A voice reached him from within the Ka‘ba. It said, “O seeker, that righteous child
از درون کعبه آوازش رسید ** گفت ای جوینده آن طفل رشید
Is in such and such a wadi beneath yonder tree.” Then the good-fortuned old man at once set out.
در فلان وادیست زیر آن درخت ** پس روان شد زود پیر نیکبخت
At his stirrup (were) the princes of Quraysh, for his (Mohammed's) grandfather was one of the notables of Quraysh.1035
در رکاب او امیران قریش ** زانک جدش بود ز اعیان قریش
All his (Mohammed's) ancestors (reaching back) to the loins of Adam (were) lords in feast and fray and the carnage of battle.
تا به پشت آدم اسلافش همه ** مهتران بزم و رزم و ملحمه
This lineage is (applicable) only to his husk (body), which is strained pure (in descent) from mighty emperors.
این نسب خود پوست او را بوده است ** کز شهنشاهان مه پالوده است
His kernel, in sooth, is remote from lineage, and unsoiled (by contamination with mankind): none is its congener from the Fish to Arcturus.
مغز او خود از نسب دورست و پاک ** نیست جنسش از سمک کس تا سماک
None seeks (to know) the birth and (coming into) existence of the Light of God: what need of warp and woof hath God's robe of honour?
نور حق را کس نجوید زاد و بود ** خلعت حق را چه حاجت تار و پود
The meanest robe of honour that He bestows in recompense (for good works) excels the embroidered raiment of the sun.1040
کمترین خلعت که بدهد در ثواب ** بر فزاید بر طراز آفتاب
The rest of the story of (the Divine) Mercy’s calling Bilqís.
بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی دعوت رحمت بلقیس را
“Arise, O Bilqís! Come and behold the Kingdom! Gather pearls on the shore of God’s Sea!
خیز بلقیسا بیا و ملک بین ** بر لب دریای یزدان در بچین
Thy sisters are dwelling in the glorious Heaven: why dost thou behave like a sultan on account of (possessing) a carcase?
خواهرانت ساکن چرخ سنی ** تو بمرداری چه سلطانی کنی
Dost thou know at all what noble gifts that Sultan (God) gave to thy sisters?
خواهرانت را ز بخششهای راد ** هیچ می‌دانی که آن سلطان چه داد
How didst thou jubilantly take drummers (into thy service), proclaiming, ‘I am queen and mistress of the bath-stove’?”
تو ز شادی چون گرفتی طبل‌زن ** که منم شاه و رئیس گولحن
Parable of Man's being contented with (the goods of) this world, and his greed in seeking (them) and his indifference to the high and blessed estate of the spiritual who are his congeners (and are) crying, "Oh, would that my people might know!"
مثل قانع شدن آدمی به دنیا و حرص او در طلب دنیا و غفلت او از دولت روحانیان کی ابنای جنس وی‌اند و نعره‌زنان کی یا لیت قومی یعلمون
A dog saw a blind beggar in the street, and was rushing at him and tearing his cloak.1045
آن سگی در کو گدای کور دید ** حمله می‌آورد و دلقش می‌درید
We have (already) related this, but it is repeated (here) once again in order to strengthen (the effect of) the story.
گفته‌ایم این را ولی باری دگر ** شد مکرر بهر تاکید خبر
The blind man said to it (the dog), “Why, at this moment your friends are hunting and seeking prey on the mountain.
کور گفتش آخر آن یاران تو ** بر کهند این دم شکاری صیدجو
Your kinsfolk are catching onagers in the mountains: you are catching blind men in the streets.”
قوم تو در کوه می‌گیرند گور ** در میان کوی می‌گیری تو کور
O recalcitrant Shaykh, abandon this imposture: thou art (like) briny water, having gathered some blind men (around thee),
ترک این تزویر گو شیخ نفور ** آب شوری جمع کرده چند کور
(As though implicitly thou wert) saying, “These are my disciples, and I am (like) briny water: they drink of me and become blind.”1050
کین مریدان من و من آب شور ** می‌خورند از من همی گردند کور
Sweeten thy water with the esoteric Sea: do not make the foul water a snare for these blind ones.
آب خود شیرین کن از بحر لدن ** آب بد را دام این کوران مکن
Arise, behold the lions of God who catch the onager: how art thou, like a dog, catching the blind with a (display of) hypocrisy?
خیز شیران خدا بین گورگیر ** تو چو سگ چونی بزرقی کورگیر
What onager (do they catch)? They are far from hunting aught but the Beloved. They all are lions and lion-catchers and intoxicated with the Light (of God).
گور چه از صید غیر دوست دور ** جمله شیر و شیرگیر و مست نور
In contemplation of the chase and hunting of the King, they have abandoned the chase and have become dead in bewilderment.
در نظاره صید و صیادی شه ** کرده ترک صید و مرده در وله
The Friend has taken them, like a dead bird, that (by means of them) He may hunt down their congeners.1055
هم‌چو مرغ مرده‌شان بگرفته یار ** تا کند او جنس ایشان را شکار
The dead bird is compelled (deprived of volition) in respect of being united or separated: you have read (the Hadíth), “The heart is between two fingers (of the Merciful God).”
