Rumi's Masnavi - Although the inner meaning of the tale is this bait and trap, listen now to the outward form of the tale in its entirety.

Although the inner meaning of the tale is this bait and trap, listen now to the outward form of the tale in its entirety.

گر چه سر قصه این دانه ست و دام ** صورت قصه شنو اکنون تمام‌‌

If the spiritual explanation were sufficient, the creation of the world would have been vain and idle.

گر بیان معنوی کافی شدی ** خلق عالم عاطل و باطل بدی‌‌

If love were (only spiritual) thought and reality, the form of your fasting and prayer would be non-existent. 2625

گر محبت فکرت و معنیستی ** صورت روزه و نمازت نیستی‌‌

The gifts of lovers to one another are, in respect of love, naught but forms;

هدیه‌‌های دوستان با همدیگر ** نیست اندر دوستی الا صور

(But the purpose is) that the gifts may have borne testimony to feelings of love which are concealed in secrecy,

تا گواهی داده باشد هدیه‌ها ** بر محبتهای مضمر در خفا

Because outward acts of kindness bear witness to feelings of love in the heart, O dear friend.

ز آن که احسانهای ظاهر شاهدند ** بر محبتهای سر ای ارجمند

Your witness is sometimes true, sometimes false, sometimes drunken with wine, sometimes with sour curds.

شاهدت گه راست باشد گه دروغ ** مست گاهی از می و گاهی ز دوغ‌‌

He that has drunk sour curds makes a show of intoxication, shouts ecstatically, and behaves like one whose head is heavy (with the fumes of wine); 2630

دوغ خورده مستیی پیدا کند ** های و هوی و سر گرانیها کند

That hypocrite is (assiduous) in fasting and praying, in order that it may be supposed that he is drunken with devotion (to God).

آن مرایی در صیام و در صلاست ** تا گمان آید که او مست ولاست‌‌

In short, external acts are different (from internal feelings), (and their purpose is) to indicate that which is hidden.

حاصل افعال برونی دیگر است ** تا نشان باشد بر آن چه مضمر است‌‌