The seven candles appeared to the eye as seven men: their light was mounting to the azure vault.
هفت شمع اندر نظر شد هفت مرد ** نورشان می‌شد به سقف لاژورد
Beside those lights the daylight was (murky as) dregs: by their intensity they were obliterating (all other) lights.
پیش آن انوار نور روز درد ** از صلابت نورها را می‌سترد
How those candles now became seven trees.
باز شدن آن شمعها هفت درخت
Then each man assumed the shape of a tree: my eye was happy in their greenery.
باز هر یک مرد شد شکل درخت ** چشمم از سبزی ایشان نیکبخت
On account of the denseness of the leaves no boughs were visible; the leaves too had become scant (had almost vanished) on account of the plenteous fruit.
زانبهی برگ پیدا نیست شاخ ** برگ هم گم گشته از میوه‌ی فراخ
Every tree had thrown its boughs above the Sidra: what of the Sidra? They had reached beyond the Void.2005
هر درختی شاخ بر سدره زده ** سدره چه بود از خلا بیرون شده
The root of each (tree) had gone (down) into the bottom of the earth: assuredly it was lower than the Ox and the Fish.
بیخ هر یک رفته در قعر زمین ** زیرتر از گاو و ماهی بد یقین
Their roots were more smiling of face than the boughs: the intellect (was turned) upside down (confused and bewildered) by their shapes.
بیخشان از شاخ خندان‌روی‌تر ** عقل از آن اشکالشان زیر و زبر
From the fruit that was bursting forcibly flashes of light would spurt forth, like juice.
میوه‌ای که بر شکافیدی ز زور ** همچو آب از میوه جستی برق نور
How those trees were invisible to the people.
مخفی بودن آن درختان ازچشم خلق
More wondrous (than all else) was this, that hundreds of thousands of people were passing through the desert and plain beside them,
این عجب‌تر که بریشان می‌گذشت ** صد هزاران خلق از صحرا و دشت
Hazarding their lives (ready to sacrifice everything) in desire for shade, and making a parasol out of a woollen garment,2010
ز آرزوی سایه جان می‌باختند ** از گلیمی سایه‌بان می‌ساختند
And not seeing the shade of those (trees) at all. A hundred spittings on (such) distorted eyes!
سایه‌ی آن را نمی‌دیدند هیچ ** صد تفو بر دیده‌های پیچ پیچ
The wrath of God had sealed their eyes, so that he (such a one) should not see the moon, (but) should see (only) Suhá.
ختم کرده قهر حق بر دیده‌ها ** که نبیند ماه را بیند سها
He sees a mote, (but) not the sun; yet he is not despairing of the grace and loving kindness of God.
ذره‌ای را بیند و خورشید نه ** لیک از لطف و کرم نومید نه
The caravans are without food, and (yet) these fruits are dropping ripe (beside them): O God, what magic is this?
کاروانها بی نوا وین میوه‌ها ** پخته می‌ریزد چه سحرست ای خدا
With parched throats the people, having fallen pell-mell to plunder, were gathering the rotten apples,2015
سیب پوسیده همی‌چیدند خلق ** درهم افتاده بیغما خشک‌حلق
(While) every leaf and bud of those boughs said continually, ‘Oh, would that my people knew!’
گفته هر برگ و شکوفه آن غصون ** دم بدم یا لیت قوم یعلمون
From the direction of every tree was coming the cry, ‘Come towards us, O ye folk of evil fortune,’
بانگ می‌آمد ز سوی هر درخت ** سوی ما آیید خلق شوربخت
(While) from (the Divine) jealousy there was coming to the trees the cry, ‘We have bandaged their eyes;nay, there is no refuge.’
بانگ می‌آمد ز غیرت بر شجر ** چشمشان بستیم کلا لا وزر
If any one had said to them ‘Go in this direction, that ye may be made happy by these trees,’
گر کسی می‌گفتشان کین سو روید ** تا ازین اشجار مستسعد شوید
They all would have said, ‘By Divine destiny this poor intoxicated wretch has become mad:2020
جمله می‌گفتند کین مسکین مست ** از قضاء الله دیوانه شدست
Through long melancholy and through austerities the brain of this poor wretch has turned putrid, like an onion.’
مغز این مسکین ز سودای دراز ** وز ریاضت گشت فاسد چون پیاز
He would have remained in astonishment, saying, ‘O Lord, what is the matter? What is this veil (blindness) and misguidance that is upon the people?’
او عجب می‌ماند یا رب حال چیست ** خلق را این پرده و اضلال چیست
The people of every sort, (though endowed) with manifold discernment and understanding, do not move a foot in that direction.
خلق گوناگون با صد رای و عقل ** یک قدم آن سو نمی‌آرند نقل
By one consent the intelligent and acute amongst them have become incredulous of such a garden as this and undutiful.
عاقلان و زیرکانشان ز اتفاق ** گشته منکر زین چنین باغی و عاق
Or have I become mad and crazy? Has the Devil cast something (of delusion) upon my head?2025
یا منم دیوانه و خیره شده ** دیو چیزی مرا مرا بر سر زده
At every moment I rub my eyes, (considering) whether I am dreaming and beholding a phantom in (the world of) time.
