1Cademy - (۴) حکایت اصمعی با آن مرد صاحب ضیف و زنگی حادی / (4) The Tale of Asmai with the Host and the Black Camel-Driver

Learn Before

Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۴) حکایت اصمعی با آن مرد صاحب ضیف و زنگی حادی / (4) The Tale of Asma'i with the Host and the Black Camel-Driver

Original content

چنین گفت اصمعی پیر یگانه
که یک شب در عرب گشتم روانه

کریمی کرد مهمانم دگر روز
بر او زنگئی دیدم همه سوز

کشیده پای تا فرقش بزنجیر
بزاری نالهٔ می کرد چون زیر

دلی چون دیدهٔ موری ز تنگی
همه زنگی دلی رفته ز زنگی

بپرسیدم از آن زنگی خسته
که از بهر چه گشتی پای بسته

مرا گفتا گناهی کرده ام من
که زین زنجیر و غل آزرده ام من

بنزد خواجهٔ من میهمان را
بود حقی که نتوان گفت آن را

اگر از وی بخواهی این زمانم
ببخشد از برای میهمانم

چو آوردند نان و خواجه بنشست
بسوی نان نمی برد اصمعی دست

که نتوانم که خون جان خورم من
اگر او را ببخشی نان خورم من

چنین گفت اصمعی را میزبانش
که زنگی را پر آتش باد جانش

بجانش نزد این دلخسته بیمست
چه گویم چون گناه او عظیمست

گناهش چیست گفت ای خواجه بر گو
چنین گفتا که این زنگی بدخو

براهی چارصد اشتری قوی حال
همه در گرمگاه وزیر اثقال

بعجلت کرم میراندست در راه
حدائی زار می خواندست آنگاه

که تا آن اشتران بی خورد و بی خواب
سپس کردند ده منزل در آن تاب

حدایی زار و زنگی خوش آواز
همه آن اشتران را داده پرواز

چو او قصد حدی پیوست کرده
ز لذت اشتران را مست کرده

چو در سختی چنین راهی سپردند
بهم هر چار صد آنجا بمردند

بزاری اشتران را بار بر پشت
حدی می گفت تا در تشنگی کشت

به بانگی چارصد اشتر چو جان داد
منت زین غصه نتوانم نشان داد

چو حیوان می بمرد از درد این راه
چگونه گیرمت من مرد این راه

جوانمردا شتر را گر حدی هست
ترا از حضرت حق صد ندا هست

چو حیوانی بمیرد از یک آواز
توئی اندر دو عالم محرم راز

پیاپی می رسد از حق پیامت
ز حیوانی کمست آخر مقامت؟

خدای از بهر خویشت آفریده
ز تو هم نفس وهم مالت خریده

تو مشغول وجود خویش گشته
بخودبینی ز شیطان بیش گشته

ترا صد گنج حق داده زهستی
تو با شیطان بهم خورده زمستی

خدا خوانده بخویشت جاودانه
تو گشته از پی شیطان روانه

خدا فعل تو یک یک ذره دیده
تو چون ذرهٔ هوای خود گزیده

زیان کردی همه عمر جهانی
که قدر آن ندانستی زمانی

ولیکن هست صبر آنکه ناگاه
برافتد پرده از چشم تو در راه

چو رسوائی خود گردد عیانت
بسوزد آتش تشویر جانت

English translation

Thus spoke Asma'i, the incomparable elder: 'One night I was traveling in Arabia. A generous host invited me as his guest the next day; In his presence, I saw a black slave who was suffering. He was bound in chains from head to foot, Wailing and sighing bitterly like a low string. His heart was as narrow as an ant's eye from distress, All joy of life had departed from that dark soul. I asked that weary black slave: "For what reason have your feet been bound?" He said to me: "I have committed a sin, For which I am tormented by these chains and shackles. Before my master, a guest possesses a right That cannot be described in words. If you ask for my release at this moment, He will forgive me for the sake of his guest." When they brought the bread and the host sat down, Asma'i did not stretch his hand toward the bread. "I cannot consume my own soul's blood," he said, "If you forgive him, I shall eat the bread." The host said to Asma'i: "May the black slave's soul be filled with fire! My grieving heart is filled with terror because of him; What can I say, for his sin is enormous!" "What is his sin?" Asma'i said, "O master, speak." The master replied: "This ill-natured black slave, Along a path where four hundred strong camels Were carrying heavy burdens in the midday heat, Drove them in great haste along the road, While singing a plaintive camel-driver's song (huda). So that those camels, without food or sleep, Traversed ten stages in that burning heat. With his plaintive song and sweet voice, The black slave made all those camels fly. As he persistently sang his camel-driver's song, He intoxicated the camels with pleasure. When they traversed such a difficult path under such hardship, All four hundred of them died there together. With their burdens still on their backs, they died miserably; He kept singing his song until he killed them with thirst. When four hundred camels died from a single song, I cannot describe my grief to you. If animals died from the pain of this journey, How can I consider you a traveler of this path?" O noble youth! If the camel is moved by a camel-driver's song, You have a hundred callings from the Divine Truth! Since an animal dies from a single voice, You are the confidant of secrets in both worlds! Continually, messages reach you from the Truth; Is your status less than that of an animal? God created you for Himself, Purchasing both your soul and your wealth from you. You have become occupied with your own physical existence, Becoming more self-centered than Satan. God gave you a hundred treasures of existence, But you drank with Satan in your drunkenness. God called you to Himself eternally, But you went following Satan. God saw each and every particle of your actions, But you chose your own desires like a speck of dust. You wasted all the span of this world, Since you did not appreciate its value for even a moment. But there is a hope that suddenly, The veil will fall from your eyes on this path. When your own disgrace becomes clear to you, The fire of shame will burn your soul.'

Updated 2026-07-03

Contributors are:

Who are from:

References