Rumi's Masnavi - That which God has raised (and that alone) has use: what He has at first sown at last grows.

That which God has raised (and that alone) has use: what He has at first sown at last grows.

کار آن دارد که حق افراشته ست ** آخر آن روید که اول کاشته ست‏

Whatever you sow, sow for His sake, inasmuch as you are the Beloved's captive, O lover.

هر چه کاری از برای او بکار ** چون اسیر دوستی ای دوستدار

Do not hang about the thievish fleshly soul and its work: whatsoever is not God's work is naught, naught.

گرد نفس دزد و کار او مپیچ ** هر چه آن نه کار حق هیچ است هیچ‏

(Sow the good seed) ere the Day of Resurrection shall appear and the night-thief be shamed before Him whose is the Kingdom,

پیش از آن که روز دین پیدا شود ** نزد مالک دزد شب رسوا شود

With the goods stolen by his contrivance and craft (still) remaining on his neck at the Day of Judgement. 1065

رخت دزدیده به تدبیر و فنش ** مانده روز داوری بر گردنش‏

Hundreds of thousands of minds may jump together (conspire) to lay a snare other than His snare;

صد هزاران عقل با هم بر جهند ** تا به غیر دام او دامی نهند

(But) they only find their snare more grievous (to themselves), (for) how can straws show any power (of resistance) against the wind?

دام خود را سخت‏تر یابند و بس ** کی نماید قوتی با باد خس‏

If you say, “What was the profit of (our created) being?” (I reply), “There is profit in your question, O contumacious one.

گر تو گویی فایده‏ی هستی چه بود ** در سؤالت فایده هست ای عنود

If this question of yours has no profit, why should we listen to it in vain and fruitlessly?

گر ندارد این سؤالت فایده ** چه شنویم این را عبث بی‏عایده‏

And if there are many profits in your question, then why, pray, is the world unprofitable? 1070

ور سؤالت را بسی فاییده‏هاست ** پس جهان بی‏فایده آخر چراست‏