How should there be an Abú Bakr in Sabzawár, or a dry sod in the river?”
کی بود بوبکر اندر سبزوار ** یا کلوخ خشک اندر جویبار
He averted his face from the gold and said, “O Magians (infidels), unless ye bring me an Abú Bakr as an offering,855
رو بتابید از زر و گفت ای مغان ** تا نیاریدم ابوبکر ارمغان
’Tis of no avail. I am not a child that I should stand dumbfounded (fascinated) by gold and silver.”
هیچ سودی نیست کودک نیستم ** تا به زر و سیم حیران بیستم
Unless thou prostrate thyself (in humble submission to God), thou wilt not escape (from punishment), O wretch, (even) if thou traverse the (whole) mosque on thy séant.
تا نیاری سجده نرهی ای زبون ** گر بپیمایی تو مسجد را به کون
They (the inhabitants of Sabzawár) despatched emissaries, (to inquire) where in this desolate (corrupt) place an Abú Bakr was (to be found).
منهیان انگیختند از چپ و راست ** که اندرین ویرانه بوبکری کجاست
After three days and three nights, during which they made haste (in searching), they found an emaciated Abú Bakr.
بعد سه روز و سه شب که اشتافتند ** یک ابوبکری نزاری یافتند
He was a wayfarer and, on account of sickness, had remained in the corner of a ruin, in utter exhaustion.860
ره گذر بود و بمانده از مرض ** در یکی گوشهی خرابه پر حرض
He was lying in a ruined nook. When they espied him, they said to him hurriedly,
خفته بود او در یکی کنجی خراب ** چون بدیدندش بگفتندش شتاب
“Arise! The Sultan has demanded thee: by thee our city will be saved from slaughter.”
خیز که سلطان ترا طالب شدست ** کز تو خواهد شهر ما از قتل رست
He replied, “If I had the foot (power to walk) or any (means of) arrival, I myself would have gone by my own road to my destination.
گفت اگر پایم بدی یا مقدمی ** خود به راه خود به مقصد رفتمی
How should I have remained in this abode of my enemies? I would have pushed on towards the city of my friends.”
اندرین دشمنکده کی ماندمی ** سوی شهر دوستان میراندمی
They raised the corpse-bearers' board and lifted our Abú Bakr (upon it).865
تختهی مردهکشان بفراشتند ** وان ابوبکر مرا برداشتند
The carriers were taking him along to Khwárizmsháh, that he (the Sultan) might behold the token (which he desired).
سوی خوارمشاه حمالان کشان ** میکشیدندش که تا بیند نشان
Sabzawár is this world, and in this place the man of God is wasted and goodfor- naught.
سبزوارست این جهان و مرد حق ** اندرین جا ضایعست و ممتحق
Khwárizmsháh is God Almighty: He demands from this wicked folk the (pure) heart.
He (the Prophet) said, “He (God) doth not regard your (outward) form: therefore in your devising seek ye the owner of the Heart.”
گفت لا ینظر الی تصویرکم ** فابتغوا ذا القلب فیتدبیر کم
(God says), “I regard thee through the owner of the Heart, not because of the (external) marks of prostration (in prayer) and the giving away of gold (in charities).”870
من ز صاحبدل کنم در تو نظر ** نه به نقش سجده و ایثار زر
Since thou hast deemed thy heart to be the Heart, thou hast abandoned the search after those who possess the Heart—
تو دل خود را چو دل پنداشتی ** جست و جوی اهل دل بگذاشتی
The Heart into which if seven hundred (heavens) like these Seven Heavens should enter, they would be lost and hidden (from view).
دل که گر هفصد چو این هفت آسمان ** اندرو آید شود یاوه و نهان
Do not call such fragments of heart as these “the Heart”: do not seek an Abú Bakr in Sabzawár!
این چنین دل ریزهها را دل مگو ** سبزوار اندر ابوبکری بجو
The owner of the Heart becomes a six-faced mirror: through him God looks upon (all) the six directions.
صاحب دل آینهی ششرو شود ** حق ازو در شش جهت ناظر بود
Whosoever hath his dwelling-place in (the world of) six directions God doth not look upon him except through the mediation of him (the owner of the Heart).875
هر که اندر شش جهت دارد مقر ** نکندش بیواسطهی او حق نظر
If He (God) reject (any one), He does it for his sake; and if He accept (any one), he likewise is the authority.
گر کند رد از برای او کند ** ور قبول آرد همو باشد سند
Without him God does not bestow bounty on any one. I have told (only) one sample of (the sublimity of) the possessor of union (with God).
بیازو ندهد کسی را حق نوال ** شمهای گفتم من از صاحبوصال
He (God) lays His gift on the palm of his hand, and from his palm dispenses it to those who are the objects of His mercy.
موهبت را بر کف دستش نهد ** وز کفش آن را به مرحومان دهد