How Moses, on whom be peace, asked the high God (to explain) the secret of the predominance of the unjust.

Moses said, “O Bounteous Disposer, O Thou whom to commemorate for one moment is (worth) a long life, I have seen the crooked, misshapen image in (the mould of) water and clay, and like the angels, my heart has raised an objection,

As to what is the purpose of making an image and casting therein the seed of corruption.

To kindle the fire of iniquity and corruption; to burn the mosque and those who bend low in prayer;

To set boiling the source of bloody tears for the sake of (receiving) humble entreaties (from the suffering and oppressed)—

I know for certain that it is the essence of wisdom (on Thy part), but my aim is (to know this by) actual seeing and vision.

That certainty (of mine) says to me, ‘keep silence’; the craving for vision says to me, ‘Make a stir (and outcry).’

Thou hast shown Thy secret to the angels, (namely) that such honey as this is worth the sting.

Thou hast displayed the Light of Adam manifestly to the angels, (so that all) the difficulties were explained.

Thy Resurrection declares what is the secret of death: the fruits declare what is the secret of the leaves.”

The secret of blood and seed is the excellence of Man; after all, inferiority is antecedent to every superiority.

The ignorant (child) first washes the tablet, then he writes the letters upon it.

(So) He (God) turns the heart into blood and abject tears, then He writes the (spiritual) mysteries upon it.

At the time of washing the tablet (of the heart) one must recognise that it will be made into a book (of mysteries).

When they lay the foundation of a house (to rebuild it), they dig up the first foundation.

(Also), people first fetch up clay from the depths of the earth in order that at last you may draw up flowing water.

Children weep piteously at cupping, for they know not the secret of the matter;

(But) a man, in sooth, gives the cupper gold and fondles the blood-drinking lancet.

Behold the struggle of the porters for the load! Such is the endeavour of him that sees (the truth of) things,

Inasmuch as burdens are the foundation of ease, and bitter things, too, are the forerunners of enjoyment.

Paradise is compassed about with the things we dislike (to do); the fires (of Hell) are compassed about with our lusts.

The seed (source) of the substance of your fire (of torment) is the fresh bough (of lust); (but) he that is burned by the fire (of renunciation) is the comrade of Kawthar.

Whosoever is the comrade of affliction in prison—that is the retribution for a mouthful (of unlawful food) and a lust.

Whosoever is the comrade of a high fortune in a palace— that is the reward for some battle-field and sore trial.

Whomsoever you have seen unrivalled in (his store of) gold and silver—know that he has been patient in earning.

When the (spiritual) eye has become piercing, he (the owner) sees without causes. You who are in (the bondage of) sense- perception, pay you heed to causes!

He whose spirit is beyond (the world of) natural properties— to him belongs the position of power to rive (the chain of) causes.

The (spiritual) eye regards the fountain of the miracles of the prophets as (being) without cause, not as (arising) from water and herbage.

These causes are (linked together) like the physician and the sick: these causes are like the lamp and the wick.

Twist a new wick for your night-lamp, (but) know that the lamp of the sun transcends these things.

Alas that, after our Sweetheart had burned (utterly destroyed) our pain, the night-time of being alone (with Him) passed away and became day!

Except at night there is no unveiling of the moon: except through heartache do not seek your heart's desire.

Forsaking Jesus, you have fostered the ass: of necessity, like the ass, you are outside of the curtain.

Knowledge and gnosis are the fortune of Jesus; they are not the fortune of the ass, O you asinine one!

You listen to the moaning of the ass, and pity comes over you; then you know not (that) the ass commands you to be asinine.

Have pity on Jesus and have no pity on the ass: do not make the (carnal) nature lord over your intellect.

Let the (carnal) nature weep sore and bitterly: do you take from it and pay the debt of the (rational) soul.

For years you have been the ass's slave. It is enough, for the ass's slave is behind (even) the ass.

The thing meant by (the Prophet's words) “put them (the women) behind” is your fleshly soul; for it must be last, and your intellect (must be) first.

This base intellect has become of the same temperament as the ass: its (only) thought is how it shall get hold of fodder.

The ass of Jesus took (to itself) the temperament of the (rational) spirit: it took its abode in the place of the intelligent,

Because (in Jesus) intellect was ruling, and the ass (was) weak —the ass is made lean by a strong rider—

While from the weakness of your intellect, O you who have (no more than) the value of an ass, this worn-out ass has become a dragon.

If through Jesus (the spiritual guide) you have become heart-sick, (yet) health too comes from him: do not leave him.

How art thou as to affliction, O thou Jesus who hast the (healing) breath of Jesus? For there never was in the world a treasure without a snake.

How art thou, O Jesus, at the sight of the Jews? How art thou, O Joseph, in respect of the envious plotter?

Night and day for the sake of this foolish people thou, like night and day, art a replenisher of life.

Alas for those bilious ones who are without excellence! What excellence is born from bile? Headache.

Do thou the same thing that the sun of the east does with (our) hypocrisy and craft and thieving and dissimulation.

Thou art honey, we are vinegar in (the affairs of) this world and in religion; the (means of) removing this bile is oxymel.

We folk who suffer from colic have added more and more vinegar; do thou add more and more honey, withhold not thy bounty.

This was meet in us; such (acts naturally) issued from us: what is increased by sand in the eye? Blindness.

(But) ’tis meet in thee, O precious collyrium, that every nothing should gain from thee something.

Thy heart is roasted by the fire of these unrighteous men, (yet) all thy appeal (to God) has been, “Guide my people!”

Thou art a mine of aloes-wood: if they set thee afire, they will fill this world with otto of roses and sweet basil.

Thou art not that aloes-wood that is minished by the fire: thou art not that spirit that is made captive by grief.

Aloes-wood burns, (but) the mine of aloes-wood is far from burning: how should the wind (of evil words) assail the source of (spiritual) light?

Oh, ’tis from thee the heavens have (their) purity; oh, thy unkindness is better than kindness,

Because if an unkindness come from the wise it is better than the kindness of the ignorant.

The Prophet said, “Enmity (proceeding) from wisdom is better than the love that comes from a fool.”