موت را چون زندگی قابل شده ** با هلاک جان خود یک دل شده
He had embraced death as (other people embrace) life, he had become in full accord with the destruction of his life.
سیف و خنجر چون علی ریحان او ** نرگس و نسرین عدوی جان او
As (with) ‘Alí, the sword and dagger were his sweet basil, the narcissus and eglantine were his soul's enemies.
بانگ آمد رو ز صحرا سوی شهر ** بانگ طرفه از ورای سر و جهر
A Voice came (to his ear), “Go from the desert to the city”— a wondrous Voice transcending the occult and the manifest.
گفت ای دانای رازم مو به مو ** چه کنم در شهر از خدمت بگو
He cried, “O Thou that knowest my secret, hair by hair, tell me, what service am I to do in the city?”
گفت خدمت آنک بهر ذل نفس ** خویش را سازی تو چون عباس دبس 2680
It (the Voice) said, “The service is this, that for the purpose of self abasement thou shouldst make thyself (like) ‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup.
مدتی از اغنیا زر می‌ستان ** پس به درویشان مسکین می‌رسان
For a while take money from the rich and then deliver it to the lowly poor.
خدمتت اینست تا یک چند گاه ** گفت سمعا طاعة ای جان‌پناه
This is the service thou must do for some time.” He replied, “To hear is to obey, O Thou who art my soul's refuge.”
بس سال و بس جواب و ماجرا ** بد میان زاهد و رب الوری
Many questions and answers and much conversation passed between the ascetic and the Lord of mankind,
که زمین و آسمان پر نور شد ** در مقالات آن همه مذکور شد
Whereby earth and heaven were filled with (spiritual) light: all that is recorded in the Maqálát;
لیک کوته کردم آن گفتار را ** تا ننوشد هر خسی اسرار را 2685
But I will cut short that dialogue, in order that every worthless person may not hear (such) mysteries.
آمدن شیخ بعد از چندین سال از بیابان به شهر غزنین و زنبیل گردانیدن به اشارت غیبی و تفرقه کردن آنچ جمع آید بر فقرا هر که را جان عز لبیکست نامه بر نامه پیک بر پیکست چنانک روزن خانه باز باشد آفتاب و ماهتاب و باران و نامه و غیره منقطع نباشد
How after many years the Shaykh came from the desert to the city of Ghazna and carried round the basket (as a beggar) in obedience to the behest from the Unseen and distributed amongst the poor all (the money and food) that was collected. “When any one possesses the spirit of the glory of Labbayka (devoted service), letter on letter and messenger after messenger are (sent to him),” as (when) the window of a house is open, sunbeams and moonbeams and rain and letters and so forth never cease (from coming in).