ارواح در ازل به سراپرده بقا
بودند متحد همه بر ذروه علا
The souls in pre-eternity dwelled in the sanctuary of subsistence,
All united upon the summit of exaltation.

این ‏جان ما که هست در این خاکدان غریب
آسوده بود در حرم پاک کبریا
This soul of ours, now a stranger in this earthly mold of dust,
Once found peace in the pure sanctuary of Divine Grandeur.

آزاده بود از پس و پیش زمان و وقت
فارغ ز احتجاب حضور مکان و جا
It was free from past and future, beyond time and sequence,
Unconcerned with the veils of presence, of location and space.

از تن اثر نبود در اطوار آب و گل
از دل خبر نه از اثر آتش و هوا
No trace of the body existed in the stages of water and clay,
Nor was the heart touched by the effect of fire and air.

بودیم غرق نور مجرد ز قید تن
بودیم در حضور منزه ز اختفا
We were immersed in pure light, free from the bondage of the body,
We were in His presence, free from concealment.

از باده ظهور لقای حبیب مست
فارغ ز خویش و محو در اطوار کبریا
Drunk from the wine of beholding the Beloved,
Free from self, dissolved in the states of divine Grandeur.

مدهوش حسن ساقی خمخانه الست
بیهوش نشأه می بی‏ساغر بلی‏
Dazed by the beauty of the Cupbearer of the Alast-eternal tavern,
Unconscious from the wine’s ecstasy, without the cup of “yes.”

اول کسی که جلوه نمود از حجاب غیب
بگشود بر رخش در ایجاد را خدا
The first to uncover the veil of the unseen,
God opening the door of Creation to his radiant face,

قفل از در خزانه به نامش گشوده شد
گردید جلوه ‏گر ز سراپرده خفا
The lock upon the treasury’s door being opened by his name,
From the curtain of hiddenness, he manifesting,

نور محمد و علی و اهلبیت بود
در کار آفرینش از ایشان شد ابتدا
It was the Light of Muhammad, then of Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt,
The act of Creation began through them.

از چارده ولیِّ مسمی به هفت اسم
سبع المثانئی که ز قرآن نشد جدا
From Fourteen Saints, known by Seven Names,
The Seven Repeated Verses that never parted from the Quran.

از مخزن حقایق ارواح رو نمود
انوارشان یکی نه و نی هم ز هم جدا
From the treasury of realities of spirits emerged,
Their lights, neither one nor separate.

یک نور بود گشته در اشباح چارده
بگرفته جا به عرش برین بیشتر ز جا
It was one light, manifested in fourteen figures,
Occupying the highest place upon the Throne.

پیدا شد از اشعه انوار پاکشان
ارواح شیعه صف زده در عرش جابجا
From the rays of their pure lights emerged,
The spirits of the Shiʿa lined up across the Throne.

در شیعه قدیم نبیون و سابقون
در شیعه حدیث پسینان اولیا
Among the early Shiʿa stood prophets and pioneers;
Among the later Shiʿa arose the saints of later ages.

آنگه سماء و ارض و ملائک پدید شد
هر یک گرفته جای خود از عرش تا ثری
Then the heavens, the earth, and the angels emerged,
Each took their place, from the Thronef to the lowest dust.

‏اول کسی که حمد و ثنای خدای گفت
تسبیح و حمد صانع بی‏چون و بی‏چرا
The first to praise and glorify God,
To exalt and praise the Maker, without how and why,

نور محمدی به زبان فصیح گفت
آن چارده بدند از ایشان شد ابتدا
Was the Light of Muhammad, who spoke in eloquent tongue,
It was those Fourteen, through them creation began.

پس اهلبیت جمله به تسبیح آمدند
سفتند دُرِّ حمد خداوند کبریا
So the Ahl al-Bayt joined in glorification,
They strung the pearls of praise for the Lord of Grandeur.

بودند در سپاس منزه ز حرف و صوت
بودند در ستایش بی‏زحمت هجا
In their admiration, they were beyond letter or sound,
In their praise, they were free from the burden of syllables.

در گوش شیعه چون ز ثناشان صدا رسید
برداشتند نغمه بر آثار آن صدا

When their glorification echoed into the ears of the Shi’a,
They too lifted melodies born from that sound.

پیچید بانگ غلغل تسبیح خاصگان
در بارگاه قدس به اصناف نغمه‌‏ها

 The murmur of praise arose among the select,
Resounding in the Sacred Court in countless tones.

تسبیح حمد زمره انوار شد بلند
افتاد در ملائکه آن غلغل و ندا

The chorus of praise by the lights became mighty,
And that murmur spread among the angels as a call.

گفتند کیست حامد و تسبیح بهر چیست
آمد ندا که صدرنشینان کبریا

 They asked, “Who is praising and why this glorification?”
The reply came: “The exalted ones of Majesty.”

تسبیح می‏کنند خدای مجید را
از هرچه نیست ذات مقدس بدان سزا

They are glorifying the Glorious God,
Who is worthy of such praise—beyond all that is not.

توحید می‏‌کنند و ثنا و سپاس و حمد
وصفش به آن که هست منزه ز وصف‏‌ها

 They speak of Unity, Praise, and Divine Majesty,
Describing the One who is above all descriptions.

چون این ندا رسید به گوش ملائکه
پس جملگی زبان بگشادند در ثنا

 When this call reached the ears of the angels,
They too opened their tongues in praise.

کردند اقتباس ز تسبیح خاصگان
شد مکتب ملائکه را قوم اوستا

They took inspiration from the praise of the elect,
And the angels' learning began with the People of Insight.

Fayz Kashani, Divan, Qasida (P1): The Pre-creational Realities of the Fourteen Infallibles

Translated by Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, 7 April 2024