Setting forth how the vizier incurred perdition (by engaging) in this plot.
The vizier was ignorant and heedless, like the (Jewish) king: he was wrestling with the eternal and inevitable,
With a God so mighty that in a moment He causes a hundred worlds like ours to come into existence from non-existence:
A hundred worlds like ours He displays to the sight, when He makes your eye seeing by (the light of) Himself.
If the world appears to you vast and bottomless, know that to Omnipotence it is not (so much as) an atom.
This world, indeed, is the prison of your souls: oh, go in yonder direction, for there lies your open country.
This world is finite, and truly that (other) is infinite: image and form are a barrier to that Reality.
The myriads of Pharaoh's lances were shattered by (the hand of) Moses (armed) with a single staff.
Myriads were the therapeutic arts of Galen: before Jesus and his (life-giving) breath they were a laughing-stock.
Myriads were the books of (pre-Islamic) poems: at the word of an illiterate (prophet) they were (put to) shame.
(Confronted) with such an all-conquering Lord, how should any one not die (to self), unless he be a vile wretch?
Many a mind (strong and firm) as a mountain did He uproot; the cunning bird He hung up by its two feet.
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way: none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure), who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
Who is the ox that you should become his beard? What is earth that you should become its stubble?
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness, God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: what (then) is it to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven): you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest (of the low).
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of) existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis: compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars: you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).
After all, you are a son of Adam. O degenerate! how long will you regard lowness as nobility?
How long will you say, “I will conquer a whole world, I will make this world full of myself”?
If the world should be filled with snow from end to end, the glow of the sun would melt it with a single look.
God by a single spark (of His mercy) maketh naught his (the vizier's) burden (of sin) and (the burden) of a hundred viziers and a hundred thousand.
He maketh the essence of that (false) imagination to be wisdom; He maketh the essence of that poisoned water to be a (wholesome) drink.
That which raises doubt He turneth into certainty; He maketh loving kindnesses grow from the causes of hatred.
He cherisheth Abraham in the fire; He turneth fear into security of spirit.
By His burning (destroying) of secondary causes I am distraught; in (my) fancies of Him I am like a sophist (sceptic or agnostic).
