If (all) the atoms of the world contrive expedients, they are naught, naught, against the ordinance of Heaven.
گر شود ذرات عالم حیله‌پیچ ** با قضای آسمان هیچند هیچ
How shall this earth flee from Heaven, how shall it conceal itself from it?
چون گریزد این زمین از آسمان ** چون کند او خویش را از وی نهان
Whatsoever may come from Heaven to the earth, it (the earth) has no refuge or device or hiding-place.
هرچه آید ز آسمان سوی زمین ** نه مفر دارد نه چاره نه کمین
Is fire from the sun raining upon it, it has laid its face (low) before his fire;450
آتش ار خورشید می‌بارد برو ** او بپیش آتشش بنهاده رو
And if the rain is making a flood upon it and devastating the cities upon it,
ور همی طوفان کند باران برو ** شهرها را می‌کند ویران برو
It (the earth) has become resigned to it (Heaven), like Job, saying, “I am captive: bring (on me) whatever thou wilt.”
او شده تسلیم او ایوب‌وار ** که اسیرم هرچه می‌خواهی ببار
O thou who art a part of this earth, do not lift up thy head (in rebellion); when thou seest the decree of God, do not withdraw (from it disobediently).
ای که جزو این زمینی سر مکش ** چونک بینی حکم یزدان در مکش
Since thou hast heard “We created thee of dust,” (know that) He (God) hath required thee to be (humble and submissive as) dust: do not avert thy face (from Him).
چون خلقناکم شنودی من تراب ** خاک باشی جست از تو رو متاب
(God saith), “Mark how I have sown a seed in the earth: thou art dust of the earth, and I have raised it aloft.455
بین که اندر خاک تخمی کاشتم ** کرد خاکی و منش افراشتم
Do thou once more adopt the practice of earthiness (self-abasement), that I may make thee prince over all princes.”
حمله‌ی دیگر تو خاکی پیشه گیر ** تا کنم بر جمله میرانت امیر
Water goes from above to below; then from below it goes up above.
آب از بالا به پستی در رود ** آنگه از پستی به بالا بر رود
The wheat went beneath the earth from above; afterwards it became ears of corn and sprang up quickly.
گندم از بالا بزیر خاک شد ** بعد از آن او خوشه و چالاک شد
The seed of every fruit entered into the earth; afterwards it raised up heads (shoots) from the buried (root).
دانه‌ی هر میوه آمد در زمین ** بعد از آن سرها بر آورد از دفین
The source of (all) blessings descended from Heaven to the earth and became the nutriment of the pure (vital) spirit.460
اصل نعمتها ز گردون تا بخاک ** زیر آمد شد غذای جان پاک
Forasmuch as it came down from Heaven on account of humility, it became part of the living and valiant man.
از تواضع چون ز گردون شد بزیر ** گشت جزو آدمی حی دلیر
Hence that inanimate matter (rain and sunlight) was turned into human qualities and soared joyously above the empyrean,
پس صفات آدمی شد آن جماد ** بر فراز عرش پران گشت شاد
Saying, “We came at first from the living world, and have (now) gone back from below to above.”
کز جهان زنده ز اول آمدیم ** باز از پستی سوی بالا شدیم
All particles (of phenomenal being), (whether) in movement (or) at rest, are speakers (and declare): “Verily, to Him we are returning.”
جمله اجزا در تحرک در سکون ** ناطقان که انا الیه راجعون
The praises and glorifications of the hidden particles have filled Heaven with an uproar.465
ذکر و تسبیحات اجزای نهان ** غلغلی افکند اندر آسمان
When the Decree (of God) set out to (use) enchantments, the countryman checkmated a townsman.
چون قضا آهنگ نارنجات کرد ** روستایی شهریی را مات کرد
Notwithstanding thousands of (good) resolutions, the Khwája was checkmated, and from that journey (which he undertook) he fell into the midst of calamities.
با هزاران حزم خواجه مات شد ** زان سفر در معرض آفات شد
His reliance was upon his own firmness, (but) though he was (as) a mountain, a half-flood swept him away.
اعتمادش بر ثبات خویش بود ** گرچه که بد نیم سیلش در ربود
When the Decree puts forth its head from Heaven, all the intelligent become blind and deaf;
چون قضا بیرون کند از چرخ سر ** عاقلان گردند جمله کور و کر
Fishes are cast out of the sea; the snare catches miserably the flying bird.470
ماهیان افتند از دریا برون ** دام گیرد مرغ پران را زبون
Even genie and demon go into the bottle; nay, a Hárút goes into (the pit of) Babylon.
تا پری و دیو در شیشه شود ** بلک هاروتی به بابل در رود
(All are lost) except that one who has taken refuge with the Decree: his blood no (astrological) quadrature (ever) shed.
جز کسی کاندر قضا اندر گریخت ** خون او را هیچ تربیعی نریخت
Except that you take refuge with the Decree, no contrivance will give you release from it.
