Rumi's Masnavi - And if thou knowest, ’tis (by rote, like the knowledge) handed down to thee from father and grandfather: to thee these names are like abjad.

And if thou knowest, ’tis (by rote, like the knowledge) handed down to thee from father and grandfather: to thee these names are like abjad.

ور بدانی نقلت از اب وز جد است ** پیش تو این نامها چون ابجد است‌‌

How plain and evident to all children are abjad and hawwaz, and (yet) the real meaning is far away (hard to reach).

ابجد و هوز چه فاش است و پدید ** بر همه طفلان و معنی بس بعید

Then the Arab man took up the jug and set out to journey, carrying it along (with him) day and night.

پس سبو برداشت آن مرد عرب ** در سفر شد می‌‌کشیدش روز و شب‌‌

He was trembling for the jug, in fear of Fortune's mischiefs: all the same, he conveyed it from the desert to the city (Baghdád). 2730

بر سبو لرزان بد از آفات دهر ** هم کشیدش از بیابان تا به شهر

His wife unrolled the prayer-rug in supplication; she made (the words) Rabbi sallim (Save, O Lord) her litany in prayer,

زن مصلا باز کرده از نیاز ** رب سلم ورد کرده در نماز

Crying, “Keep our water safe from scoundrels! O Lord, let that pearl arrive at that sea!

که نگه دار آب ما را از خسان ** یا رب آن گوهر بدان دریا رسان‌‌

Although my husband is shrewd and artful, yet the pearl has thousands of enemies.

گر چه شویم آگه است و پر فن است ** لیک گوهر را هزاران دشمن است‌‌

Pearl indeed! ’Tis the water of Kawthar: ’tis a drop of this that is the origin of the pearl.”

خود چه باشد گوهر آب کوثر است ** قطره‌‌ای زین است کاصل گوهر است‌‌

Through the prayers and lamentation of the wife, and through the husband's anxiety and his patience under the heavy burden, 2735

از دعاهای زن و زاری او ** وز غم مرد و گرانباری او

He bore it without delay, safe from robbers and unhurt by stones, to the seat of the Caliphate (the Caliph's palace).

سالم از دزدان و از آسیب سنگ ** برد تا دار الخلافه بی‌‌درنگ‌‌