DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Üçüncü Madde
The Third Article
Concerning the definition of the Saints and their states of ecstasy (vecd).
O beloved! Know that the Friends of God have said: The Friend of God (wali) is he whose every action manifests in accordance with the acceptance of God. The Friend of God is he who is distant from the world and near to his Lord. The Friend of God is he who purifies his heart from all attachment and directs his entire being towards his Lord. The Friend of God is he who turns his heart towards God. The Friend of God is he whose inner and outer self, hidden and open aspects are all with God. The Friend of God is he who is neither delighted by the attainment of worldly blessings nor grieved by their loss. In his eyes, silver and gold are worthless as dust and stone. The Friend of God is he who appears to be without kin in the world, for his only friend is the Exalted Lord. The Friend of God has no desires or preferences for himself, but makes decision only with God. He occupies himself with nothing outside of cultivating his own soul and fears not death.
Verse
1. One whose inner self possesses delight and joy,
If he seeks the door of the heart, there is a reason.
2. The door of the heart awaits through the night, so that the Beloved may arrive;
When she arrives, respect arises, and there is an elegance in the soul.
3. The Gnostic who sees his own face in all things,
Is a possessor of vision, and he has a sweet epithet.
4. That soul which has become separate, has become a stream of God;
He has sacrificed himself to His love, and there is a wondrous inclination within him.
5. Whoever that lover is, he is truthful in love;
At the moment he gives his life, there is joy within him.
6. If his foot touches stone, a jewel comes into his hand;
Even if his soul reaches his mouth, there is sweetness upon his lip.
7. O Truth! Remain silent and speak your words with allusion,
For the swift-spirited ones have much of Abu Lahab within them.
O Friend of God is he who is gentle in disposition towards people. He is constantly firm in truth and upon the path of righteousness. The Friend of God is generous like oceans, steadfast as mountains, obedient like the wind, concealing like the night, and high-minded like the heavens. He avoids trials as one flees from a lion and thus finds safety.
It is incumbent that prophets perform miracles so that people may follow them and attain guidance. It is necessary that the Saints conceal their blessings (karamat) so that people do not fall into trial because of them, and so that they remain hidden from the people. May they abide in joy with God and in His presence, in His friendship.
The Friend of God always conceals his state; the entire universe speaks through his sainthood. The Friend of God is the myrrh of God upon the earth, whose fragrance only sincere believers (siddiqin) can perceive. When the unique fragrance of the Saints reaches them, the siddiqin become yearning for the Lord. The blessed servants of God are hidden like a bride [from those outside the inner circle]. As a bride is not seen by anyone except her confidante, so too are the Friends of God veiled within His magnificent palace. Therefore, no one can see them. Even if they behold their forms, none can attain to their realities.
Verse
1. In this celestial void, we are abundant shining stars;
We are fire, yet we are populated with the dust of the earth through our bodies.
2. Like a javelin, we have plunged into the battlefield. If we were to shed our bodily sheath, we would be jewels from head to toe.
3. The place where the super-earthly sphere turns is our arena;
This world is another world, and we are another world.
4. This is an ebb and flow; sometimes sea, sometimes a drop.
The contraction and expansion of the soul makes us sometimes Abu Lahab, sometimes even more abased.
5. We are the jewel of the Law, held captive within the husk of the diviner.
We are the pearl of intellect, lost in the ocean of the self without limit.
6. If seven seas were to become a storm, we would be deep like an oyster shell;
If nine heavens were to pour water, we would be afloat like oil on top.
7. Our hearts, having tasted delight from the wine of love, have found purity;
For beauty, we are a mirror, and our face is the radiant light of the reflection.
The Friend of God deduces from God’s approval of His own actions that he too is acting in accordance with His will. His prayer only coincides with the time of acceptance. The Friend of God, whose heart is discerning, is God's just witness upon earth.
The hearts of ordinary believers are veiled by heedlessness. The hearts of the Saints, however, are filled with the joy of being in God’s presence. The hearts of enemies are seething with fear and hatred.
