The Causer brings (into existence) whatsoever He will: the Absolute Power tears up (destroys) the causes;
هر چه خواهد آن مسبب آورد ** قدرت مطلق سببها بر درد
But, for the most part, He lets the execution (of His will) follow the course of causation, in order that a seeker may be able to pursue the object of his desire.
لیک اغلب بر سبب راند نفاذ ** تا بداند طالبی جستن مراد
When there is no cause, what way should the seeker pursue? Therefore he must have a visible cause in the way (that he is pursuing).1550
چون سبب نبود چه ره جوید مرید ** پس سبب در راه می‌باید بدید
These causes are veils on the eyes, for not every eye is worthy of (contemplating) His work.
این سببها بر نظرها پرده‌هاست ** که نه هر دیدار صنعش را سزاست
An eye that can penetrate the cause is needed to extirpate (these) veils from root and bottom,
دیده‌ای باید سبب سوراخ کن ** تا حجب را بر کند از بیخ و بن
So that it may behold the Causer in (the world of) non-spatiality and regard exertion and earnings and shops as (mere) nonsense.
تا مسبب بیند اندر لامکان ** هرزه داند جهد و اکساب و دکان
Everything good or evil comes from the Causer: causes and means, O father, are naught
از مسبب می‌رسد هر خیر و شر ** نیست اسباب و وسایط ای پدر
But a phantom that has materialised on the King's highway in order that the period of heedlessness (the reign of ignorance) may endure for some (little) time.1555
جز خیالی منعقد بر شاه‌راه ** تا بماند دور غفلت چند گاه
On the beginning of the creation of the body of Adam, on whom be peace, when He (God) commanded Gabriel, on whom be peace, saying, “Go, take a handful of clay from this Earth,” or according to another relation, “Take a handful from every region.”
در ابتدای خلقت جسم آدم علیه‌السلام کی جبرئیل علیه‌السلام را اشارت کرد کی برو از زمین مشتی خاک برگیر و به روایتی از هر نواحی مشت مشت بر گیر
When the Maker willed to bring Man into existence for the purpose of probation with good and evil,
چونک صانع خواست ایجاد بشر ** از برای ابتلای خیر و شر
He commanded Gabriel the true, saying, “Go, take a handful of clay from the Earth as a pledge.”
جبرئیل صدق را فرمود رو ** مشت خاکی از زمین بستان گرو
He girt his loins and came to the Earth, that he might execute the command of the Lord of created beings.
او میان بست و بیامد تا زمین ** تا گزارد امر رب‌العالمین
That obedient one moved his hand towards the Earth: the Earth withdrew herself and was afraid.
دست سوی خاک برد آن متمر ** خاک خود را در کشید و شد حذر
Then the Earth loosed her tongue and made supplication, saying, “For the sake of the reverence due to the unique Creator,1560
پس زبان بگشاد خاک و لابه کرد ** کز برای حرمت خلاق فرد
Take leave of me and go! Spare my life! Go, turn aside from me the reins of thy white steed!
ترک من گو و برو جانم ببخش ** رو بتاب از من عنان خنگ رخش
For God's sake, leave me and do not plunge me into the troubles of (moral) obligation and danger.
در کشاکشهای تکلیف و خطر ** بهر لله هل مرا اندر مبر
(I beseech thee) for the sake of the favour by which God chose thee out and revealed to thee the knowledge (written) in the Universal Tablet,
بهر آن لطفی که حقت بر گزید ** کرد بر تو علم لوح کل پدید
So that thou hast become the teacher of the Angels and art conversing with God continually;
تا ملایک را معلم آمدی ** دایما با حق مکلم آمدی
For thou wilt be the messenger sent to the prophets: thou art the life of the inspired spirit, not (the life) of the body.1565
که سفیر انبیا خواهی بدن ** تو حیات جان وحیی نی بدن
Thou (ever) hadst superiority over Seraphiel because he is the body's life, (while) thou art the spirit's.
بر سرافیلت فضیلت بود از آن ** کو حیات تن بود تو آن جان
The blast of his trumpet is (producing) the growth of bodies; thy breath is (producing) the growth of the single heart.
بانگ صورش نشات تن‌ها بود ** نفخ تو نشو دل یکتا بود
The life of the heart is the soul of the soul of the body: therefore thy gift is superior to his.
جان جان تن حیات دل بود ** پس ز دادش داد تو فاضل بود
Again, Michael gives the sustenance (proper) for the body, (but) thy labour gives the sustenance (proper) for the illumined heart.
باز میکائیل رزق تن دهد ** سعی تو رزق دل روشن دهد
He has filled his skirt with gifts (of sustenance dispensed) by measure, (but) thy gifts of sustenance are immeasurable.1570
او بداد کیل پر کردست ذیل ** داد رزق تو نمی‌گنجد به کیل
Moreover, thou art better than Azrael the tyrannous and enraged, even as (Divine) Mercy is prior to Wrath.
هم ز عزرائیل با قهر و عطب ** تو بهی چون سبق رحمت بر غضب
These four (Angels) are the bearers of the (Divine) Throne, and thou (art their) king: thou art the best of all of the four from being (spiritually) awake.
