He has not even the price of half a horseshoe, and thou art offering him (what is precious as) corundum and rubies.
نیست او را خود بهای نیم نعل ** تو برو عرضه کنی یاقوت و لعل
Cupidity hath blinded thee and will deprive thee (of blessedness): the Devil will make thee accursed like himself.
حرص کورت کرد و محرومت کند ** دیو هم‌چون خویش مرجومت کند
Just as that wrathful (fiend) made accursed like himself the Fellows of the Elephant and the people of Lot.
هم‌چنانک اصحاب فیل و قوم لوط ** کردشان مرجوم چون خود آن سخوط
The patient (devout and self-denying) have gained the Purchaser, since they did not hasten towards every purchaser.1470
مشتری را صابران در یافتند ** چون سوی هر مشتری نشتافتند
He that averted his face from that Purchaser—fortune and felicity and everlasting life are quit of him.
آنک گردانید رو زان مشتری ** بخت و اقبال و بقا شد زو بری
Grief remains for ever (as a doom) on the covetous, as happened to the people of Zarwán in their envy.
ماند حسرت بر حریصان تا ابد ** هم‌چو حال اهل ضروان در حسد
Story of the people of Zarwán and their envy of the poor. “Our father,” they said, “from (foolish) sympathy used to give the poor the most part of the produce of his orchard.” When it was grapes, he would give a tithe; and when they were turned into raisins or syrup, he would give a tithe; and whenever he made halwá or pálúda, he would give a tithe; and he would give a tithe of the corn-sheaves, and when he threshed (the corn), he would give a tithe of the unthreshed ears mixed (with straw); and when he separated the wheat from the straw, he would give a tithe, and when he made flour, he would give a tithe; and when he leavened the dough, he would give a tithe; and when he made bread, he would give a tithe. Consequently, God most High had laid such a blessing on his orchard and crops that all the (other) owners of orchards were in need of him, both for fruit and money, while he needed nothing from any of them. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, velut illa femina infelix quae veretrum asini vidit, curcurbitam non vidit. [Story of the people of Zarwán…. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, just as that unfortunate woman who (only) saw the ass’s penis and did not see the gourd.]
قصه‌ی اهل ضروان و حسد ایشان بر درویشان کی پدر ما از سلیمی اغلب دخل باغ را به مسکینان می‌داد چون انگور بودی عشر دادی و چون مویز و دوشاب شدی عشر دادی و چون حلوا و پالوده کردی عشر دادی و از قصیل عشر دادی و چون در خرمن می‌کوفتی از کفه‌ی آمیخته عشر دادی و چون گندم از کاه جدا شدی عشر دادی و چون آرد کردی عشر دادی و چون خمیر کردی عشر دادی و چون نان کردی عشر دادی لاجرم حق تعالی در آن باغ و کشت برکتی نهاده بود کی همه اصحاب باغها محتاج او بدندی هم به میوه و هم به سیم و او محتاج هیچ کس نی ازیشان فرزندانشان خرج عشر می‌دیدند منکر و آن برکت را نمی‌دیدند هم‌چون آن زن بدبخت که کدو را ندید و خر را دید
There was a righteous godly man: he had perfect intelligence and a (great) foresight as to the end.
بود مردی صالحی ربانیی ** عقل کامل داشت و پایان دانیی
In the village of Zarwán, near Yemen, (he was) renowned for (his) almsgiving and good disposition.
در ده ضروان به نزدیک یمن ** شهره اندر صدقه و خلق حسن
His abode was the Ka‘ba of the poor: the distressed were (always) coming to him.1475
کعبه‌ی درویش بودی کوی او ** آمدندی مستمندان سوی او
He would give, unostentatiously, a tithe both of the ears of corn and of the wheat when it was separated from the chaff.
هم ز خوشه عشر دادی بی‌ریا ** هم ز گندم چون شدی از که جدا
(If) it was made into flour, he would give a tithe of that too; if it was made into bread, he would give another tithe of the bread.
آرد گشتی عشر دادی هم از آن ** نان شدی عشر دگر دادی ز نان
He would never omit (to give) the tithe of any produce: he would give (the tithe) four times on that which he sowed.
عشر هر دخلی فرو نگذاشتی ** چارباره دادی زانچ کاشتی
That (generous) young man was continually giving many injunctions to all his sons,
بس وصیتها بگفتی هر زمان ** جمع فرزندان خود را آن جوان
Saying, “For God's sake, for God's sake, after I am gone, do not on account of your covetousness withhold the portion of the poor,1480
الله الله قسم مسکین بعد من ** وا مگیریدش ز حرص خویشتن
So that the crops and fruit may remain (as a) permanent (blessing bestowed) on you under the safeguard of your obedience to God.”
تا بماند بر شما کشت و ثمار ** در پناه طاعت حق پایدار
Without surmise or doubt, (it is) God (who) hath sent all produce and fruits from the Unseen.
