Rumi's Masnavi - But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,

But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars, 385

لیک در ظلمت یکی دزدی نهان ** می‌‌نهد انگشت بر استارگان‌‌

Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.

می‌‌کشد استارگان را یک به یک ** تا که نفروزد چراغی از فلک‌‌

Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.

گر هزاران دام باشد در قدم ** چون تو با مایی نباشد هیچ غم‌‌

Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).

هر شبی از دام تن ارواح را ** می‌‌رهانی می‌‌کنی الواح را

The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.

می‌‌رهند ارواح هر شب زین قفس ** فارغان، نه حاکم و محکوم کس‌‌

At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power. 390

شب ز زندان بی‌‌خبر زندانیان ** شب ز دولت بی‌‌خبر سلطانیان‌‌

There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.

نه غم و اندیشه‌‌ی سود و زیان ** نه خیال این فلان و آن فلان‌‌

This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.

حال عارف این بود بی‌‌خواب هم ** گفت ایزد هم رقود زین مرم‌‌

He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.

خفته از احوال دنیا روز و شب ** چون قلم در پنجه‌‌ی تقلیب رب‌‌

One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.

آن که او پنجه نبیند در رقم ** فعل پندارد به جنبش از قلم‌‌