Rumi's Masnavi - He (God) said, “I am the Coverer (of sins): I will not tell his secrets, (I will give) but one indication for the sake of trying him.

He (God) said, “I am the Coverer (of sins): I will not tell his secrets, (I will give) but one indication for the sake of trying him.

گفت ستارم نگویم رازهاش ** جز یکی رمز از برای ابتلاش‏

One sign of My punishing him is this, that he has (to his credit) pious acts of fasting and orison

یک نشان آن که می‏گیرم و را ** آن که طاعت دارد از صوم و دعا

And ritual prayer and almsgiving et cetera, but he has not one atom of spiritual savour.

و ز نماز و از زکات و غیر آن ** لیک یک ذره ندارد ذوق جان‏

He performs high acts and deeds of devotion, but he has not one atom of (spiritual) relish.

می‏کند طاعات و افعال سنی ** لیک یک ذره ندارد چاشنی‏

His devotions are good (in form), but the spirit is not good: the walnuts are many, but there is no kernel therein.” 3395

طاعتش نغز است و معنی نغز نی ** جوزها بسیار و در وی مغز نی‏

Spiritual savour is required, in order that devotions may yield fruit: a kernel is required, in order that the berry may produce a tree.

ذوق باید تا دهد طاعات بر ** مغز باید تا دهد دانه شجر

How shall a berry without kernel become a sapling? The soulless form is naught but phantasy.

دانه‏ی بی‏مغز کی گردد نهال ** صورت بی‏جان نباشد جز خیال‏

Remainder of the story of the stranger’s reviling the Shaykh.

بقیه‏ی قصه‏ی طعنه زدن آن مرد بیگانه در شیخ‏

That malign wretch was gabbling silly nonsense about the Shaykh: the perverted intellect is always squinting (envious).

آن خبیث از شیخ می‏لایید ژاژ ** کژنگر باشد همیشه عقل کاژ

(He said), “I saw him amidst a company (of revellers): he is one denuded and destitute of piety.

که منش دیدم میان مجلسی ** او ز تقوی عاری است و مفلسی‏

And if you do not believe it, arise (and go) to-night, that you may see plainly your Shaykh’s depravity.” 3400

ور که باور نیستت خیز امشبان ** تا ببینی فسق شیخت را عیان‏