1. هاجه الوجد فمالا

    يذكر اللّه تعالى

    Ecstasy stirred him, and he swayed,

    invoking God Most High,

  2. مرغياً كالجمل المص

    عب إذ حل عقالا

    foaming like an unruly camel

    when it loosens its hobble.

  3. قلت هل تبغي بهذا ال

    رقص باللّه اتصالا

    I said, 'Do you seek, through this

    dancing, union with God?'

  4. قال هذا خير ما ارتا

    ض به الراجي كمالا

    He said, 'This is the best discipline

    for one aspiring to perfection:

  5. تترك النفس به لل

    جسم أغلالاً ثقالا

    through it, the soul leaves

    the body its heavy shackles.'

  6. فهوى دينارُهُ من

    ه وقد تاه اختيالا

    Then his dinar fell from

    him as he swaggered proudly.

  7. ورآه أحد القو

    م فأخفاه احتيالا

    And one of the company saw it

    and cunningly hid it.

  8. وأحس الشيخ بالحا

    دث فاعتل اعتلالا

    The sheikh became aware of the mishap

    and fell sorely ill.

  9. ودعا بالغوث حتى

    أتعب القلب ابتهالا

    And he cried for help until

    he wearied his heart with supplication.

  10. قلت يا هذا أيبكي

    زاهد مثلك مالا

    I said, 'You there, would

    an ascetic like you weep over money?

  11. لم لا يلهمك الذك

    ر عن الحزن اشتغالا

    Why does remembrance not inspire you

    to turn your mind from sorrow?

  12. فتجرد من دعاو

    مكنت منك الخيالا

    So strip yourself of pretensions

    that have given fancy power over you.

  13. إنما نفسك في جس

    مك لا ترضى انتقالا

    Your soul is only in your

    body; it will not consent to leave.'