The Shaykh would go about, with a basket in his hand, (saying, “Give) something, Sir, for God's sake, if He prompt you (to be generous).”
شیخ بر می‌گشت زنبیلی به دست ** شیء لله خواجه توفیقیت هست
His inward experiences were higher than the Footstool and the Throne (of God); his (external) business was (to cry), “Something for God's sake, something for God's sake!”
برتر از کرسی و عرش اسرار او ** شیء لله شیء لله کار او
The prophets, every one, ply this same trade: the people (to whom they are sent) are (really) destitute, (yet) they (the prophets) practise beggary,2700
انبیا هر یک همین فن می‌زنند ** خلق مفلس کدیه ایشان می‌کنند
Crying, “Lend to God, lend to God,” and persevering contrariously in (the exhortation) “Help God!”
اقرضوا الله اقرضوا الله می‌زنند ** بازگون بر انصروا الله می‌تنند
This Shaykh is going as a suppliant from door to door, (while) in Heaven a hundred doors are opened for the Shaykh,
در به در این شیخ می‌آرد نیاز ** بر فلک صد در برای شیخ باز
Because the beggary that he practised (so) diligently was for the sake of God, not for the sake of his gullet;
که آن گدایی که آن به جد می‌کرد او ** بهر یزدان بود نه از بهر گلو
And even if he had done it for the sake of his gullet, that gullet hath (is endowed with) exorbitance by the Light of God.
ور بکردی نیز از بهر گلو ** آن گلو از نور حق دارد غلو
As regards him, the eating of bread and honey and the drinking of milk is better than the forty days' seclusion and the three days' fast of a hundred dervishes.2705
در حق او خورد نان و شهد و شیر ** به ز چله وز سه روزه‌ی صد فقیر
He eats Light, do not say he eats bread: he sows anemones (though) in appearance he feeds (on them).
نور می‌نوشد مگو نان می‌خورد ** لاله می‌کارد به صورت می‌چرد
Like the flame that consumes the oil (wax) in a candle, from his eating and drinking there is an increase of light for the company.
چون شراری کو خورد روغن ز شمع ** نور افزاید ز خوردش بهر جمع