Masnavi · 12th–13th century

In the Name of the One Who Gave the Soul Its Light

Attarعطار

به نام آنک جان را نور دین داد

In the name of the One who gave the soul the light of faith,

خرد را در خدا دانی یقین داد

and gave reason certainty in knowing God;

خداوندی که عالم نامور زوست

the Lord from whom the world has its renown,

زمین و آسمان زیر و زبر زوست

from whom earth and heaven are below and above.

دو عالم خلعت هستی ازو یافت

Both worlds received from Him the robe of being;

فلک بالا زمین پستی ازو یافت

from Him the sky has its height, the earth its lowness.

فلک اندر رکوع استاده اوست

The sky stands before Him, bowed in prayer;

زمین اندر سجود افتاده اوست

the earth lies before Him, fallen in prostration.

ز کفک و خون برآرد آدمی را

From foam and blood He brings forth a human being;

ز کاف و نون فلک را و زمی را

from K and N, the sky and the earth.

ز دودی گنبد خضرا کند او

Out of smoke He makes the green dome;

ز پیهی نرگس بینا کند او

out of a little fat, the seeing narcissus.

From: The Book of Secrets
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

The opening of the Asrar-name, the Book of Secrets, which begins, like most Persian masnavis, in praise of God. ‘K and N’ are the letters of kun, ‘Be!’, the word by which God creates in the Quran; the green dome is the sky, and the seeing narcissus is the eye, made from a little fat. A well-known tradition says that Attar gave a copy of this book to the young Rumi when Rumi’s family passed through Nishapur.