Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable, (but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.
تا غلاف اندر بود با قیمت است ** چون برون شد سوختن را آلت است
Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one), in order that your plight may not be wretched.
تیغ چوبین را مبر در کارزار ** بنگر اول تا نگردد کار زار
If it is made of wood, go, seek another; and if it is adamant, march forward joyously.715
گر بود چوبین برو دیگر طلب ** ور بود الماس پیش آ با طرب
The sword (of reality) is in the armoury of the saints: to see (and associate with) them is for you (as precious as) the Elixir.
تیغ در زرادخانهی اولیاست ** دیدن ایشان شما را کیمیاست
All the wise have said this same thing: the wise man is a (Divine) mercy to created beings.
جمله دانایان همین گفته همین ** هست دانا رحمة للعالمین
If you would buy a pomegranate, buy (it when it is) laughing (having its rind cleft open), so that its laughter (openness) may give information as to its seeds.
گر اناری میخری خندان بخر ** تا دهد خنده ز دانهی او خبر
Oh, blessed is its laughter, for through its mouth it shows the heart, like a pearl from the casket of the spirit.
ای مبارک خندهاش کاو از دهان ** مینماید دل چو در از درج جان
Unblest was the laughter (openness) of the red anemone, from whose mouth appeared the blackness of its heart.720
نامبارک خندهی آن لاله بود ** کز دهان او سیاهی دل نمود
The laughing pomegranate makes the garden laughing (gay and blooming): companionship with (holy) men makes you one of the (holy) men.
نار خندان باغ را خندان کند ** صحبت مردانت از مردان کند
Though you be rock or marble, you will become a jewel when you reach the man of heart (the saint).
گر تو سنگ صخره و مرمر شوی ** چون به صاحب دل رسی گوهر شوی
Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; do not give your heart (to aught) save to the love of them whose hearts are glad.
مهر پاکان در میان جان نشان ** دل مده الا به مهر دل خوشان
Go not to the neighbourhood of despair: there are hopes. Go not in the direction of darkness: there are suns.
کوی نومیدی مرو امیدهاست ** سوی تاریکی مرو خورشیدهاست
The heart leads you into the neighbourhood of the men of heart (the saints); the body leads you into the prison of water and earth.725
دل ترا در کوی اهل دل کشد ** تن ترا در حبس آب و گل کشد
Oh, give your heart food from (conversation with) one who is in accord with it; go, seek (spiritual) advancement from one who is advanced.
هین غذای دل بده از هم دلی ** رو بجو اقبال را از مقبلی
How honour was paid to the description of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, which was mentioned in the Gospel.
تعظیم نعت مصطفی علیه السلام که مذکور بود در انجیل
The name of Mustafá was in the Gospel—(Mustafá) the chief of the prophets, the sea of purity.
بود در انجیل نام مصطفی ** آن سر پیغمبران بحر صفا
There was mention of his (external) characteristics and appearance; there was mention of his warring and fasting and eating.
بود ذکر حلیهها و شکل او ** بود ذکر غزو و صوم و اکل او
A party among the Christians, for the sake of the Divine reward, whenever (in reading the Gospel) they came to that name and allocution,
طایفهی نصرانیان بهر ثواب ** چون رسیدندی بدان نام و خطاب
Would bestow kisses on that noble name and stoop their faces towards that beauteous description.730
بوسه دادندی بر آن نام شریف ** رو نهادندی بر آن وصف لطیف
In this tribulation of which we have told, that party were secure from tribulation and dread,
اندر این فتنه که گفتیم آن گروه ** ایمن از فتنه بدند و از شکوه
Secure from the mischief of the amírs and the vizier, seeking refuge in the protection of the Name of Ahmad (Mohammed).
ایمن از شر امیران و وزیر ** در پناه نام احمد مستجیر
Their offspring also multiplied: the Light of Ahmad aided and befriended them.
نسل ایشان نیز هم بسیار شد ** نور احمد ناصر آمد یار شد
And the other party among the Christians (who) were holding the Name of Ahmad in contempt,
و آن گروه دیگر از نصرانیان ** نام احمد داشتندی مستهان
They became contemptible and despised through dissensions caused by the evil counselling and evil-plotting vizier;735
مستهان و خوار گشتند از فتن ** از وزیر شوم رای شوم فن
Moreover, their religion and their law became corrupted in consequence of the scrolls which set forth all perversely.
هم مخبط دینشان و حکمشان ** از پی طومارهای کژ بیان
The Name of Ahmad gives such help as this, so that (one may judge) how his Light keeps guard (over his followers).
نام احمد این چنین یاری کند ** تا که نورش چون نگهداری کند
Since the Name of Ahmad became (to the Christians) an impregnable fortress, what then must be the Essence of that trusted Spirit?
