IN THE NAME OF ALLAH

I’ve heard that an elder on the Hijaz Road

Would make at every step two rak’as of prayer:

So hot-foot he upon God’s way

That he’d not pick thorn-spines from
his feet !
At length, from mind-distracting evil
Inspirations,
His doings seemed him goodly in his sight:
Thanks to the Tempter’s blind, he walked into the pit
Of thinking no finer road than that could e’er be walked;
Had not Truth’s mercy caught him up,
Delusion from the highway sure had turned his head!
From the World Unknown a voice unseen to him sounded:
O fortunate one, of blessed disposition!
Think not, because you’ve done obeisance,
You’ve brought a single titbit to this Presence!
Easing one heart with one act of kindness
Is better than a thousand rak’as at every way-stage!

شنیدم که پیری به راه حجاز
به هر خطوه کردی دو رکعت نماز

چنان گرم رو در طریق خدای که خار مغیلان نکندی ز پای

به آخر ز وسواس خاطر پریش پسندآمدش در نظر کار خویش

به تلبیس ابلیس در چاه رفت که نتوان از این خوب تر راه رفت

گرش رحمت حق نه دریافتی غرورش سر از جاده برتافتی

یکی هاتف از غیبش آواز داد که ای نیکبخت مبارک نهاد

مپندار اگر طاعتی کرده ای که نزلی بدین حضرت آورده ای

به احسانی آسوده کردن دلی
به از الف رکعت به هر منزلی