Of a sudden I beheld from afar seven candles and hastened along the shore towards them.1985
هفت شمع از دور دیدم ناگهان ** اندر آن ساحل شتابیدم بدان
The light of the flame of each candle thereof ascended beauteously to the loft of the sky.
نور شعله‌ی هر یکی شمعی از آن ** بر شده خوش تا عنان آسمان
I became amazed, (so that) even amazement (itself) became amazed: the waves of bewilderment passed over the head of my understanding.
خیره گشتم خیرگی هم خیره گشت ** موج حیرت عقل را از سر گذشت
(I thought), ‘What kind of candles are these (that) He hath lighted, so that the eyes of His creatures are screened from them?’
این چگونه شمعها افروختست ** کین دو دیده‌ی خلق ازینها دوختست
The people had gone to seek a lamp in the presence of that (sevenfold) candle which was surpassing the moon (in splendour).
خلق جویان چراغی گشته بود ** پیش آن شمعی که بر مه می‌فزود
Wonderful! There was a bandage over their eyes: they were bound by (the Divine destiny implied in the text) He guideth aright those whom He will.1990
چشم‌بندی بد عجب بر دیده‌ها ** بندشان می‌کرد یهدی من یشا
How the seven candles became what seemed like one candle.
شدن آن هفت شمع بر مثال یک شمع
Then I saw the seven (candles) become one, its light cleaving the bosom (rim) of the sky.
باز می‌دیدم که می‌شد هفت یک ** می‌شکافد نور او جیب فلک
Then again that one became seven once more: my intoxication and bewilderment waxed mighty.
باز آن یک بار دیگر هفت شد ** مستی و حیرانی من زفت شد
(There were) such connexions between the candles as may not come (may not be uttered) on my tongue and (in) my speech.
اتصالاتی میان شمعها ** که نیاید بر زبان و گفت ما
That which one look perceives, ’tis impossible during years to show it forth by the tongue.
آنک یک دیدن کند ادارک آن ** سالها نتوان نمودن از زبان
That which intellectual apprehension sees in one moment, ’tis impossible during years to hear it by the ear.1995
آنک یک دم بیندش ادراک هوش ** سالها نتوان شنودن آن بگوش
Since it hath no end, go (back) to thyself, for (as the Prophet aid), ‘I cannot reckon (worthy) any praise of Thee.’
چونک پایانی ندارد رو الیک ** زانک لا احصی ثناء ما علیک
I advanced farther, running (and marvelling) what thing those candles are (which are one) of the signs of the Divine Majesty.
پیشتر رفتم دوان کان شمعها ** تا چه چیزست از نشان کبریا
(Thus) I was going, beside myself and dumbfounded and deranged, till I fell down from making haste and speed.
می‌شدم بی خویش و مدهوش و خراب ** تا بیفتادم ز تعجیل و شتاب
In this (state), senseless and witless, I lay fallen awhile upon the dust of the earth.
ساعتی بی‌هوش و بی‌عقل اندرین ** اوفتادم بر سر خاک زمین
Then I came back to my senses and rose up: you would say that in my faring I had neither head nor foot.2000
باز با هوش آمدم برخاستم ** در روش گویی نه سر نه پاستم
How those candles appeared to the eye as seven men.
نمودن آن شمعها در نظر هفت مرد
The seven candles appeared to the eye as seven men: their light was mounting to the azure vault.
هفت شمع اندر نظر شد هفت مرد ** نورشان می‌شد به سقف لاژورد
Beside those lights the daylight was (murky as) dregs: by their intensity they were obliterating (all other) lights.
پیش آن انوار نور روز درد ** از صلابت نورها را می‌سترد
How those candles now became seven trees.
باز شدن آن شمعها هفت درخت
Then each man assumed the shape of a tree: my eye was happy in their greenery.
باز هر یک مرد شد شکل درخت ** چشمم از سبزی ایشان نیکبخت
On account of the denseness of the leaves no boughs were visible; the leaves too had become scant (had almost vanished) on account of the plenteous fruit.
زانبهی برگ پیدا نیست شاخ ** برگ هم گم گشته از میوه‌ی فراخ
Every tree had thrown its boughs above the Sidra: what of the Sidra? They had reached beyond the Void.2005
هر درختی شاخ بر سدره زده ** سدره چه بود از خلا بیرون شده
The root of each (tree) had gone (down) into the bottom of the earth: assuredly it was lower than the Ox and the Fish.
بیخ هر یک رفته در قعر زمین ** زیرتر از گاو و ماهی بد یقین
Their roots were more smiling of face than the boughs: the intellect (was turned) upside down (confused and bewildered) by their shapes.
بیخشان از شاخ خندان‌روی‌تر ** عقل از آن اشکالشان زیر و زبر
From the fruit that was bursting forcibly flashes of light would spurt forth, like juice.
میوه‌ای که بر شکافیدی ز زور ** همچو آب از میوه جستی برق نور
How those trees were invisible to the people.
