For it semblance is visible, but its soul is hidden (1)

Know the words of the Quran are simple,
But within the outward sense is an inner secret one. (1)
Beneath that secret meaning is a third,
Whereat the highest wit is dumbfoundered.
The fourth meaning has been seen by none
Save God, the Incomparable and All-sufficient.
Thus they go on, even to seven meanings, one by one,
According to the saying of the Prophet, without doubt.
Do thou, O son, confine not thy view to the outward meaning,
Even as the demons saw in Adam only clay (2)
The outward meaning of the Quran is like Adam’s body,
For it semblance is visible, but its soul is hidden.

* * * * *

Ketahuilah kata-kata al-Quran adalah mudah,
Tapi di dalam tampang luarnya terkandung sisi rahsia. (2)
Di bawah makna rahsia itu ada yang ketiga,
Dengannya kebijakan paling tinggi akan termangu.
Makna keempat tidak dilihat oleh sesiapa
Melainkan Tuhan, yang Tak Terbanding, yang Serba Cukup.
Ia terus begitu, hingga makna ketujuh, satu demi satu,
Menurut sabda Junjungan, tanpa ragu.
Hai anak, jangan terbatas mata tuan pada makna luaran,
Walau iblis melihat Adam sebagai tanah cuma (3)
Makna luaran al-Quran seumpama jasad Adam,
Zahirnya nampak, sedang rohnya tersembunyi.

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(1) Masnavi, op.cit., Book III, pgs., 247-248
(2) Ada hadis yang membayangkan setiap perkataan dalam al-Quran ada tujuh makna. Lihat al-Quran, iii: 5
(3) Al-Quran, xvii: 63