The punishment of believers is due to their committing forbidden acts. The penalty for the Saints is because of manifesting a blessing that should remain concealed.
The Friends of God desire no object from either world. For they never neglect God's presence even for a moment. Those who serve them…
Okay, here's the translation of the provided text, aiming for faithfulness and preservation of meaning within a classical Islamic/Sufi context:
Derûn-ı matlab-ı her tâlib oldu matlabımız
Birûn-ı meşreb-i her şârib oldu meşrebimiz
Our sought intention has become the objective of every seeker;
Our way, distinct from every drinker's taste, is our own.
Sipihr-i kevkebimizdir bu çarhdan bîrûn
Kim oldu rûh-ı mücerred sipihr-i kevkebimüz
The sphere of our star lies beyond this world;
What being could be the sphere of a disembodied spirit like ours?
Henüz bu rûz u şeb ü kâ’inât yok idi kim
O rûy rûzumuz olmuşdı zülfü hem şebimiz
Before this day, night, and universe existed,
Our face was our daytime, and our locks were our nighttime.
Ne kılsa Hak bize ol hoş gelür safâ buluruz
Anınla çok hoş olur hem latîf meşrebimüz
Whatever God does for us, it is pleasing; through it we find delight,
And with it, our subtle disposition becomes most agreeable.
Cihân u cânı virüp aşk-ı pâki kim alur
İyân olur ana rîh ü ziyân u meksebimiz
Who relinquishes the world and the self for the sake of pure love?
For him, gain and loss, profit and expenditure become clear.
Bu levh-i dilde nukûş-ı sivâyı koyma gider
Safâ-yı kalb iledir kesb-i ilm-i mektebimüz
Erase the markings of creation from this tablet of the heart;
The acquisition of knowledge in our school is through the purity of the heart.
Tahalluk eyle sen ahlâk-ı Hak’la ey Hakkı
Ki dîn ü mezheb-i hakdır bu dîn ü mezhebimüz
Adorn yourself with the character traits of God, O Truthful One;
For this religion and way is the true religion and way.
Bendegân-ı hâs-ı allâmü’l-guyûb
Der-cihân-ı cân cevâsisu’l-kulûb
The devoted servants of the Knower of the Unseen,
Are spies of hearts within the world of the soul.
Cânların seyrânıdır fevka’s-semâ
Gerçi tenler tutdular hâk üzre câ
It is a journeying of souls beyond the heavens;
Though bodies have taken root in the earth.
Hikmet olmuş kût-ı cân-ı ehl-i dil
Cism-i hayvânî diler âb u çerâ
Wisdom has become the sustenance of the heart of those with understanding;
The animal body desires water and greenery.
Âlem-i ervâha sığmaz bu beden
Mahrem-i sultân olur mu her gedâ
This body cannot contain the realm of spirits;
Can every beggar be a confidant to a king?
Dilde cânın kendidendir mutribi
Kendidendir sâkî vü câm-ı safâ
The musician of the soul originates from within the tongue;
The cupbearer and the goblet of delight also originate from within.
Enbiyâ vü evliyâ hoş oldular
Akl-ı kül bahrinde cümle âşinâ
Prophets and saints were pleased,
All are familiar in the ocean of universal intellect.
Add-ı emvâc olmuş esmâya misâl
Ber-müsemmâdır o deryâ-yı hevâ
The waves’ multitude is a likeness to the Divine Names;
That ocean of desire is clearly named.
Bu cihânın varlığı başdan başa
Olmuş ol cân-ı cihâna çün kaba
The existence of this world, from beginning to end,
Has become like a coarse garment for that soul of the world.
Kabz u bast ol bahrdendir her nefes
Andan olur her cefâ vü her vefâ
Every breath is contraction and expansion from that ocean;
From it comes every harshness and every kindness.
Hakkı zerrât-ı cihân hükmündedir
Gayriden bilmek olur ayn-ı hatâ
God is within the particles of this world;
To know Him from other than Himself is a grievous error.