I will strike my copper on its elixir unto everlasting in the mode of treble and bass,
مس خود را بر طریق زیر و بم ** تا ابد بر کیمیااش می‌زنم
That, from (my) playing the sahúr tune in this fashion, the seas (of Divine mercy) may surge (and be roused) to scatter (their) pearls and (lavish their) bounty.
تا بجوشد زین چنین ضرب سحور ** در درافشانی و بخشایش به حور
Men hazard their lives in the line of battle and in fighting for the Creator's sake.875
خلق در صف قتال و کارزار ** جان همی‌بازند بهر کردگار
One is like Job in tribulation; another like Jacob in patience.
آن یکی اندر بلا ایوب‌وار ** وان دگر در صابری یعقوب‌وار
Hundreds of thousands of people, thirsty and sorrowful, are doing some sore toil for God's sake in desire (of pleasing Him).
صد هزاران خلق تشنه و مستمند ** بهر حق از طمع جهدی می‌کنند
I too, for the merciful Lord's sake and in hope of Him, am drumming the sahúr-call at the gate.”
من هم از بهر خداوند غفور ** می‌زنم بر در به اومیدش سحور
(If) you want a customer from whom you will get gold, how should there be a better customer than God, O (my) heart?
مشتری خواهی که از وی زر بری ** به ز حق کی باشد ای دل مشتری
He buys a dirty bag from your (stock of) goods, and gives (you in return) an inner light that borrows (its splendour from Himself).880
می‌خرد از مالت انبانی نجس ** می‌دهد نور ضمیری مقتبس
He receives the (dissolving) ice of this mortal body, and gives a kingdom beyond our imagination.
می‌ستاند این یخ جسم فنا ** می‌دهد ملکی برون از وهم ما
He receives a few tear-drops, and gives a Kawthar (so delicious) that sugar shows jealousy (of its sweetness).
می‌ستاند قطره‌ی چندی ز اشک ** می‌دهد کوثر که آرد قند رشک
He receives sighs full of melancholy and vaporous gloom, and gives for every sigh a hundred gainful dignities.
می‌ستاند آه پر سودا و دود ** می‌دهد هر آه را صد جاه سود
Because of the wind of sighs that drove onward the tearful cloud, He hath called a Khalíl (Abraham) awwáh (sighful).
باد آهی که ابر اشک چشم راند ** مر خلیلی را بدان اواه خواند
Hark, sell your old rags in this brisk incomparable market, and receive the sterling (real and genuine) kingdom (in exchange).885
هین درین بازار گرم بی‌نظیر ** کهنه‌ها بفروش و ملک نقد گیر
And if any doubt and suspicion waylay (assail) you, rely upon the (spiritual) traders, (namely), the prophets.
ور ترا شکی و ریبی ره زند ** تاجران انبیا را کن سند
Inasmuch as the (Divine) Emperor increased their fortune exceedingly, no mountain can carry their merchandise.
بس که افزود آن شهنشه بختشان ** می‌نتاند که کشیدن رختشان
The Story of Bilál's crying “One! One!” in the heat of the Hijáz, from his love for Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, in the forenoons when his master, (impelled) by Jewish fanaticism, used to flog him with a thorny branch under the (blazing) sun of the Hijáz; and how at (each) blow the blood spurted from Bilál's body, and (the words) “One! One!” escaped (from his lips) involuntarily, just as sobs escape involuntarily from others stricken with grief, because he was (so) full of the passion of love (that) there was no room for any care about relieving the pain of the thorns to enter (his heart). (His case was) like (that of) Pharaoh's magicians and Jirjís and others (who are) innumerable and beyond computation.
قصه‌ی احد احد گفتن بلال در حر حجاز از محبت مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن چاشتگاهها کی خواجه‌اش از تعصب جهودی به شاخ خارش می‌زد پیش آفتاب حجاز و از زخم خون از تن بلال برمی‌جوشید ازو احد احد می‌جست بی‌قصد او چنانک از دردمندان دیگر ناله جهد بی‌قصد زیرا از درد عشق ممتلی بود اهتمام دفع درد خار را مدخل نبود هم‌چون سحره‌ی فرعون و جرجیس و غیر هم لایعد و لا یحصی
That Bilál was devoting his body to the (scourge of) thorns: his master was flogging him by way of correction,
تن فدای خار می‌کرد آن بلال ** خواجه‌اش می‌زد برای گوشمال
Saying, “Why dost thou celebrate Ahmad (Mohammed)? Wicked slave, thou disbelievest in my religion!”
که چرا تو یاد احمد می‌کنی ** بنده‌ی بد منکر دین منی
He was beating him in the sun with thorns (while) he (Bilál) cried vauntingly “One!”890
می‌زد اندر آفتابش او به خار ** او احد می‌گفت بهر افتخار
Till (at last) those cries of “One!” reached the ears of the Siddíq (Abú Bakr), who was passing in that neighbourhood.
تا که صدیق آن طرف بر می‌گذشت ** آن احد گفتن به گوش او برفت
His eyes became filled with tears and his heart with trouble, (for) from that “One!” he caught the scent of a loving friend (of God).
چشم او پر آب شد دل پر عنا ** زان احد می‌یافت بوی آشنا
Afterwards he saw him (Bilál) in private and admonished him, saying, “Keep thy belief hidden from the Jews.
