kills fire because it is the enemy and foe of the children of water.
آب آتش را کشد زیرا که او ** خصم فرزندان آب است و عدو
To proceed, this fire is the fire of lust, wherein is the root of sin and error.
بعد از آن این نار نار شهوت است ** کاندر او اصل گناه و زلت است
The external fire may be quenched by some water, (but) the fire of lust is bringing (you) to Hell.
نار بیرونی به آبی بفسرد ** نار شهوت تا به دوزخ میبرد
The fire of lust is not allayed by water, because it has the (insatiable) nature of Hell in respect of (inflicting) torment.
نار شهوت مینیارامد به آب ** ز انکه دارد طبع دوزخ در عذاب
What is the remedy for the fire of lust? The light of the Religion: your (the Moslems') light is the (means of) extinguishing the fire of the infidels.3700
نار شهوت را چه چاره نور دین ** نورکم اطفاء نار الکافرین
What kills this fire? The Light of God. Make the light of Abraham your teacher,
چه کشد این نار را نور خدا ** نور ابراهیم را ساز اوستا
That this body of yours, which resembles wood (faggots), may be delivered from the fire of the Nimrod-like flesh (nafs).
تا ز نار نفس چون نمرود تو ** وارهد این جسم همچون عود تو
Fiery lust is not diminished by indulging it: it is diminished, without any escape (inevitably), by leaving it (ungratified).
شهوت ناری به راندن کم نشد ** او به ماندن کم شود بیهیچ بد
So long as thou art laying faggots on a fire, how will the fire be extinguished by a carrier of faggots?
تا که هیزم مینهی بر آتشی ** کی بمیرد آتش از هیزم کشی
When thou withholdest the faggots, the fire dies out, because fear of God carries (as it were) water to the fire.3705
چون که هیزم باز گیری نار مرد ** ز انکه تقوی آب سوی نار برد
How should the fire blacken the beauteous face (of a soul) which lays (on itself) rose colour (derived) from the fear of God that is in (men's) hearts?
کی سیه گردد ز آتش روی خوب ** کاو نهد گلگونه از تقوی القلوب
How a conflagration occurred in the city (Medina) in the days of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him.
آتش افتادن در شهر به ایام عمر
A conflagration occurred in the time of ‘Umar: it was devouring stones as though they were dry wood.
آتشی افتاد در عهد عمر ** همچو چوب خشک میخورد او حجر
It fell upon buildings and houses, until (at last) it darted at the wings and nests of birds.
در فتاد اندر بنا و خانهها ** تا زد اندر پر مرغ و لانهها
Half the city caught fire from the flames: water was afraid of it (the fire) and amazed.
نیم شهر از شعلهها آتش گرفت ** آب میترسید از آن و میشگفت
Some intelligent persons were throwing skins of water and vinegar on the fire,3710
مشکهای آب و سرکه میزدند ** بر سر آتش کسان هوشمند
(But) out of spite (obstinacy) the fire was increasing: aid was coming to it from One who is infinite.
آتش از استیزه افزون میشدی ** میرسید او را مدد از بیحدی
The people came in haste to ‘Umar, saying, “Our fire will not be quenched at all by water.”
خلق آمد جانب عمر شتاب ** کاتش ما مینمیرد هیچ از آب
He said, “That fire is one of God's signs: ’tis a flame from the fire of your avarice.
گفت آن آتش ز آیات خداست ** شعلهای از آتش بخل شماست
What are water and vinegar? Deal out bread (in charity), discard avarice if ye are my people (followers).”
آب بگذارید و نان قسمت کنید ** بخل بگذارید اگر آل منید
The folk said to him, “We have opened our doors, we have been bountiful and devoted to generosity.”3715
خلق گفتندش که در بگشودهایم ** ما سخی و اهل فتوت بودهایم
He replied, “Ye have given bread by rule and habit, ye have not opened your hands for the sake of God—
گفت نان در رسم و عادت دادهاید ** دست از بهر خدا نگشادهاید
(Only) for glory and for ostentation and for pride, not because of fear and piety and supplication.”
بهر فخر و بهر بوش و بهر ناز ** نه از برای ترس و تقوی و نیاز
Wealth is seed, and do not lay it in every salty ground: do not put a sword in the hand of every highwayman.
مال تخم است و به هر شوره منه ** تیغ را در دست هر ره زن مده
Distinguish the friends of the Religion (ahl-i Dín) from the enemies of God (ahl-i kín): seek the man that sits with God, and sit with him.
اهل دین را باز دان از اهل کین ** همنشین حق بجو با او نشین
Every one shows favour to his own folk: the fool (who shows favour to the foolish) thinks he has really done (good and religious) work.3720
هر کسی بر قوم خود ایثار کرد ** کاغه پندارد که او خود کار کرد
How an enemy spat in the face of the Prince of the Faithful, ‘Alí, may God honour his person, and how ‘Alí dropped the sword from his hand.
خدو انداختن خصم در روی امیر المؤمنین علی علیه السلام و انداختن علی شمشیر را از دست