نام احمد چون حصاری شد حصین ** تا چه باشد ذات آن روح الامین
The story of another Jewish king who endeavored to destroy the religion of Jesus.
حکایت پادشاه جهود دیگر که در هلاک دین عیسی سعی نمود
After this irremediable bloodshed which befell through the affliction (brought upon the Christians) by the vizier,
بعد از این خون ریز درمان ناپذیر ** کاندر افتاد از بلای آن وزیر
Another king, of the progeny of that Jew, addressed himself to the destruction of the people of Jesus.740
یک شه دیگر ز نسل آن جهود ** در هلاک قوم عیسی رو نمود
If you desire information about this second outbreak, read the chapter of the Qur’án (beginning): By Heaven which hath the (zodiacal) signs.
گر خبر خواهی از این دیگر خروج ** سوره بر خوان و السما ذات البروج
This second king set foot in the evil way that was originated by the former king.
سنت بد کز شه اول بزاد ** این شه دیگر قدم بر وی نهاد
Whosoever establishes an evil way (practice), towards him goes malediction every hour.
هر که او بنهاد ناخوش سنتی ** سوی او نفرین رود هر ساعتی
The righteous departed and their ways remained, and from the vile there remained (nothing but) injustice and execrations.
نیکوان رفتند و سنتها بماند ** وز لئیمان ظلم و لعنتها بماند
Until the Resurrection, the face of every congener of those wicked men who comes into existence is turned towards that one (who belongs to his own kind).745
تا قیامت هر که جنس آن بدان ** در وجود آید بود رویش بدان
Vein by vein is this sweet water and bitter water, flowing in (God's) creatures until the blast of the trumpet (at the Resurrection).
رگ رگ است این آب شیرین و آب شور ** در خلایق میرود تا نفخ صور
To the righteous is the inheritance of the sweet water. What is that inheritance? We have caused (those of Our servants whom We have chosen) to inherit the Book.
نیکوان را هست میراث از خوشآب ** آن چه میراث است أورثنا الکتاب
If you will consider, the supplications of the seekers (of God) are rays (proceeding) from the substance of prophethood.
شد نیاز طالبان ار بنگری ** شعلهها از گوهر پیغمبری
The rays are circling with the substances (whence they spring): the ray goes (ultimately) in the direction where that (substance) is.
شعلهها با گوهران گردان بود ** شعله آن جانب رود هم کان بود
The window-gleam runs round the house, because the sun goes from sign to sign of the zodiac.750
نور روزن گرد خانه میدود ** ز آنکه خور برجی به برجی میرود
Any one who has affinity with a star (planet) has a concurrence (of qualities) with his star.
هر که را با اختری پیوستگی است ** مر و را با اختر خود هم تگی است
If his ascendant star be Venus, his whole inclination and love and desire is for joy;
طالعش گر زهره باشد در طرب ** میل کلی دارد و عشق و طلب
And if he be one born under Mars, one whose nature is to shed blood, he seeks war and malignity and enmity.
ور بود مریخی خونریز خو ** جنگ و بهتان و خصومت جوید او
Beyond the (material) stars are stars in which is no conflagration or sinister aspect,
اخترانند از ورای اختران ** که احتراق و نحس نبود اندر آن
(Stars) moving in other heavens, not these seven heavens (which are) held in high regard,755
سایران در آسمانهای دگر ** غیر این هفت آسمان معتبر
(Stars) immanent in the radiance of the light of God, neither joined to each other nor separate from each other.
راسخان در تاب انوار خدا ** نی بهم پیوسته نی از هم جدا
When any one's ascendant (fortune) is from those stars, his soul burns the infidels in driving (them) off.
هر که باشد طالع او ز آن نجوم ** نفس او کفار سوزد در رجوم
His anger is not (like) the anger of the man born under Mars—going upside down, and of such nature that it is (now) dominant and (now) dominated.
خشم مریخی نباشد خشم او ** منقلب رو غالب و مغلوب خو
The dominant light (of the saints) is secure from defect and dimness between the two fingers of the Light of God.
نور غالب ایمن از نقص و غسق ** در میان اصبعین نور حق
God hath scattered that light over (all) spirits, (but only) the fortunate have held up their skirts (to receive it);760
حق فشاند آن نور را بر جانها ** مقبلان برداشته دامانها
And he (that is fortunate), having gained that strown largesse of light, has turned his face away from all except God.
و آن نثار نور را وایافته ** روی از غیر خدا بر تافته
Whosoever has lacked (such) a skirt of love is left without share in that strown largesse of light.
هر که را دامان عشقی نابده ** ز آن نثار نور بیبهره شده