ماند حسرت بر حریصان تا ابد ** هم‌چو حال اهل ضروان در حسد

Grief remains for ever (as a doom) on the covetous, as happened to the people of Zarwán in their envy.

قصه‌ی اهل ضروان و حسد ایشان بر درویشان کی پدر ما از سلیمی اغلب دخل باغ را به مسکینان می‌داد چون انگور بودی عشر دادی و چون مویز و دوشاب شدی عشر دادی و چون حلوا و پالوده کردی عشر دادی و از قصیل عشر دادی و چون در خرمن می‌کوفتی از کفه‌ی آمیخته عشر دادی و چون گندم از کاه جدا شدی عشر دادی و چون آرد کردی عشر دادی و چون خمیر کردی عشر دادی و چون نان کردی عشر دادی لاجرم حق تعالی در آن باغ و کشت برکتی نهاده بود کی همه اصحاب باغها محتاج او بدندی هم به میوه و هم به سیم و او محتاج هیچ کس نی ازیشان فرزندانشان خرج عشر می‌دیدند منکر و آن برکت را نمی‌دیدند هم‌چون آن زن بدبخت که کدو را ندید و خر را دید

Story of the people of Zarwán and their envy of the poor. “Our father,” they said, “from (foolish) sympathy used to give the poor the most part of the produce of his orchard.” When it was grapes, he would give a tithe; and when they were turned into raisins or syrup, he would give a tithe; and whenever he made halwá or pálúda, he would give a tithe; and he would give a tithe of the corn-sheaves, and when he threshed (the corn), he would give a tithe of the unthreshed ears mixed (with straw); and when he separated the wheat from the straw, he would give a tithe, and when he made flour, he would give a tithe; and when he leavened the dough, he would give a tithe; and when he made bread, he would give a tithe. Consequently, God most High had laid such a blessing on his orchard and crops that all the (other) owners of orchards were in need of him, both for fruit and money, while he needed nothing from any of them. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, velut illa femina infelix quae veretrum asini vidit, curcurbitam non vidit. [Story of the people of Zarwán…. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, just as that unfortunate woman who (only) saw the ass’s penis and did not see the gourd.]

بود مردی صالحی ربانیی ** عقل کامل داشت و پایان دانیی

There was a righteous godly man: he had perfect intelligence and a (great) foresight as to the end.

در ده ضروان به نزدیک یمن ** شهره اندر صدقه و خلق حسن

In the village of Zarwán, near Yemen, (he was) renowned for (his) almsgiving and good disposition.

کعبه‌ی درویش بودی کوی او ** آمدندی مستمندان سوی او 1475

His abode was the Ka‘ba of the poor: the distressed were (always) coming to him.

هم ز خوشه عشر دادی بی‌ریا ** هم ز گندم چون شدی از که جدا

He would give, unostentatiously, a tithe both of the ears of corn and of the wheat when it was separated from the chaff.

آرد گشتی عشر دادی هم از آن ** نان شدی عشر دگر دادی ز نان

(If) it was made into flour, he would give a tithe of that too; if it was made into bread, he would give another tithe of the bread.

عشر هر دخلی فرو نگذاشتی ** چارباره دادی زانچ کاشتی

He would never omit (to give) the tithe of any produce: he would give (the tithe) four times on that which he sowed.

بس وصیتها بگفتی هر زمان ** جمع فرزندان خود را آن جوان

That (generous) young man was continually giving many injunctions to all his sons,

الله الله قسم مسکین بعد من ** وا مگیریدش ز حرص خویشتن 1480

Saying, “For God's sake, for God's sake, after I am gone, do not on account of your covetousness withhold the portion of the poor,

تا بماند بر شما کشت و ثمار ** در پناه طاعت حق پایدار

So that the crops and fruit may remain (as a) permanent (blessing bestowed) on you under the safeguard of your obedience to God.”