Kitab-i-Iqan — Paragraph 142

Source (Persian)

و مثل اين از حضرت صادق ذکر شده که روزی شخصی از اصحاب در خدمت آن حضرت شکايت از فقر نمود. آن جمال لا يزالی فرمودند که تو غنی هستی و از شراب غنا آشاميده ای. آن فقير از بيان طلعت منير متحيّر شد که چگونه غنيّ هستم که به فلسی محتاجم؟ آن حضرت فرمود: آيا محبّت ما را نداری؟ عرض نمود: بلی، يا ابن رسول اللّه. فرمود: آيا به هزار دينار اين را مبايعه می نمائی؟ عرض نمود که به جميع دنيا و آنچه در آن است نمی دهم. حضرت فرمودند: آيا نفسی که چنين چيزی نزد او باشد که او را به عالم ندهد چگونه فقير است؟

Translation

In like manner, it is related that on a certain day, one of the companions of Sádiq complained of his poverty before him. Whereupon, Sádiq, that immortal beauty, made reply: “Verily thou art rich, and hast drunk the draught of wealth.” That poverty-stricken soul was perplexed at the words uttered by that luminous countenance, and said: “Where are my riches, I who stand in need of a single coin?” Sádiq thereupon observed: “Dost thou not possess our love?” He replied: “Yea, I possess it, O thou scion of the Prophet of God!” And Sádiq asked him saying: “Exchangest thou this love for one thousand dinars?” He answered: “Nay, never will I exchange it, though the world and all that is therein be given me!” Then Sádiq remarked: “How can he who possesses such a treasure be called poor?”