And if you reply, “How should I know Noah? (Only) one like him can know him, O youth.
ور بگویی من چه دانم نوح را ** همچو اویی داند او را ای فتی
I am a lame ant. How should I know the elephant? How should a gnat know Isráfíl?”—
مور لنگم من چه دانم فیل را ** پشه‌ای کی داند اسرافیل را
This saying (answer) is also true in regard to the fact that you do not know him in his quiddity, O so-and-so.
این سخن هم راستست از روی آن ** که بماهیت ندانیش ای فلان
To be unable to perceive the quiddity, uncle, is the condition of common men: do not say it absolutely,3650
عجز از ادراک ماهیت عمو ** حالت عامه بود مطلق مگو
Inasmuch as quiddities and their inmost secret are clearly visible to the eyes of the Perfect.
زانک ماهیات و سر سر آن ** پیش چشم کاملان باشد عیان
Where in existence is (anything) more remote from understanding and mental perception than the consciousness and essence of God?
در وجود از سر حق و ذات او ** دورتر از فهم و استبصار کو
Since that does not remain hidden from (His) familiars, what is the essence and attribute that should remain concealed?
چونک آن مخفی نماند از محرمان ** ذات و وصفی چیست کان ماند نهان
The intellect of the scholastic theologian says, “This is far (from reasonable) and deeply involved (in error): do not listen to an absurdity without some explanation.”
عقل بحثی گوید این دورست و گو ** بی ز تاویل محالی کم شنو
The Qutb (the Head of the Saints) replies, “To thee, O infirm one, that which is above thy (spiritual) state seems absurd.”3655
قطب گوید مر ترا ای سست‌حال ** آنچ فوق حال تست آید محال
The visions which are now revealed to you, is it not the case that at first they seemed absurd to you?
واقعاتی که کنونت بر گشود ** نه که اول هم محالت می‌نمود