One had generosity but not the means

His resources were not sufficient for his generosity.

May a base person not be the owner of wealth

May a generous man not experience poverty.

One whose ambition is high

His desired outcome rarely falls into his grasp.

Like a torrential flood that flows down a mountain

It does not remain on high ground.

He bestowed generosity beyond his means

Therefore, he was inevitably of limited resources.

Poverty wrote two words upon him

Saying, 'O you of good end and noble nature,'

‘I will help someone with several dirhams’

‘For I have been in prison for some time.’

In his eyes, material possessions had no value

But he had not even a penny in his hand.

The man sent a message to the imprisoned man’s adversaries

Saying, 'O honorable and free men,'

‘Keep your hands off him for a while’

‘And if he flees, I will be his guarantor.’

And from there he came to the prisoner and said, 'Arise'

‘And flee from this city as far as your legs can carry you.’

Like a sparrow that sees the door of its cage open

He did not remain there for even a single breath.

When the morning breeze (Saba wind) passed through that place

Not a passing that its dust reached (not even a trace remained).

They immediately seized the generous man

Saying, 'Produce this money or the man (the debtor).'

Out of helplessness, he took the path of prison

For a bird that has flown from its cage cannot be caught.

I heard that he remained in prison for some time

He neither wrote a complaint nor cried out in protest.

He found no rest for periods of time and did not sleep at night

A pious man passed by him and said:

I do not think that you are one who consumes people's wealth

What has happened to you that you are in prison?

He said, 'O companion of blessed breath (pious man)'

I have not consumed anyone's wealth through deceit.

I saw a helpless person wounded by imprisonment

I saw no release for him other than my own imprisonment.

I did not see it agreeable according to my opinion

That I should be at ease while another is in bondage.

He finally died and took good repute with him

What a life it was whose name did not die!

A body with a living heart, sleeping under the earth

Is better than a world of living people with dead hearts.

A living heart will never perish

If a body with a living heart dies, what does it matter?