How should a man who inherits know the value of wealth? A Rustam tore his soul (suffered agonies in acquiring it), (whereas) Zál got it cost-free.
مرد میراثی چه داند قدر مال ** رستمی جان کند و مجان یافت زال
“When I cause (any one) to weep, My mercy is aroused: that wailer drinks of (enjoys) My bounty.
چون بگریانم بجوشد رحمتم ** آن خروشنده بنوشد نعمتم
If I do not wish to give, (then) indeed I do not show him (the desired gift), (but) when I have closed (contracted) his heart (with grief), I open (expand) it (with joy).
گر نخواهم داد خود ننمایمش ** چونش کردم بسته دل بگشایمش
My mercy is dependent on that goodly weeping: when he weeps, waves rise from the sea of (My) mercy.”375
رحمتم موقوف آن خوش گریههاست ** چون گریست از بحر رحمت موج خاست
How by Divine inspiration Shaykh Ahmad son of Khizrúya bought halwá (sweetmeat) for his creditors.
حلوا خریدن شیخ احمد خضرویه قدس الله سره العزیز جهت غریمان به الهام حق
There was a Shaykh who was continually in debt because of the generosity which that illustrious one had (in his nature).
بود شیخی دایما او وامدار ** از جوانمردی که بود آن نامدار
He used to make myriads of debts (by borrowing) from the great, and spend (all the money) upon the poor (dervishes) of the world.
ده هزاران وام کردی از مهان ** خرج کردی بر فقیران جهان
He had also built a monastery (for Súfís) by (running into) debt; he had devoted life and wealth and monastery (to God).
هم به وام او خانقاهی ساخته ** جان و مال و خانقه درباخته
God was paying his debts from every quarter: God made flour out of sand for the Friend's (Abraham's) sake.
وام او را حق ز هر جا میگزارد ** کرد حق بهر خلیل از ریگ آرد
The prophet said that two angels are (always) praying here in the markets, (saying),380
گفت پیغمبر که در بازارها ** دو فرشته میکنند ایدر دعا
“O God, do Thou give the prodigal a boon in return, and O God do Thou give the miserly a bane (in return).”
کای خدا تو منفقان را ده خلف ** ای خدا تو ممسکان را ده تلف
Especially (does this apply to) the prodigal who has freely spent his soul (life) and made his throat a sacrifice to the Creator.
خاصه آن منفق که جان انفاق کرد ** حلق خود قربانی خلاق کرد
He offers his throat, like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael): the knife cannot do anything to (hurt) his throat.
حلق پیش آورد اسماعیلوار ** کارد بر حلقش نیارد کرد کار
On this account, then, the martyrs are living and joyous: do not, infidel-like, look at the body (alone),
پس شهیدان زنده زین رویند و خوش ** تو بدان قالب بمنگر گبروش
Since God hath given them in return the spirit of everlastingness—a spirit safe from grief and pain and misery.385
چون خلف دادستشان جان بقا ** جان ایمن از غم و رنج و شقا
The debtor Shaykh acted in this fashion for years, taking and giving like a steward.
شیخ وامی سالها این کار کرد ** میستد میداد همچون پای مرد
He was sowing seeds till the day of death, that on the day of death he might be a most glorious prince.
تخمها میکاشت تا روز اجل ** تا بود روز اجل میر اجل
When the Shaykh's life reached its end and he saw in his (bodily) existence the signs of death,
چون که عمر شیخ در آخر رسید ** در وجود خود نشان مرگ دید
The creditors were seated together around him, (while) the Shaykh was gently melting on himself, like a candle.
وامداران گرد او بنشسته جمع ** شیخ بر خود خوش گدازان همچو شمع
The creditors had become despairing and sour-faced: the pain in (their) hearts was accompanied by pain in (their) lungs.390
وامداران گشته نومید و ترش ** درد دلها یار شد با درد شش
“Look at these evil-thinking men,” said the Shaykh. “Hath not God four hundred gold dinars?”
شیخ گفت این بد گمانان را نگر ** نیست حق را چار صد دینار زر
A boy outside shouted “Halwá!” and bragged of (the excellence of) the halwá in hope of (getting) some dángs.