The First Tale

Iraqi style
English

The First Tale

A beggar from the West stood among the cloth merchants of Aleppo and said: You masters of wealth, if only you had fairness and we had contentment, then begging would vanish from the world. Contentment, make me rich, for beyond you there is no wealth at all. The quiet corner of patience is what Luqman chose; whoever has no patience has no wisdom.
Explanation: Luqman is a legendary sage in Islamic tradition, a byword for wisdom. The 'corner of patience' evokes withdrawing to endure hardship calmly.

Original · Persian

حکایت شمارهٔ ۱

خواهندهٔ مَغْرِبی در صفِ بزّازانِ حَلَب می‌گفت: ای خداوندانِ نعمت، اگر شما را انصاف بودی و ما را قناعت، رسمِ سؤال از جهان برخاستی.
ای قناعت! توانگرم گردان که ورایِ تو هیچ نعمت نیست
کنجِ صبر، اختیارِ لُقمان است هر‌که را صبر نیست، حکمت نیست