1Cademy - (۱) حکایت شبلی با مرد نانوا / (1) The Tale of Shibli and the Baker

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۱) حکایت شبلی با مرد نانوا / (1) The Tale of Shibli and the Baker

Original content

مگر بوده ست جایی نانوایی
که بشنید او ز شبلی ماجرایی

بسی بشنیده بود آوازهٔ او
ندیده بود روی تازهٔ او

بسی در شوق او بنشسته بودی
که او را عاشقی پیوسته بودی

نبود او عاشقش از روی دیدن
ولیکن عاشقش بود از شنیدن

مگر یک روز شبلی گرمگاهی
در آمد گرم رو از دور راهی

بر آن نانوا شد تا خبر داشت
وزان دکان او یک گرده برداشت

کشید از دست او آن نانوا نان
که ندهم مر ترا ای بی نوا نان

ندادش نان و شبلی زو گذر کرد
کسی آن نانوا را زو خبر کرد

که او شبلی ست، گر تو سازگاری
چرا یک گرده را زو باز داری ؟

دوید آن نانوا ره تا بیابان
ازان تشویر پشت دست خایان

به صد زاری به پای او درافتاد
به هر ساعت به دستی دیگر افتاد

بسی عذرش نمود و کرد اعزاز
که تا آن را تدارک چون کند باز

چو در ره دید شبلی گفتش آن گاه
که گر خواهی که آن برخیزد از راه

برو فردا و دعوت ساز ما را
به یک ره مجمعی کن آشکارا

برفت آن نانوا القصه حالی
فرو آراست قصری سخت عالی

یکی دعوت به زیبایی چنان کرد
که صد دینار زر در خرج آن کرد

نه چندان کرد هر چیزی تکلف
که کس را می رسید آنجا تصرف

ز هر نوعی بسی کس را خبر کرد
که شبلی سوی ما خواهد گذر کرد

به آخر چون همه بر خوان نشستند
دعا چون گفت شبلی باز گشتند

عزیزی بود بس شوریده حالی
ز شبلی کرد آن ساعت سؤالی

که نه خوبی شناسم من نه زشتی
بگو تا دوزخی کیست و بهشتی ؟

جوابی داد شبلی آن اخی را
که گر خواهی که بینی دوزخی را

نگه کن سوی صاحب دعوت ما
که دعوت ساخت بهر شهرت ما

نداد او گرده ای بهر خدا را
ولیکن داد صد دینار ما را

کشید از بهر شبلی صد غرامت
به حق یک گرده ندهد تا قیامت

که گر یک گرده دادی بی درشتی
نبودی دوزخی ، بودی بهشتی

کنون گر دوزخی خواهی نگه کن
همه آبش همه نانش سیه کن

اگر خواهی که باشی دوزخی تو
چنین کن تا شوی مرد سخی تو

خدا را گر پرستی تو به اخلاص
بکن جهدی که گردی از ریا خاص

برای سگ توانی بود هاجر
برای حق نه باشی اینت کافر

English translation

There happened to be a baker somewhere Who had heard a tale about Shibli. He had heard much of his fame, But had not seen his fresh face. He had sat much in yearning for him, For he was constantly a lover of his. He was not his lover through seeing, But rather a lover through hearing. It happened one day at midday, Shibli arrived, walking swiftly from a long journey. He went to that baker to find out, And took a loaf of bread from his shop. The baker pulled the bread from his hand, Saying, 'I will not give bread to a destitute one like you.' He gave him no bread, and Shibli passed him by; Then someone informed the baker about him, Saying, 'That was Shibli! If you are a follower, Why did you withhold a single loaf from him?' The baker ran down the road to the desert, Biting the back of his hand in shame. With a hundred lamentations he fell at his feet, Falling from one hand to the other at every moment. He made many excuses and showed great respect, Asking how he could make amends for it. Seeing him on the road, Shibli then said to him: 'If you want that offense to be removed from the way, Go tomorrow and prepare a feast for us, Gather an assembly openly all at once.' The baker left, in short, immediately, And decorated a magnificent palace. He prepared such a beautiful feast, That he spent a hundred gold dinars on it. He went to such lengths with everything, That no one could find room for criticism there. He informed many people of all kinds, That Shibli would be visiting us. In the end, when everyone sat at the table, When Shibli said a prayer, they returned. There was a dear one in a deeply frenzied state, Who asked Shibli a question at that moment, Saying, 'I know neither good nor evil; Tell me, who is of hell, and who is of heaven?' Shibli gave an answer to that brother, Saying, 'If you want to see an inhabitant of hell, Look at our host, Who prepared a feast for the sake of our fame. He did not give a single loaf for the sake of God, But he gave a hundred dinars for us. He bore a hundred expenses for Shibli, Yet in truth, he would not give a single loaf until Judgment Day. For if he had given a loaf without harshness, He would not be of hell, he would be of heaven. Now, if you want an inhabitant of hell, look; Make all his water and all his bread black (worthless). If you want to be an inhabitant of hell, Do as he did to become a generous man! If you worship God with sincerity, Make an effort to become free from hypocrisy. For the sake of a dog you can be wandering, But for the Truth you are not; you are an unbeliever!'

Updated 2026-07-03

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