English
The Story of Hatim Ta'i
An old man came to Hatim's house
and asked for ten dirhams' worth of sugar candy.
As the storyteller relates it to me,
Hatim sent him a whole crate of sugar.
His wife said from the tent, 'What kind of plan is this?
Ten dirhams were all the old man needed.'
The famous man of Ta'i heard these words,
laughed, and said, 'My dear companion,
if he only asked for the size of his own need,
then where would the generosity of Hatim's house be?'
For no one as noble and open-handed as Hatim
ever came again in all the turning of the world.
Abu Bakr Sa'd, whose giving hand
lays its bounty on the very mouth of every request,
O shelter of your people, may your heart be glad!
By your effort may the faith flourish and thrive!
This blessed land holds its head high
over Greece and Rome because of your justice.
Like Hatim, if his desire had not been giving,
no one in the world would ever have spoken of Ta'i's name.
Praise for that famous man remains in the book;
for you both praise and reward will remain.
For Hatim sought fame and renown by his gifts,
but your striving and effort are for God's sake.
The poor and honest man is under no heavy burden;
my counsel is no more than this single line:
as much as you are able, do good.
Good will endure from you, and words from Sa'di.