The Prophet said, “No preference is (to be given) to my ascension as being superior to the ascension of Yúnus (Jonah).
گفت پیغامبر که معراج مرا ** نیست بر معراج یونس اجتبا
Mine was up to heaven, and his was down below (in the belly of the Fish), because nighness unto God is beyond calculation.”
آن من بر چرخ و آن او نشیب ** زانک قرب حق برونست از حساب
To be nigh (unto God) is not to go up or down: to be nigh unto God is to escape from the prison of existence.
قرب نه بالا نه پستی رفتنست ** قرب حق از حبس هستی رستنست
What room hath non-existence for “up” and “down”? Non-existence hath no “soon” or “far” or “late.”4515
نیست را چه جای بالا است و زیر ** نیست را نه زود و نه دورست و دیر
The laboratory and treasure of God is in non-existence. Thou art deluded by existence: how shouldst thou know what non-existence is?
کارگاه و گنج حق در نیستیست ** غرهی هستی چه دانی نیست چیست
The sum of the matter (is that) this defeat of theirs, O sire, does not resemble our defeat at all.
حاصل این اشکست ایشان ای کیا ** مینماند هیچ با اشکست ما
They rejoice in being abased and destroyed, just as we (rejoice) in the hour of success and honour.
آنچنان شادند در ذل و تلف ** همچو ما در وقت اقبال و شرف
The provision of unprovidedness is all (that has been assigned to the Prophet as) his fief: poverty and lowliness are his pride and glory.
برگ بیبرگی همه اقطاع اوست ** فقر و خواریش افتخارست و علوست
One (of the captives) said, “If that adversary (of ours) is such (as you describe), how did he laugh when he saw us bound (in chains)?4520
آن یکی گفت ار چنانست آن ندید ** چون بخندید او که ما را بسته دید
Since (as you assert) he has been transmuted, and (since) his joy is not caused by this (worldly) prison and this freedom of his (from worldly embarrassments),
چونک او مبدل شدست و شادیش ** نیست زین زندان و زین آزادیش