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 unbroken camel

    when its hobble is undone.

  3. قلت هل تبغي بهذا ال

    رقص باللّه اتصالا

    I said, 'Do you seek, through this

    dancing, communion with God?'

  4. قال هذا خير ما ارتا

    ض به الراجي كمالا

    He said, 'This is the best discipline

    for one who aspires to perfection.

  5. تترك النفس به لل

    جسم أغلالاً ثقالا

    Through it the soul leaves behind

    heavy fetters for the body.'

  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 gathering saw it,

    then craftily hid it.

  8. وأحس الشيخ بالحا

    دث فاعتل اعتلالا

    And the sheikh noticed the incident,

    so he grew quite 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 divert your mind from sorrow?

  12. فتجرد من دعاو

    مكنت منك الخيالا

    So cast off pretensions

    that have given fantasy power over you.

  13. إنما نفسك في جس

    مك لا ترضى انتقالا

    Your soul is only in

    your body; it will not consent to depart.'