چشم می‌مالم بهر لحظه که من ** خواب می‌بینم خیال اندر زمن
How can it be a dream? I go up the trees, I eat their fruit: how should I not believe?
خواب چه بود بر درختان می‌روم ** میوه‌هاشان می‌خورم چون نگروم
(But) again, when I look at the incredulous ones who turn aside from this orchard,
باز چون من بنگرم در منکران ** که همی‌گیرند زین بستان کران
Devoting their lives with the utmost indigence and penury because of their desire for half an unripe grape;
با کمال احتیاج و افتقار ** ز آرزوی نیم غوره جانسپار
(When I see) these destitute folk uttering grievous lamentation in their longing and greed for a single leaf,2030
ز اشتیاق و حرص یک برگ درخت ** می‌زنند این بی‌نوایان آه سخت
(And when I see) these hundred thousands on thousands of people fleeing from this tree and these fruits—
در هزیمت زین درخت و زین ثمار ** این خلایق صد هزار اندر هزار
Once more I say, ‘Marvellous! Am I beside myself? Have I laid hold of a bough of phantasy?’”
باز می‌گویم عجب من بی‌خودم ** دست در شاخ خیالی در زدم
Repeat (the text)until when the Messengers (of God) despaired down to (the words) they thought they had been belied (kudhibú).
حتی اذا ما استیاس الرسل بگو ** تا بظنوا انهم قد کذبوا
Recite (the verse) with this reading (kudhibú), for the omission of the tashdíd in kudhibú signifies that he (the Messenger) deems himself debarred (from receiving the promised aid from God).
این قرائت خوان که تخفیف کذب ** این بود که خویش بیند محتجب
The souls of the prophets fell into misgiving through the concurrence of disbelief (on the part) of the wicked;2035
در گمان افتاد جان انبیا ** ز اتفاق منکری اشقیا
(But) Our aid came to them after (their) doubting. Take leave of them (the misguided people) and climb the tree of the spirit.
جائهم بعد التشکک نصرنا ** ترکشان گو بر درخت جان بر آ
Eat (of the fruit of this tree) and give it to every one that hath an allotted portion (thereof): at each moment and each instant there are lessons in (spiritual) magic (for him).
می‌خور و می‌ده بدان کش روزیست ** هر دم و هر لحظه سحرآموزیست
“The people are saying, ‘Oh, how wonderful! What is this cry?—since the wilderness is devoid of trees and fruit.
خلق‌گویان ای عجب این بانگ چیست ** چونک صحرا از درخت و بر تهیست
We have been fooled by the words of the madmen (who tell us) that beside us there are gardens and trays (of fruit).
گیج گشتیم از دم سوداییان ** که به نزدیک شما باغست و خوان
We rub our eyes, (but) no garden is here; ‘tis either a desert or a difficult road.2040
چشم می‌مالیم اینجا باغ نیست ** یا بیابانیست یا مشکل رهیست
Oh, how wonderful! This tale (related by the prophets and saints) is so long: how should it be vain? And if it really is (as they say), where (is that which they tell of)?’
ای عجب چندین دراز این گفت و گو ** چون بود بیهوده ور خود هست کو
I, like them, am saying, ‘Oh, how wonderful! Why has the action of the Lord put such a seal (upon their eyes)?’”
من همی‌گویم چو ایشان ای عجب ** این چنین مهری چرا زد صنع رب
By these contentions (on the part of the unbelievers) Mohammed was astonished; Abú Lahab also remained in astonishment (at him).
زین تنازعها محمد در عجب ** در تعجب نیز مانده بولهب
Between this astonishment and that astonishment there is a profound difference. (Let us see) what the Almighty King will do (to the infidels in the end).
زین عجب تا آن عجب فرقیست ژرف ** تا چه خواهد کرد سلطان شگرف
O Daqúqí, advance more quickly (in thy quest for Unity). Hark, be silent! Inasmuch as there is a dearth of ears, how long wilt thou speak, how long?2045
ای دقوقی تیزتر ران هین خموش ** چند گویی چند چون قحطست گوش
How the seven trees became one.
یک درخت شدن آن هفت درخت
He (Daqúqí) said, “I, the fortunate one, pushed forward; again all the seven (trees) became one tree.
گفت راندم پیشتر من نیکبخت ** باز شد آن هفت جمله یک درخت
At every moment they were becoming seven and (also) a single one: (you may imagine) what I was becoming like, through bewilderment.
هفت می‌شد فرد می‌شد هر دمی ** من چه سان می‌گشتم ازحیرت همی
After that, I beheld the trees (engaged) in the ritual prayer, drawn up in line and (properly) arranged like the congregation (of Moslems):
بعد از آن دیدم درختان در نماز ** صف کشیده چون جماعت کرده ساز
One tree (was) in front like the Imám, the others (were) standing behind it.
یک درخت از پیش مانند امام ** دیگران اندر پس او در قیام
That standing and kneeling and bowing low on the part of the trees seemed to me very marvellous.2050
آن قیام و آن رکوع و آن سجود ** از درختان بس شگفتم می‌نمود