1Cademy - دفتر سوم - بخش ۱۷۵ - فرق میان دانستن چیزی به مثال و تقلید و میان دانستن ماهیت آن چیز / Book Three - Section 175 - The Difference Between Knowing Something by Analogy and Imitation and Knowing the Essence of That Thing

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دفتر سوم - بخش ۱۷۵ - فرق میان دانستن چیزی به مثال و تقلید و میان دانستن ماهیت آن چیز / Book Three - Section 175 - The Difference Between Knowing Something by Analogy and Imitation and Knowing the Essence of That Thing

Original content

ظاهرست آثار و میوهٔ رحمتش
لیک کی داند جز او ماهیتش

هیچ ماهیات اوصاف کمال
کس نداند جز به آثار و مثال

طفل ماهیت نداند طمث را
جز که گویی هست چون حلوا ترا

کی بود ماهیت ذوق جماع
مثل ماهیات حلوا ای مطاع

لیک نسبت کرد از روی خوشی
با تو آن عاقل چو تو کودک وشی

تا بداند کودک آن را از مثال
گر نداند ماهیت یا عین حال

پس اگر گویی بدانم دور نیست
ور ندانم گفت کذب و زور نیست

گر کسی گوید که دانی نوح را
آن رسول حق و نور روح را

گر بگویی چون ندانم کان قمر
هست از خورشید و مه مشهورتر

کودکان خرد در کتابها
و آن امامان جمله در محرابها

نام او خوانند در قرآن صریح
قصه اش گویند از ماضی فصیح

راست گو دانیش تو از روی وصف
گرچه ماهیت نشد از نوح کشف

ور بگویی من چه دانم نوح را
همچو اویی داند او را ای فتی

مور لنگم من چه دانم فیل را
پشه ای کی داند اسرافیل را

این سخن هم راستست از روی آن
که بماهیت ندانیش ای فلان

عجز از ادراک ماهیت عمو
حالت عامه بود مطلق مگو

زانک ماهیات و سر سر آن
پیش چشم کاملان باشد عیان

در وجود از سر حق و ذات او
دورتر از فهم و استبصار کو

چونک آن مخفی نماند از محرمان
ذات و وصفی چیست کان ماند نهان

عقل بحثی گوید این دورست و گو
بی ز تاویل محالی کم شنو

قطب گوید مر ترا ای سست حال
آنچ فوق حال تست آید محال

واقعاتی که کنونت بر گشود
نه که اول هم محالت می نمود

چون رهانیدت ز ده زندان کرم
تیه را بر خود مکن حبس ستم

English translation

The signs and fruits of His mercy are manifest, But who can know its essence (māhiyyat) except Him?

No one can know the essence of the attributes of perfection Except through traces (āthār) and analogy (mathāl).

A child cannot know the essence of coitus (ṭamth), Unless you say: it is like sweetmeat (ḥalvā) for you.

How could the essence of the pleasure of intercourse (jimā') Be like the essence of sweetmeat, O obeyed one?

But that wise one made the comparison out of kindness toward you, Since you are child-like.

So that the child may know it through analogy, Even if he does not know the essence or the true state.

So if you say "I know," it is not far from truth, And if you say "I do not know," that statement is not a lie or falsehood.

If someone says: do you know Noah, That messenger of the Truth and light of the soul?

If you say: how could I not know, for that moon Is more renowned than the sun and moon?

The young children in their books, And those imāms, all in their prayer niches (miḥrābs),

Read his name in the clear Quran, Tell his story eloquently from the past.

Truthfully, you know him by way of description, Even though the essence of Noah has not been revealed to you.

And if you say: what do I know of Noah? Only one like him can know him, O young man (fatā).

I am a lame ant — what do I know of the elephant? How can a gnat know Isrāfīl?

This speech is also true in that respect: That you do not know him in essence, O such a one.

Inability to perceive essence, dear one — That is the condition of the common folk; do not say it absolutely.

For the essences and their innermost secret Are manifest before the eyes of the perfect ones (kāmilān).

In existence, from the secret of the Truth (Ḥaqq) and His essence, What is there that lies beyond comprehension and insight?

Since that is not hidden from the intimates (maḥramān), What essence and attribute could remain concealed?

The discursive intellect ('aql-i baḥthī) says: this is far-fetched — speak on, But without ta'wīl (interpretation), do not hear an impossibility.

The Quṭb says to you, O one of weak state: That which is beyond your state appears as impossible.

The visions (wāqi'āt) that have now been opened to you — Did they not also appear as impossible to you at first?

When generosity (karam) freed you from ten prisons, Do not make the tīh (wilderness) a tyrannical prison for yourself.

Updated 2026-06-30

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