مخفی بودن آن درختان ازچشم خلق
More wondrous (than all else) was this, that hundreds of thousands of people were passing through the desert and plain beside them,
این عجب‌تر که بریشان می‌گذشت ** صد هزاران خلق از صحرا و دشت
Hazarding their lives (ready to sacrifice everything) in desire for shade, and making a parasol out of a woollen garment,2010
ز آرزوی سایه جان می‌باختند ** از گلیمی سایه‌بان می‌ساختند
And not seeing the shade of those (trees) at all. A hundred spittings on (such) distorted eyes!
سایه‌ی آن را نمی‌دیدند هیچ ** صد تفو بر دیده‌های پیچ پیچ
The wrath of God had sealed their eyes, so that he (such a one) should not see the moon, (but) should see (only) Suhá.
ختم کرده قهر حق بر دیده‌ها ** که نبیند ماه را بیند سها
He sees a mote, (but) not the sun; yet he is not despairing of the grace and loving kindness of God.
ذره‌ای را بیند و خورشید نه ** لیک از لطف و کرم نومید نه
The caravans are without food, and (yet) these fruits are dropping ripe (beside them): O God, what magic is this?
کاروانها بی نوا وین میوه‌ها ** پخته می‌ریزد چه سحرست ای خدا
With parched throats the people, having fallen pell-mell to plunder, were gathering the rotten apples,2015
سیب پوسیده همی‌چیدند خلق ** درهم افتاده بیغما خشک‌حلق
(While) every leaf and bud of those boughs said continually, ‘Oh, would that my people knew!’
گفته هر برگ و شکوفه آن غصون ** دم بدم یا لیت قوم یعلمون
From the direction of every tree was coming the cry, ‘Come towards us, O ye folk of evil fortune,’
بانگ می‌آمد ز سوی هر درخت ** سوی ما آیید خلق شوربخت
(While) from (the Divine) jealousy there was coming to the trees the cry, ‘We have bandaged their eyes;nay, there is no refuge.’
بانگ می‌آمد ز غیرت بر شجر ** چشمشان بستیم کلا لا وزر
If any one had said to them ‘Go in this direction, that ye may be made happy by these trees,’
گر کسی می‌گفتشان کین سو روید ** تا ازین اشجار مستسعد شوید
They all would have said, ‘By Divine destiny this poor intoxicated wretch has become mad:2020
جمله می‌گفتند کین مسکین مست ** از قضاء الله دیوانه شدست
Through long melancholy and through austerities the brain of this poor wretch has turned putrid, like an onion.’
مغز این مسکین ز سودای دراز ** وز ریاضت گشت فاسد چون پیاز
He would have remained in astonishment, saying, ‘O Lord, what is the matter? What is this veil (blindness) and misguidance that is upon the people?’
او عجب می‌ماند یا رب حال چیست ** خلق را این پرده و اضلال چیست
The people of every sort, (though endowed) with manifold discernment and understanding, do not move a foot in that direction.
خلق گوناگون با صد رای و عقل ** یک قدم آن سو نمی‌آرند نقل
By one consent the intelligent and acute amongst them have become incredulous of such a garden as this and undutiful.
عاقلان و زیرکانشان ز اتفاق ** گشته منکر زین چنین باغی و عاق
Or have I become mad and crazy? Has the Devil cast something (of delusion) upon my head?2025
یا منم دیوانه و خیره شده ** دیو چیزی مرا مرا بر سر زده
At every moment I rub my eyes, (considering) whether I am dreaming and beholding a phantom in (the world of) time.
چشم می‌مالم بهر لحظه که من ** خواب می‌بینم خیال اندر زمن
How can it be a dream? I go up the trees, I eat their fruit: how should I not believe?
خواب چه بود بر درختان می‌روم ** میوه‌هاشان می‌خورم چون نگروم
(But) again, when I look at the incredulous ones who turn aside from this orchard,
باز چون من بنگرم در منکران ** که همی‌گیرند زین بستان کران
Devoting their lives with the utmost indigence and penury because of their desire for half an unripe grape;
با کمال احتیاج و افتقار ** ز آرزوی نیم غوره جانسپار
(When I see) these destitute folk uttering grievous lamentation in their longing and greed for a single leaf,2030
ز اشتیاق و حرص یک برگ درخت ** می‌زنند این بی‌نوایان آه سخت
(And when I see) these hundred thousands on thousands of people fleeing from this tree and these fruits—
در هزیمت زین درخت و زین ثمار ** این خلایق صد هزار اندر هزار
Once more I say, ‘Marvellous! Am I beside myself? Have I laid hold of a bough of phantasy?’”
باز می‌گویم عجب من بی‌خودم ** دست در شاخ خیالی در زدم
Repeat (the text)until when the Messengers (of God) despaired down to (the words) they thought they had been belied (kudhibú).
حتی اذا ما استیاس الرسل بگو ** تا بظنوا انهم قد کذبوا
Recite (the verse) with this reading (kudhibú), for the omission of the tashdíd in kudhibú signifies that he (the Messenger) deems himself debarred (from receiving the promised aid from God).
این قرائت خوان که تخفیف کذب ** این بود که خویش بیند محتجب