The Caliph More Generous Than Hatim
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 1, section 108 of 171: The story of the Caliph who in his time surpassed Hátim of Tayyi in generosity and had no rival (قصه‌‌ی خلیفه که در کرم در زمان خود از حاتم طایی گذشته بود و نظیر خود نداشت). Below, each of its 16 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The story of the Caliph who in his time surpassed Hátim of Tayyi in generosity and had no rival قصه‌‌ی خلیفه که در کرم در زمان خود از حاتم طایی گذشته بود و نظیر خود نداشت
یک خلیفه بود در ایام پیش
کرده حاتم را غلام جود خویش
In former days there was a Caliph who made Hátim the slave of his liberality.
رایت اکرام و داد افراشته
فقر و حاجت از جهان برداشته
He had raised high the banner of munificence and largesse, he had removed poverty and want from the world.
بحر و کان از بخشش‌‌اش صاف آمده
داد او از قاف تا قاف آمده
(He was) a sea (of bounty), and the pearls (in it) came pure (untarnished) from his munificence: his largesse reached from Qáf to Qáf.
در جهان خاک ابر و آب بود
مظهر بخشایش وهاب بود
In this world of dust he was the cloud and the rain: he was the centre wherein the bounty of the Giver of all displayed itself.
از عطایش بحر و کان در زلزله
سوی جودش قافله بر قافله
His gifts caused sea and mine to quake (tremble with shame): caravan on caravan (were hastening) towards his liberality.
قبله‌‌ی حاجت در و دروازه‌‌اش
رفته در عالم به جود آوازه‌‌اش
His gate and portal was the point to which Need turned: the fame of his munificence had gone (far and wide) into the world.
هم عجم هم روم هم ترک و عرب
مانده از جود و سخایش در عجب
Persians and Greeks, Turcomans and Arabs, were lost in amazement at his liberality and generosity.
آب حیوان بود و دریای کرم
زنده گشته هم عرب زو هم عجم
He was the Water of Life and the Ocean of Bounty: by him both Arabs and foreigners were revived.
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