1Cademy - (۵) حکایت پیرزن با شیخ و نصیحت او / (5) The Tale of the Old Woman with the Sheikh and Her Advice

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۵) حکایت پیرزن با شیخ و نصیحت او / (5) The Tale of the Old Woman with the Sheikh and Her Advice

Original content

نشسته بود روزی پیر اصحاب
ز پنداری و شهرة پیش محراب

درآمد از در مسجد یکی زال
ولی همچون الف با قد چون دال

بدو گفتا که در عین هلاکی
پلیدی می کنی دعوی پاکی

بدین شیخی شدی مغرور اصحاب
برون آی ای جنب از پیش محراب

بسوز از عشق خود را ای گرامی
وگر نه زاهدی باشی ز خامی

ز زاهد پختگی جستن حرامست
که زاهد همچو خشت پخته خامست

ز سوز و اشک عاشق همچو شمعست
ازان دراشک و سوز خویش جمعست

ازان باشد همه شب اشک و سوزش
که خواهد بود کشتن نیز روزش

چو اشک و سوز و کشتن شد تمامش
برآید کشتهٔ معشوق نامش

شود در پرده هم دم هم نفس را
نماند کار با او هیچ کس را

English translation

One day, the elder of the companions was seated Out of conceit and fame-seeking before the mihrab. An old woman entered through the mosque's door Though once like an Alif, her stature was bent like a Dal. She said to him, 'You are in the midst of ruin, You are impure, yet you claim purity! With this title of Sheikh, you have grown arrogant among the companions, Come out from before the mihrab, O impure one! Burn yourself with love, O dear one, Otherwise, you are just an ascetic out of rawness. Seeking maturity from an ascetic is forbidden, For the ascetic is like a brick baked yet raw. With burning and tears, the lover is like a candle, That is why he is gathered in his own tears and burning. That is why his tears and burning last all night, For his day, too, will be his destruction. When his tears, burning, and destruction are complete, He shall emerge known as the slain of the Beloved. Behind the veil, he becomes an intimate confidant, And no one else will have any business with him.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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