In relation to thee it is the bait, and in relation to the people it is the trap, in order that the vulgar may not drink of this chosen wine.”
سوی تو دانه‌ست و سوی خلق دام ** تا ننوشد زین شراب خاص عام
God said, “Thou seest them looking,” (but) they are (like) the pictures in a bathhouse: they do not see.
گفت یزدان که تراهم ینظرون ** نقش حمامند هم لا یبصرون
The form appears, O worshipper of form, as though its two dead eyes were looking.3480
می‌نماید صورت ای صورت‌پرست ** که آن دو چشم مرده‌ی او ناظرست
Thou art showing reverence before the eye of the image, saying, “I wonder why it pays no regard to me.
پیش چشم نقش می‌آری ادب ** کو چرا پاسم نمی‌دارد عجب
Wherefore is this goodly image (so) very irresponsive that it does not say ‘alayk (on thee be peace!) in reply to my salaam?
از چه پس بی‌پاسخست این نقش نیک ** که نمی‌گوید سلامم را علیک
It does not nod its head and moustache generously in regard for my having made a hundred prostrations before it.”
می‌نجنباند سر و سبلت ز جود ** پاس آنک کردمش من صد سجود
God, though He does not nod the head outwardly, (yet) in regard for that (worship of Him) bestows an inward delight,
حق اگر چه سر نجنباند برون ** پاس آن ذوقی دهد در اندرون
Which is worth two hundred noddings of the head: in this fashion, after all, do Intellect and Spirit nod the head.3485
که دو صد جنبیدن سر ارزد آن ** سر چنین جنباند آخر عقل و جان
(If) thou serve Intellect in earnest, the regard of Intellect (for thee) is (shown by this), that it increases (thy) righteousness.
عقل را خدمت کنی در اجتهاد ** پاس عقل آنست که افزاید رشاد
God does not nod the head to thee outwardly, but He makes thee a prince over the princes (of the world).
حق نجنباند به ظاهر سر ترا ** لیک سازد بر سران سرور ترا
To thee God gives secretly something (of such power) that the people of the world bow down before thee,
مر ترا چیزی دهد یزدان نهان ** که سجود تو کنند اهل جهان
Just as He gave to a stone such virtue that it was honoured by His creatures: that is to say, (it became) gold.
آنچنان که داد سنگی را هنر ** تا عزیز خلق شد یعنی که زر
(If) a drop of water gain the favour of God, it becomes a pearl and bears away the palm from gold.3490
قطره‌ی آبی بیابد لطف حق ** گوهری گردد برد از زر سبق
The body is earth; and when God gave it a spark (of His Light) it became adept, like the moon, in taking possession of the world.
جسم خاکست و چو حق تابیش داد ** در جهان‌گیری چو مه شد اوستاد
Beware! this (worldly empire) is a talisman and a dead image: its eye hath led the foolish astray from the (right) path.
هین طلسمست این و نقش مرده است ** احمقان را چشمش از ره برده است
It appears to wink: the foolish have made it their support (have put their trust in it).
می‌نماید او که چشمی می‌زند ** ابلهان سازیده‌اند او را سند
How the Egyptian besought blessing and guidance from the Israelite, and how the Israelite prayed for the Egyptian and received a favourable answer to his prayer from the Most Gracious and Merciful (God).
در خواستن قبطی دعای خیر و هدایت از سبطی و دعا کردن سبطی قبطی را به خیر و مستجاب شدن از اکرم الاکرمین وارحم الراحمین
The Egyptian said, “Do thou offer a prayer (for me), since from blackness of heart I have not the mouth (fit for offering an acceptable prayer),
گفت قبطی تو دعایی کن که من ** از سیاهی دل ندارم آن دهن
For it may be that the lock of this heart will be opened and that a place will be (granted) to this ugly one at the banquet of the beauteous.3495
که بود که قفل این دل وا شود ** زشت را در بزم خوبان جا شود
Through thee the deformed may become endowed with beauty, or an Iblís may again become one of the Cherubim;
مسخی از تو صاحب خوبی شود ** یا بلیسی باز کروبی شود
Or, by the august influence of Mary's hand, the withered bough may acquire the fragrance of musk and freshness and fruit.”
