If you have no beloved, why do you not seek one? And if you have attained the Beloved, why do you not rejoice?
If the companion is not compliant, why do you not become him? If the rebec wails not, why do you not teach it manners?
If an Ab¯u Jahl is a veil to you, why do you not attack Ab¯u Jahl and Ab¯u Lahab?
You sit idly saying, “This is a strange business”; you are the strange one not to desire such a strange one.
You are the sun of the world; why are you black at heart? See that you do not any more have a desire for the knot [of Draco].
Like gold you are prisoner in the furnace so that you may not be covetous of the purse of gold.
Since Unity is the bachelor’s chamber of those who say “One,” why do you not make your spirit a bachelor to all but God?
Have you ever seen Majn¯un have affection with two Lail¯ıs? Why not desire only one face and one chin?
There is such a moon in hiding in the night of your being; why do you not pray and petition at midnight?
Though you are an ancient drunkard and not new to the wine, God’s wine does not suffer you not to make turmoil.
My wine is the fire of love, especially from the hand of God; may life be unlawful to you, since you do not make your life firewood.
Though the wave of discourse is surging, yet it is better that you should expound it with heart and soul, not with lips.