حامل عرش این چهارند و تو شاه ** بهترین هر چهاری ز انتباه
On the Day of the (Last) Congregation thou wilt see that its bearers are eight: at that time also thou wilt be the most excellent of its eight (bearers).”
روز محشر هشت بینی حاملانش ** هم تو باشی افضل هشت آن زمانش
Thus was she (the Earth) enumerating (his qualities) and weeping: she guessed what was the object of this (mission).
هم‌چنین برمی‌شمرد و می‌گریست ** بوی می‌برد او کزین مقصود چیست
Gabriel was a mine of reverence and respect: those adjurations barred the way against him.1575
معدن شرم و حیا بد جبرئیل ** بست آن سوگندها بر وی سبیل
Inasmuch as she entreated and adjured him, he returned and said, “O Lord of Thy servants,
بس که لابه کردش و سوگند داد ** بازگشت و گفت یا رب العباد
(I protest) that I have not been remiss in Thy affair, but Thou knowest what happened better (than I).
که نبودم من به کارت سرسری ** لیک زانچ رفت تو داناتری
She (the Earth) pronounced the Name from awe of which, O All-seeing One, the Seven Heavens would cease from their course.
گفت نامی که ز هولش ای بصیر ** هفت گردون باز ماند از مسیر
(A feeling of) shame came over me, I was abashed by Thy Name; else, ’tis easy to convey a handful of earth,
شرمم آمد گشتم از نامت خجل ** ورنه آسانست نقل مشت گل
For Thou hast bestowed such a strength upon the Angels that they can tear these celestial spheres to shreds.”1580
که تو زوری داده‌ای املاک را ** که بدرانند این افلاک را
The sending of Michael, on whom be peace, to take a handful of clay from the Earth for putting together the frame of the blessed body of the Father of Mankind, the Vicegerent of God, Adam, on whom be peace, the Adored of the Angels and their Teacher.
فرستادن میکائیل را علیه‌السلام به قبض حفنه‌ای خاک از زمین جهت ترکیب ترتیب جسم مبارک ابوالبشر خلیفة الحق مسجود الملک و معلمهم آدم علیه‌السلام
He (God) said to Michael, “Do thou go down and seize, like a lion, a handful of clay from her.”
گفت میکائیل را تو رو به زیر ** مشت خاکی در ربا از وی چو شیر
When Michael reached the Earth, he put forth his hand to seize (the clay) from her.
چونک میکائیل شد تا خاکدان ** دست کرد او تا که برباید از آن
The Earth trembled and began to flee (recoil): she became suppliant and shed tears.
خاک لرزید و درآمد در گریز ** گشت او لابه‌کنان و اشک‌ریز
Her breast burning (with grief), she made supplication and earnest entreaty: with bloody tears she adjured (him),
سینه سوزان لابه کرد و اجتهاد ** با سرشک پر ز خون سوگند داد
Saying, “(I beseech thee) by the gracious incomparable God who hath made thee the bearer of the majestic Throne.1585
که به یزدان لطیف بی‌ندید ** که بکردت حامل عرش مجید
Thou art the overseer for measuring (and dispensing) the world's means of sustenance: thou art the ladler to them that thirst for the (Divine) bounty”—
کیل ارزاق جهان را مشرفی ** تشنگان فضل را تو مغرفی
Because (the name) Míká’íl (Michael) is derived from kayl (measure), and he has become the measurer (kayyál) in dispensation of the means of subsistence.
زانک میکائیل از کیل اشتقاق ** دارد و کیال شد در ارتزاق
“Give me quarter, set me free! See how I am uttering words stained with blood.”
که امانم ده مرا آزاد کن ** بین که خون‌آلود می‌گویم سخن
The Angel is a mine of God's mercy: he (Michael) said, “How should I sprinkle this salt on that wound?”—
معدن رحم اله آمد ملک ** گفت چون ریزم بر آن ریش این نمک
Just as the Devil is a mine of (God's) wrath, for he has raised up a roar (of lamentation) from the sons of Adam.1590
هم‌چنانک معدن قهرست دیو ** که برآورد از نبی آدم غریو
The precedence of Mercy over Wrath exists (as a fact), O youth: clemency was (eternally) predominant in the nature of God.
سبق رحمت بر غضب هست ای فتا ** لطف غالب بود در وصف خدا
His (chosen) servants necessarily possess His disposition: their water-skins are filled from the water of His stream.
بندگان دارند لابد خوی او ** مشکهاشان پر ز آب جوی او
The Messenger of God and the Guide on the (mystic) journey said that men follow the usage of their kings.
آن رسول حق قلاوز سلوک ** گفت الناس علی دین الملوک
Michael went (back) to the Lord of the Judgement, with hand and sleeve empty of the object of his quest.
رفت میکائیل سوی رب دین ** خالی از مقصود دست و آستین
He said, “O Knower of the secret, O peerless King, the Earth bound me (tied my hands) by lamenting and weeping.1595
گفت ای دانای سر و شاه فرد ** خاک از زاری و گریه بسته کرد
Tears were (ever) precious with Thee: I could not feign not to have heard.
آب دیده پیش تو با قدر بود ** من نتانستم که آرم ناشنود
Moaning and wailing (ever) had great value with Thee: I could not leave their rights unheeded.
آه و زاری پیش تو بس قدر داشت ** من نتانستم حقوق آن گذاشت