یا بفر دست مریم بوی مشک ** یابد و تری و میوه شاخ خشک
Thereupon the Israelite fell to worship and said, “O God who knowest the manifest and the hidden,
سبطی آن دم در سجود افتاد و گفت ** کای خدای عالم جهر و نهفت
To whom but Thee should Thy servant lift his hand? Both the prayer and the answer (to prayer) are from Thee.
جز تو پیش کی بر آرد بنده دست ** هم دعا و هم اجابت از توست
Thou at first givest the desire for prayer, and Thou at last givest likewise the recompense for prayers.3500
هم ز اول تو دهی میل دعا ** تو دهی آخر دعاها را جزا
Thou art the First and the Last: we between are nothing, a nothing that does not come into (admit of) expression.”
اول و آخر توی ما در میان ** هیچ هیچی که نیاید در بیان
He was speaking in this wise, till he fell into ecstasy and his heart became senseless.
این چنین می‌گفت تا افتاد طشت ** از سر بام و دلش بیهوش گشت
(Whilst engaged) in prayer, he came back to his senses (and witnessed the effect of his prayer): Man shall have nothing but what he hath wrought.
باز آمد او به هوش اندر دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
He was (still) praying when suddenly a loud cry and roar burst from the heart of the Egyptian,
در دعا بود او که ناگه نعره‌ای ** از دل قبطی بجست و غره‌ای
(Who exclaimed), “Come, make haste and submit (the profession of) the Faith (for my acceptance), that I may quickly cut the old girdle (of unbelief).3505
که هلا بشتاب و ایمان عرضه کن ** تا ببرم زود زنار کهن
They have cast a fire into my heart, they have shown affection with (all) their soul for an Iblís (like me).
آتشی در جان من انداختند ** مر بلیسی را به جان بنواختند
Praise be to God! Thy friendship and (my) not being able to do without thee have succoured me at last.
دوستی تو و از تو ناشکفت ** حمدلله عاقبت دستم گرفت
My consortings with thee were (as) an elixir: may thy foot never disappear from the house of my heart!
کیمیایی بود صحبتهای تو ** کم مباد از خانه‌ی دل پای تو
Thou wert a bough of the palm-tree of Paradise: when I grasped it, it bore me to Paradise.
تو یکی شاخی بدی از نخل خلد ** چون گرفتم او مرا تا خلد برد
That which carried away my body was a torrent: the torrent bore me to the brink of the Sea of Bounty.3510
سیل بود آنک تنم را در ربود ** برد سیلم تا لب دریای جود
I went towards the torrent in hope of (obtaining) water: I beheld the Sea and took pearls, bushel on bushel.”
من به بوی آب رفتم سوی سیل ** بحر دیدم در گرفتم کیل کیل
He (the Israelite) brought the cup to him, saying, “Now take the water!” “Go,” he replied; “(all) waters have become despicable in my sight.
طاس آوردش که اکنون آب‌گیر ** گفت رو شد آبها پیشم حقیر
I have drunk such a draught from God hath purchased that no thirst will come to me till the Congregation (at the Last Judgement).
شربتی خوردم ز الله اشتری ** تا به محشر تشنگی ناید مرا
He who gave water to the rivers and fountains hath opened a fountain within me.
آنک جوی و چشمه‌ها را آب داد ** چشمه‌ای در اندرون من گشاد
This heart, which was hot and water-drinking—to its high aspiration water has become vile.3515
این جگر که بود گرم و آب‌خوار ** گشت پیش همت او آب خوار
He (God), for the sake of His servants, became (symbolised by) the (letter) káf of Káfí (All-sufficing), (in token of) the truth of the promise of Káf, Há, Yá, ‘Ayn, Sád.
کاف کافی آمد او بهر عباد ** صدق وعده‌ی کهیعص
(God saith), ‘I am All-sufficing: I will give thee all good, without (the intervention of) a secondary cause, without the mediation of another's aid.
کافیم بدهم ترا من جمله خیر ** بی‌سبب بی‌واسطه‌ی یاری غیر
I am All-sufficing: I will give thee satiety without bread, I will give thee sovereignty without soldiers and armies.