1Cademy - (۸) سؤال مرد درویش از جعفر صادق / (8) The Question of a Dervish to Jafar Sadiq

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۸) سؤال مرد درویش از جعفر صادق / (8) The Question of a Dervish to Jafar Sadiq

Original content

مگر پرسید آن درویش حالی
به صدق از جعفر صادق سؤالی

که از چیست این همه کارت شب و روز
جوابش داد آن شمع دلفروز

که چون کارم یکی دیگر نمی کرد
کسی روزی من چون من نمی خورد

چو کار من مرا بایست کردن
فکندم کاهلی کردن ز گردن

چو رزق من مرا افتاد ز آغاز
مرا نه حرص باقی ماند و نه آز

چو مرگ من مرا افتاد ناکام
برای مرگ خود برداشتم گام

چو در مردم وفائی می ندیدم
به جان و دل وفای حق گزیدم

جزین چیزی که می پنداشتم من
چو می پنداشتم بگذاشتم من

نمی دانم که تو با خود بس آئی
ز چندین تفرقه کی واپس آئی

سه پهلوست آرزوهای من و تو
تو می خواهی که گردد چار پهلو

چو کعبه یک جهت شو گر ز مائی
به سان کعبتین آخر چرائی

تو را نه بهر بازی آفریدند
ز بهر سرفرازی آفریدند

مده از دست عمر خویش زنهار
مخور بر عمر خود زین بیش زنهار

نمی دانی که هر شب صبح بشتافت
تو را در خواب جیب عمر بشکافت

ازان ترسم که چون بیدار گردی
نبینی هیچ نقد و خوار گردی

همه کار تو بازی می نماید
نمازت نانمازی می نماید

نمازی کان به غفلت کردهٔ تو
بهای آن نیابی گردهٔ تو

English translation

A dervish once asked a question, In sincerity, to Jafar Sadiq: 'What is the meaning of all your work day and night?' That heart-kindling candle gave him an answer: 'Since no one else would do my work for me, No one would eat my daily bread as I do. Since I had to do my own work, I cast laziness away from my neck. Since my sustenance was destined for me from the beginning, Neither greed nor avarice remained within me. Since my death was destined for me regardless, I took steps toward my own death. Since I saw no loyalty in people, I chose loyalty to God with all my soul and heart. Anything other than this that I used to imagine, As I imagined it, I let it go. I do not know if you will ever come to terms with yourself; When will you return from such distraction? My desires and yours are three-sided; You want them to become four-sided. Be single-directed like the Kaaba if you are of us; Why are you like a pair of dice at the end? You were not created for the sake of play; You were created for the sake of eminence. Do not let the life of yours slip away, beware! Do not grieve over your life more than this, beware! Do not you know that every night hastens toward morning? The collar of your life was torn while you were asleep. I fear that when you wake up, You will see no coin of value and will be humiliated. All your work appears to be a game; Your prayer appears to be non-prayer. A prayer that you have performed in heedlessness— You will not receive even a loaf of bread as its price.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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