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بود شیخی دایما او وامدار ** از جوانمردی که بود آن نامدار
- There was a Shaykh who was continually in debt because of the generosity which that illustrious one had (in his nature).
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ده هزاران وام کردی از مهان ** خرج کردی بر فقیران جهان
- He used to make myriads of debts (by borrowing) from the great, and spend (all the money) upon the poor (dervishes) of the world.
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هم به وام او خانقاهی ساخته ** جان و مال و خانقه درباخته
- He had also built a monastery (for Súfís) by (running into) debt; he had devoted life and wealth and monastery (to God).
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وام او را حق ز هر جا میگزارد ** کرد حق بهر خلیل از ریگ آرد
- God was paying his debts from every quarter: God made flour out of sand for the Friend's (Abraham's) sake.
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گفت پیغمبر که در بازارها ** دو فرشته میکنند ایدر دعا 380
- The prophet said that two angels are (always) praying here in the markets, (saying),
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کای خدا تو منفقان را ده خلف ** ای خدا تو ممسکان را ده تلف
- “O God, do Thou give the prodigal a boon in return, and O God do Thou give the miserly a bane (in return).”
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خاصه آن منفق که جان انفاق کرد ** حلق خود قربانی خلاق کرد
- Especially (does this apply to) the prodigal who has freely spent his soul (life) and made his throat a sacrifice to the Creator.
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حلق پیش آورد اسماعیلوار ** کارد بر حلقش نیارد کرد کار
- He offers his throat, like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael): the knife cannot do anything to (hurt) his throat.
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پس شهیدان زنده زین رویند و خوش ** تو بدان قالب بمنگر گبروش
- On this account, then, the martyrs are living and joyous: do not, infidel-like, look at the body (alone),
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چون خلف دادستشان جان بقا ** جان ایمن از غم و رنج و شقا 385
- Since God hath given them in return the spirit of everlastingness—a spirit safe from grief and pain and misery.
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شیخ وامی سالها این کار کرد ** میستد میداد همچون پای مرد
- The debtor Shaykh acted in this fashion for years, taking and giving like a steward.
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تخمها میکاشت تا روز اجل ** تا بود روز اجل میر اجل
- He was sowing seeds till the day of death, that on the day of death he might be a most glorious prince.
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چون که عمر شیخ در آخر رسید ** در وجود خود نشان مرگ دید
- When the Shaykh's life reached its end and he saw in his (bodily) existence the signs of death,
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وامداران گرد او بنشسته جمع ** شیخ بر خود خوش گدازان همچو شمع
- The creditors were seated together around him, (while) the Shaykh was gently melting on himself, like a candle.
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وامداران گشته نومید و ترش ** درد دلها یار شد با درد شش 390
- The creditors had become despairing and sour-faced: the pain in (their) hearts was accompanied by pain in (their) lungs.
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شیخ گفت این بد گمانان را نگر ** نیست حق را چار صد دینار زر
- “Look at these evil-thinking men,” said the Shaykh. “Hath not God four hundred gold dinars?”
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کودکی حلوا ز بیرون بانگ زد ** لاف حلوا بر امید دانگ زد
- A boy outside shouted “Halwá!” and bragged of (the excellence of) the halwá in hope of (getting) some dángs.
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شیخ اشارت کرد خادم را به سر ** که برو آن جمله حلوا را بخر
- The Shaykh with (a nod of) his head directed the famulus to go and buy the whole of the halwá,
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تا غریمان چون که آن حلوا خورند ** یک زمانی تلخ در من ننگرند
- (Saying to himself), “so that the creditors, when they eat the halwá, for a (short) while may not look bitterly on me.”
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در زمان خادم برون آمد به در ** تا خرد او جمله حلوا ز ان پسر 395
- The famulus at once went out through the doorway to buy with gold the halwá entire.
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گفت او را جملهی حلوا به چند ** گفت کودک نیم دیناری و اند
- He said to the boy, “How much is the halwá in the lump?” The boy said, “Half a dinar and some small change.”
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گفت نه از صوفیان افزون مجو ** نیم دینارت دهم دیگر مگو
- “Nay,” he replied; “don't ask too much from Súfís: I will give you half a dinar. Say no more.”
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او طبق بنهاد اندر پیش شیخ ** تو ببین اسرار سر اندیش شیخ
- The boy put the tray before the Shaykh. Behold (now) the mysterious secret thoughts of the Shaykh!
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کرد اشارت با غریمان کین نوال ** نک تبرک خوش خورید این را حلال
- He made a sign to the creditors (as though to say), “Look, this gift (of sweetmeat) is a present (to you): eat this gladly, it is lawful (food).”
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چون طبق خالی شد آن کودک ستد ** گفت دینارم بده ای با خرد 400
- When the tray was emptied, the boy took it and said, “Give me the gold, O Sage.”