مرغ مرده مضطر اندر وصل و بین ** خوانده‌ای القلب بین اصبعین
Every one that has fallen a prey to His dead bird (will perceive), when he sees (the truth), (that) he has fallen a prey to the King.
مرغ مرده‌ش را هر آنک شد شکار ** چون ببیند شد شکار شهریار
Whoever turned his head away from this dead bird never gained the hand of that Hunter.
هر که او زین مرغ مرده سر بتافت ** دست آن صیاد را هرگز نیافت
It (the dead bird) says, “Do not regard my being a carcase: see the King's love (shown) in preserving me.
گوید او منگر به مرداری من ** عشق شه بین در نگهداری من
I am not a carcase: the King hath killed me: my appearance has become like (that of) the dead.1060
من نه مردارم مرا شه کشته است ** صورت من شبه مرده گشته است
My former motion was by means of wing and pinion: now my motion proceeds from the hand of the (Divine) Judge.
جنبشم زین پیش بود از بال و پر ** جنبشم اکنون ز دست دادگر
My perishable motion has gone forth from my skin: now my motion is everlasting, since it proceeds from Him.
جنبش فانیم بیرون شد ز پوست ** جنبشم باقیست اکنون چون ازوست
If any one move crookedly (misbehave) in the presence of my motion, I will kill him miserably, (even) though he is the Símurgh.
هر که کژ جنبد به پیش جنبشم ** گرچه سیمرغست زارش می‌کشم
Beware! If thou art (spiritually) alive, do not deem me dead; if thou art a (devoted) slave (of God), regard me (as being) in the hand of the King.
هین مرا مرده مبین گر زنده‌ای ** در کف شاهم نگر گر بنده‌ای
Jesus, by his grace, made the dead to be living: I am in the hand of the Creator of Jesus.1065
مرده زنده کرد عیسی از کرم ** من به کف خالق عیسی درم
How should I remain dead in the grasp of God? Likewise, do not hold this to be possible in (the case of) the hand of ‘Jesus.’
کی بمانم مرده در قبضه‌ی خدا ** بر کف عیسی مدار این هم روا
I am ‘Jesus’; but every one that hath gained life from (been revived by) my breath will remain unto everlasting.
عیسی‌ام لیکن هر آنکو یافت جان ** از دم من او بماند جاودان
He (the dead man) was made living by Jesus, but died again. Happy is he that gave up his life to this ‘Jesus.’
شد ز عیسی زنده لیکن باز مرد ** شاد آنکو جان بدین عیسی سپرد
I am the staff in the hand of my ‘Moses’: my ‘Moses’ is hidden, while I am visible in presence.
من عصاام در کف موسی خویش ** موسیم پنهان و من پیدا به پیش
For the true believers I become a bridge across the sea; for Pharaoh, again, I become a dragon.”1070
بر مسلمانان پل دریا شوم ** باز بر فرعون اژدها شوم
O son, do not regard this staff alone, for the staff would not be like this without the hand of God.
این عصا را ای پسر تنها مبین ** که عصا بی‌کف حق نبود چنین
The waves of the Flood too were a staff which, from being aggrieved, devoured the pomp of the votaries of magic.
موج طوفان هم عصا بد کو ز درد ** طنطنه‌ی جادوپرستان را بخورد
If I should enumerate the staves of God, I should tear to pieces (expose and confound) the hypocrisy of these followers of Pharaoh;
گر عصاهای خدا را بشمرم ** زرق این فرعونیان را بر درم
But leave them to browse on this sweet poisonous grass for a few days.
لیک زین شیرین گیای زهرمند ** ترک کن تا چند روزی می‌چرند
If there be not the power and dominion of Pharaoh, whence shall Hell obtain nutriment?1075
گر نباشد جاه فرعون و سری ** از کجا یابد جهنم پروری
Fatten him, then kill him, O Butcher; for the dogs in Hell are without food.
فربهش کن آنگهش کش ای قصاب ** زانک بی‌برگ‌اند در دوزخ کلاب
If there were no adversary and enemy in the world, then the anger in men would die.
گر نبودی خصم و دشمن در جهان ** پس بمردی خشم اندر مردمان
That anger is Hell: it needs an adversary that it may live; else Mercy would kill it.
دوزخ آن خشمست خصمی بایدش ** تا زید ور نی رحیمی بکشدش
Then clemency would remain without any vengeance or evil: then how would the perfection of Kingship be (manifested)?
پس بماندی لطف بی‌قهر و بدی ** پس کمال پادشاهی کی بدی
Those disbelievers have made a laughing-stock of the parables and clear exposition of them that glorify (God).1080
ریش‌خندی کرده‌اند آن منکران ** بر مثلها و بیان ذاکران
Make (them) a laughing-stock, if thou wishest (O disbeliever): how long wilt thou live, O carcase, how long?
تو اگر خواهی بکن هم ریش‌خند ** چند خواهی زیست ای مردار چند
Rejoice, O lovers (of God), in supplication at this same door, for it is opened today.
شاد باشید ای محبان در نیاز ** بر همین در که شود امروز باز