Original content

English translation

The prophets descended from the heavens; they came from their cushions to the dust. Out of Adam’s shame, with heart and soul, they cried 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves' at your door. Noah sought refuge in the fortress of your protection; the Spirit (Jesus) girded his waist in your service. Michael placed the crown upon his head; the Friend (Abraham) placed the saddle-cloth upon his shoulder. Moses was burnt by your fire, crying 'Show me' at your gate. In the house of celibacy, Jesus son of Mary joined your praise. With trays of light, the Holy Spirit and the Faithful Spirit wait on the left and right. The veil of light was lifted from the Throne; the trumpeter stood in awe. Idris gained height from your praise; Gabriel found the Lote-tree for your sake. Khidr gave the fire to the wind of his chest; he took the water of life from your footprint. You had donned the veil of dervish-hood; then you opened the lock of precedence. The honor of the proximity (of 'two bows' length') increased by that veil; the height of the Throne stole your ornament. The soul of the spiritual ones saw your heart; they placed their eyes on their heads and came forward. The people of the seven heavens remained hidden, with fingers in their mouths in wonder. The eight doors opened without a cry for your Suhayb and Bilal within the four natures. Your aspiration sealed the seven doors upon the hearts of the sinners of your community. The faces of the spiritual beings are toward your door; tonight is the ritual of reviewing your army. Dhul-Nun (Jonah) came out from the belly of the fish and the sea out of longing for your face. All was from the goal of union with you; all was from the sight of your beauty. Saleh, Lot, and Hud are waiting, asking for news from Joshua and Khidr. David is the reciter of your table; all the People of the Cave are your guests. Luqman stands at your threshold; Solomon is your steward. The son of Azar (Abraham) is the carpet-spreader; the son of Mary is the herald. The angels of the right and left stand with trays of light to scatter. Isaac has his eyes brightened by your face; Ishmael is famous across the horizons. Jacob became sorrowful and blind, then sharp-sighted and discerning upon your arrival. Joseph stands on your path; he sent Benjamin ahead. The elder Shuayb waited for you, having gone within the veil of the Unseen. The spheres were called 'earth' (compared to you); the stars gave light for the sake of religion. From time, they came for your praise: Friday, the White Days, the Night of Power, the Festival, and Barat. From place, they came with bowed backs: Mecca, Yathrib (Medina), Hira, and the Sanctuary. The tray of heaven and the hand of scattering wait in the abode of constancy. The transport of souls is a transport from you; reason took its tablets from you. But out of fasting, he made certainty for your community for the sake of the Sunnah of religion. The discerning man saw your form as religion; desire, intelligence, and certainty began anew. The Universal Soul has driven water into your stream; the Universal Reason has become dust in your street. The sphere brought a sheep and an ox for sacrifice for your feast. The hand of heaven came to work; the stars were scattered for your sake. The Throne was strewn beneath your feet; from the heavens came tray after tray of jewels. A dome was struck upon the sun; Gabriel watered the path. Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars made the dust of your door their history. The Sun and Venus are the joy-givers, adorning your threshold with ornament. Mercury, the thin-witted and far-seeing, and the Moon became dervishes at your door. The seven planets and twelve signs became the treasure-house and casket for your name. (The poet references various Quranic verses including Yasin and the commands to fear God and remember Him.) I saw that leader of the world, the jewel of the mine of Adam's grace. Khidr and Moses in his presence, holding the tablet of teaching. His fortune took the courage of Venus; time took the gaming-piece from the hand of the age. Destiny saddled the horse of his power; the Faithful Spirit (Gabriel) carried the saddle-cloth on his shoulder. His seat is the seat of the kingdom of independence; 'two bows' length or closer' was his heart. 'By thy life' was his crown of honor; 'Arise and warn' was his robe of duty. The patient ones on the right of his faith; the truthful ones on the edge of his collar. The obedient ones at the scattering of his generosity; the givers on the trim of his turban. The wealth of those who seek forgiveness is plenty in his pocket and hem. He saddled the steed of power at the door of religion for the Day of Judgment. The soul hung from his saddle-strap; reason and soul were born upon his dust. Reason knows what the soul says; reason reads whatever the soul says. I said: 'O seal of forms, the intermediary of the necklace of fortune, Speak a brief point, show the straight path.' He said: 'For the food and strength of the soul, read 'The Messenger believeth' from the Prophet. 'You shall not attain' for the order of people; 'Do not be needy' for the lawful and the unlawful. Why is all this pomp? This is beyond our imagination and thought. Its appearance shows from the door of the heart, that this heart-flower which bloomed from the mud... Pre-eternity's choice spoke in his ear, without the dates of knowledge or the thorns of action: 'O King of Religion, the descent of metaphor has increased your ascent to the heights. You are the door to the palace and roof of the world; you are the head of the seed and race of Adam.' Until the dawn of faith smiles from the east of religion in the heaven of certainty... Speak truly, O racing sphere, and O silent world full of sound: How can such a turn be struck under a cloak? Until the tongue of time said to him: 'Why for you is the manifest and hidden? Why do you deal with the veil of the world's dust? The light of your face is veil enough for you.' Infidelity became religion by your arrival; infidelity sank entirely into the earth. Religion and infidelity are like Moses and Korah; religion came out, infidelity went within. Your hair makes the soul fragrant; your face makes the street full of flowers. Human ears are yours; what wonder, since the ear is from the head? The house of five doors (senses) that the soul possesses, it has for a guest like you. By your command, four princes (elements) agree: the center, the green, the air, and the ether. Ride, O King of the world and Adam; brand the gray and black horses. The black and gray are for you; this abode and that abode are yours. Gird yourself with 'Kill the polytheists'; how long for 'To you your religion and to me mine'? Break the necks and backs of the polytheists; uproot infidelity from the world. Make the sword red with the blood of the enemy; how can you be a leader if you are subdued by the enemy? Where would God accept this from you? How long should time wait for you? There is a famine of religion, open the veil; host them with the 'Opening of the Door'. Walk down from the bridge in the desert; turn waters into wine and thorns into flowers. Pierce the mountain with the arrow of Qaf; pierce the sphere with the spear of the arrow of boast. Polytheism has become persistent, destroy it; the Kaaba became a temple of idols, clean it. Command Ali to do this work, so he places his foot on your dear shoulder. Let him clean the Kaaba of idols completely; let him destroy all the polytheists. Adorn the two worlds for joy, like the ear and neck of a houri. For when you spoke by command, the dead of ignorance received life. Because in the service of Adam's breath, soul and command go together. Every bride that the mother of 'Be' (Kun) bore, his aspiration renounced them all. Then he found a thousand kinds of victory, his soul without the trouble of the spirit's mediation. Whoever said 'Well done' to his praise, you said truly to him 'For God are you'. From him they took strength and ornament: reason, soul, form, and substance.