بعد از آن خلوت بدیدش پند داد ** کز جهودان خفیه می‌دار اعتقاد
He (God) knows (all) secrets: conceal thy desire.” He (Bilál) said, “I repent before thee, O prince.”
عالم السرست پنهان دار کام ** گفت کردم توبه پیشت ای همام
Early next day, (when) the Siddíq was going quickly in that district on account of some affair,895
روز دیگر از پگه صدیق تفت ** آن طرف از بهر کاری می‌برفت
He again heard (cries of) “One!” and (the sound of) blows inflicted by the (scourge of) thorns: flames and sparks of fire were kindled in his heart.
باز احد بشنید و ضرب زخم خار ** برفروزید از دلش سوز و شرار
He admonished him once more, and once more he (Bilál) repented; (but) Love came and consumed his repentance.
باز پندش داد باز او توبه کرد ** عشق آمد توبه‌ی او را بخورد
There was much repenting of this sort, (till) at last he became quit of repentance,
توبه کردن زین نمط بسیار شد ** عاقبت از توبه او بیزار شد
And proclaimed (his faith) and yielded up his body to tribulation, crying, “O Mohammed, O enemy of vows of repentance,
فاش کرد اسپرد تن را در بلا ** کای محمد ای عدو توبه‌ها
O thou with whom my body and (all) my veins are filled—how should there be room therein for repentance?—900
ای تن من وی رگ من پر ز تو ** توبه را گنجا کجا باشد درو
Henceforth I will banish repentance from this heart (of mine): how should I repent of the life everlasting?”
توبه را زین پس ز دل بیرون کنم ** از حیات خلد توبه چون کنم
Love is the All-subduer, and I am subdued by Love: by Love's bitterness I have been made sweet as sugar.
عشق قهارست و من مقهور عشق ** چون شکر شیرین شدم از شور عشق
O fierce Wind, before Thee I am (but) a straw: how can I know where I shall fall?
برگ کاهم پیش تو ای تند باد ** من چه دانم که کجا خواهم فتاد
Whether I am (stout as) Bilál or (thin as) the new moon (hilál), I am running on and following the course of Thy sun.
گر هلالم گر بلالم می‌دوم ** مقتدی آفتابت می‌شوم
What has the moon to do with stoutness and thinness? She runs at the heels of the sun, like a shadow.905
ماه را با زفتی و زاری چه کار ** در پی خورشید پوید سایه‌وار
Any one who offers to make a settlement with (the Divine) destiny is mocking at his own moustache.
با قضا هر کو قراری می‌دهد ** ریش‌خند سبلت خود می‌کند
A straw in the face of the wind, and then (the idea of) a settlement! A Resurrection (going on), and then the resolve to act (independently)!
کاه‌برگی پیش باد آنگه قرار ** رستخیزی وانگهانی عزم‌کار
In the hand of Love I am like a cat in a bag, now lifted high and now flung low by Love.
گربه در انبانم اندر دست عشق ** یک‌دمی بالا و یک‌دم پست عشق
He is whirling me round His head: I have no rest either below or aloft.
او همی‌گرداندم بر گرد سر ** نه به زیر آرام دارم نه زبر
The lovers (of God) have fallen into a fierce torrent: they have set their hearts on (resigned themselves to) the ordinance of Love.910
عاشقان در سیل تند افتاده‌اند ** بر قضای عشق دل بنهاده‌اند
(They are) like the millstone turning, day and night, in (continual) revolution and moaning incessantly.
هم‌چو سنگ آسیا اندر مدار ** روز و شب گردان و نالان بی‌قرار
Its turning is evidence for those who seek the River, lest any one should say that the River is motionless.
گردشش بر جوی جویان شاهدست ** تا نگوید کس که آن جو راکدست
If thou seest not the hidden River, see the (perpetual) turning of the celestial water-wheel.
گر نمی‌بینی تو جو را در کمین ** گردش دولاب گردونی ببین
Since the heavens have no rest from (being moved by) Him (Love), (be) thou, O heart, like a star, (and) seek no rest.
چون قراری نیست گردون را ازو ** ای دل اختروار آرامی مجو
If thou lay hold of a branch, how should He let (thee cling to it)? Wherever thou makest an attachment, He will break it.915
گر زنی در شاخ دستی کی هلد ** هر کجا پیوند سازی بسکلد
If thou seest not the revolutionary action of the (Divine) decree, look at the surging and whirling (that appears) in the (four) elements;
گر نمی‌بینی تو تدویر قدر ** در عناصر جوشش و گردش نگر
For the whirling of the sticks and straws and foam are caused by the boiling of the noble Sea (of Love).
زانک گردشهای آن خاشاک و کف ** باشد از غلیان بحر با شرف
See the giddy wind howling; see the billows surging at His command.
باد سرگردان ببین اندر خروش ** پیش امرش موج دریا بین بجوش
The sun and moon are two mill-oxen, going round and round and keeping watch (over the world).
آفتاب و ماه دو گاو خراس ** گرد می‌گردند و می‌دارند پاس
The stars likewise run from house to house (in the sky) and convey every good and evil fortune.920
اختران هم خانه خانه می‌دوند ** مرکب هر سعد و نحسی می‌شوند
Hark, though the stars of heaven are far away and thy senses are (too) dull and slack (to apprehend their motions),