غیر آن که در گریزی در قضا ** هیچ حیله ندهدت از وی رها
The Story of the people of Zarwán and how they contrived that they should pick the fruit in their orchards without being troubled by the poor.
قصه‌ی اهل ضروان و حیلت کردن ایشان تا بی زحمت درویشان باغها را قطاف کنند
You have read the story of the people of Zarwán: then why have you persisted in seeking expedients?
قصه‌ی اصحاب ضروان خوانده‌ای ** پس چرا در حیله‌جویی مانده‌ای
Several (noxious) men who stung like scorpions were contriving that they might cut off part of the daily bread of some poor folk.475
حیله می‌کردند کزدم‌نیش چند ** که برند از روزی درویش چند
During the night, the whole night, they were devising a plot; many a ‘Amr and Bakr had put their faces together.
شب همه شب می‌سگالیدند مکر ** روی در رو کرده چندین عمرو و بکر
Those wicked men were speaking their inmost thoughts in secret, lest God should discover it.
خفیه می‌گفتند سرها آن بدان ** تا نباید که خدا در یابد آن
Did the clay devise (evil) against the Plasterer? Is the hand doing any work that is hidden from the heart?
با گل انداینده اسگالید گل ** دست کاری می‌کند پنهان ز دل
He (God) hath said, “Doth not He who created (thee) know thy desire, (doth not He know) whether in thy secret conversation there is sincerity or cajolery?”
گفت الا یعلم هواک من خلق ** ان فی نجواک صدقا ام ملق
He hath said, "Shall He be forgetful of a traveller who has set out at morn, One who sees plainly where shall be his lodging to-morrow?"480
گفت یغفل عن ظعین قد غدا ** من یعاین این مثواه غدا
Wheresoever he has descended or mounted, He hath taken charge of it and reckoned (it) up by number.
اینما قد هبطا او صعدا ** قد تولاه و احصی عددا
Now purge your ear of forgetfulness and listen to the separation (forlorn plight) of the sorrowful one.
گوش را اکنون ز غفلت پاک کن ** استماع هجر آن غمناک کن
Know that when you set your ear to his tale, that is the alms which you give to the sad;
آن زکاتی دان که غمگین را دهی ** گوش را چون پیش دستانش نهی
(For) you will hear the sorrows of the heart-sick—the starvation of the noble spirit by the water and clay (of the body).
بشنوی غمهای رنجوران دل ** فاقه‌ی جان شریف از آب و گل
(Though it is) one filled with knowledge, it hath a house filled with smoke: open a window for it by listening.485
خانه‌ی پر دود دارد پر فنی ** مر ورا بگشا ز اصغا روزنی
When your ear becomes a way of breath (relief) for it, the bitter smoke will decrease (and disappear) from its house.
گوش تو او را چو راه دم شود ** دود تلخ از خانه‌ی او کم شود
Show sympathy with us, O well-watered (prosperous) one, if you are faring to wards the most high Lord.
غمگساری کن تو با ما ای روی ** گر به سوی رب اعلی می‌روی
This vacillation is a prison and gaol that will not let the soul go in any direction.
این تردد حبس و زندانی بود ** که بنگذارد که جان سویی رود
This (motive) draws (you) in one direction, and that (motive) in another, each (motive) saying, “I am the right way.”
این بدین سو آن بدان سو می‌کشد ** هر یکی گویا منم راه رشد
This vacillation is a precipice on the Way to God: oh, blest is he whose feet are loosed (from its bonds).490
این تردد عقبه‌ی راه حقست ** ای خنک آن را که پایش مطلقست
He fares on the right way without vacillation: (if) you do not know the way, seek (to find) where his footprints are.
بی‌تردد می‌رود در راه راست ** ره نمی‌دانی بجو گامش کجاست
Cleave to the footprints of the deer and advance safely, that from the deer's footprints you may attain to the musk-gland.
گام آهو را بگیر و رو معاف ** تا رسی از گام آهو تا بناف
By means of this wayfaring you will ascend to the most luminous zenith, O brother, if you will walk on the fire (of tribulation).
زین روش بر اوج انور می‌روی ** ای برادر گر بر آذر می‌روی
(There is) no fear of sea or waves or foam, since you have heard the (Divine) allocution, “Be not afraid.”
نه ز دریا ترس نه از موج و کف ** چون شنیدی تو خطاب لا تخف
Know that it is (a fulfilment of) Be not afraid, when God hath given you the fear (which causes you to refrain from sin): He will send the bread, since He hath sent the tray to you.495
لا تخف دان چونک خوفت داد حق ** نان فرستد چون فرستادت طبق
The fear (danger) is for that one who has no fear (of God); the anguish (is) for that one who does not frequent this place (where God is feared).
خوف آن کس راست کو را خوف نیست ** غصه‌ی آن کس را کش اینجا طوف نیست