Chapter V: Story of a Child who kept a Fast

I have heard that a tender aged child kept a fast;With toil he held out till the morning repast.The teacher removed him from school the same day,For it seemed to him grand that an infant should pray.His papa kissed his eyes and his mother his head;And over him, almonds and money they shed.When half of the day in this manner had passed,In his stomach the hot hunger pangs raised a blast.He said in his heart, "If some morsels I chew,My parents won't know what in secret I do."As the boy for his father and tribe conscience showed,He feasted in private and fasted abroad.Who knows that communion with God you don't share,When without an ablution you stand to say pray'r?The old man is more foolish than that child can be,Who engages in worship, for people to see.That pray'r is the key of the portal of hell,Over which in men's presence a long time you dwell.If your path does not lead to the Maker alone,Your carpet for pray'r into Hell will be thrown !One of good disposition in coarse garments clad,Surpasses the pietist inwardly bad.A prowling night-robber is better, I vote,Than the profligate dressed in a pious man's coat.To the man who seeks payment for trouble below,What wages will God at the Judgment bestow ?Do not hope to get wages from Umar, oh son !When your work, in the mansion of Zaid has been done.I say that one cannot arrive at the Friend,Unless, as a searcher, this way he should wend.Pursue the right road that the goal you may find!You are not on the road, so you're fallen behind !You resemble the wine-presser's ox with eyes bound ;In the same place from morning to night going round.Were a person to turn from the Kiblah his sight,His neighbours would vouch for his infidel plight.You, too, have your back to the Kiblah in pray'r,If to God you a suppliant face do not bear.Take care of the tree with a permanent root,For some day it will yield you abundance of fruit !If you have not sincerity's root in your ground,One like you is not baulked though this fruit is not found.Whoever sows seed on the face of a stone,Not a grain at the season of reaping will own.To hypocrisy give not the honour of place !For this water has mud lying under its face.When in heart I am thoroughly wicked and mean,What's the gain from fame's splendour in works that are seen ?By hypocrisy's aid a patched garb's eas'ly sewed ;But will you be able to sell it to God?What mortal can tell who is inside a coat?A writer can tell what is writ in a note!What weight has a large, leather bag, full of wind,When Justice and Equity's balance we find?The hypocrite showing how much he abstained,Was unmasked and his leather bag "nothing" contained.The outside they make than the lining more clean,For the latter is covered the former is seen.The wise for the purpose of show were not dressed,So linings of rich, painted silk they possessed.If you wish that your fame through the country should go,Your outside adorn ! stuff the inside with tow !Bayizid did not jest when he uttered this speech :"I'm with scoffers more safe than with those whom I teach."All those who are sultans and kingly in line,Are beggars entirely at this holy shrine.A religious man's hope in the beggar's not bound ;It is wrong to assist up the vile from the ground.If you're pregnant with pearls, act like this ! and 'tis well ;Keep your head in yourself, like the pearl bearing shell.When in worship your face to the Lord is inclined,If Gabriel should fail to observe you, don't mind!Oh son, Sadi's counsel for you is as clearAs a father's advice, if you only give ear!If you do not attend to our sayings to-day,God forbid, lest to-morrow you penitent stay !