دخلها و میوه‌ها جمله ز غیب ** حق فرستادست بی‌تخمین و ریب
If you expend something in the place where the produce comes, ’tis the gateway to profit: you will obtain a (great) profit (thereby).
در محل دخل اگر خرجی کنی ** درگه سودست سودی بر زنی
The Turk sows the major part of the produce again in the field, because it (the sown field) is the source of the fruits (crops).
ترک اغلب دخل را در کشت‌زار ** باز کارد که ویست اصل ثمار
He sows most of it and consumes (only) a little, for he has no doubt of its growing.1485
بیشتر کارد خورد زان اندکی ** که ندارد در بروییدن شکی
The Turk shakes (moves to and fro) his hand in sowing, because that (former) crop of his has been produced from the same soil.
زان بیفشاند به کشتن ترک دست ** که آن غله‌ش هم زان زمین حاصل شدست
Likewise the shoemaker buys hide and leather and morocco (with) the surplus left over from (what he spends on) bread,
کفشگر هم آنچ افزاید ز نان ** می‌خرد چرم و ادیم و سختیان
Saying, “These have (always) been the sources of my income: from these, accordingly, my means of livelihood are flowing.”
که اصول دخلم اینها بوده‌اند ** هم ازینها می‌گشاید رزق بند
His income has come from that place: consequently he bestows (it) in the same place with liberality and generosity.
دخل از آنجا آمدستش لاجرم ** هم در آنجا می‌کند داد و کرم
This soil (that produces crops) and (this) morocco are only a veil (secondary cause): know that at every moment the (real) source of livelihood is in God.1490
این زمین و سختیان پرده‌ست و بس ** اصل روزی از خدا دان هر نفس
When you sow, sow in the soil of the Origin, that for every single (seed) a hundred thousand (blessings) may grow.
چون بکاری در زمین اصل کار ** تا بروید هر یکی را صد هزار
If just now (recently) you have sown seed, (as) I will suppose, in a soil which you thought (would be) a means (of producing crops)—
گیرم اکنون تخم را گر کاشتی ** در زمینی که سبب پنداشتی
When it (the seed) does not grow during two or three years, how can you do aught but put your hand (to your head) in supplication and prayer?
چون دو سه سال آن نروید چون کنی ** جز که در لابه و دعا کف در زنی
You will beat your hand on your head in the presence of God: (your) hand and head bear witness to His giving sustenance;
دست بر سر می‌زنی پیش اله ** دست و سر بر دادن رزقش گواه
So that you may know that He is the Source of the source of (all) sustenance, and that the seeker of sustenance may seek only Him.1495
تا بدانی اصل اصل رزق اوست ** تا همو را جوید آنک رزق‌جوست
Seek sustenance from Him, do not seek it from Zayd and ‘Amr: seek intoxication from Him, do not seek it from beng and wine.
رزق از وی جو مجو از زید و عمرو ** مستی از وی جو مجو از بنگ و خمر
Desire wealth from Him, not from treasure and possessions: desire aid from Him, not from paternal and maternal uncles.
توانگری زو خو نه از گنج و مال ** نصرت از وی خواه نه از عم و خال
At the last you will be left without (all) these things: hark, unto whom will you call then?
عاقبت زینها بخواهی ماندن ** هین کرا خواهی در آن دم خواندن
Call unto Him now, and leave (all) the rest, that you may inherit the kingdom of the world.
این دم او را خوان و باقی را بمان ** تا تو باشی وارث ملک جهان
When comes (the Day on which) a man shall flee from his brother and on such a Day the son will flee from his father,1500
چون یفر المرء آید من اخیه ** یهرب المولود یوما من ابیه
In that hour every friend will become your foe, because (in the world) he was your idol and one who hindered (you) from (following) the (right) Way.
زان شود هر دوست آن ساعت عدو ** که بت تو بود و از ره مانع او
You were averting your face from the Painter of the face, since you were gaining heart's delight from a (mere) picture.
روی از نقاش رو می‌تافتی ** چون ز نقشی انس دل می‌یافتی
If at this (present) time your friends become hostile to you and turn aside from you and quarrel (with you),
این دم ار یارانت با تو ضد شوند ** وز تو برگردند و در خصمی روند
Take heed and say, “Lo, my fortune is triumphant: that which would have happened to-morrow (at the Last Judgement) has happened to-day.
هین بگو نک روز من پیروز شد ** آنچ فردا خواست شد امروز شد
The people of this caravanseray (the world) have become my enemies, in order that the Resurrection might be made clearly visible to me beforehand,1505
ضد من گشتند اهل این سرا ** تا قیامت عین شد پیشین مرا
Ere I should lose my time and associate with them to the end of my life.
پیش از آنک روزگار خود برم ** عمر با ایشان به پایان آورم
I had bought defective goods: thanks (to God) that I have become aware of their defectiveness in time,