Rumi's Masnavi - 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.

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

He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the intellect too is carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses. 395

شمه‌‌ای زین حال عارف وانمود ** خلق را هم خواب حسی در ربود

Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;

رفته در صحرای بی‌‌چون جانشان ** روحشان آسوده و ابدانشان‌‌

And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare, leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.

وز صفیری باز دام اندر کشی ** جمله را در داد و در داور کشی‌‌

Like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the world of) form.

فالق الإصباح اسرافیل‌‌وار ** جمله را در صورت آرد ز ان دیار

He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).

روحهای منبسط را تن کند ** هر تنی را باز آبستن کند

He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the inner meaning of “Sleep is the brother of Death”; 400

اسب جانها را کند عاری ز زین ** سر النوم اخ الموت است این‌‌

But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts a long tether on their leg,

لیک بهر آن که روز آیند باز ** بر نهد بر پایشان بند دراز