Rumi's Masnavi - The dregs are difficulty and their pure (essence) is their ease: the pure (essence) is like the ripe date, and the dregs (are like) the date in its immature stage.

The dregs are difficulty and their pure (essence) is their ease: the pure (essence) is like the ripe date, and the dregs (are like) the date in its immature stage. 360

درد عسر افتاد و صافش یسر او ** صاف چون خرما و دردی بسر او

Ease is accompanied by difficulty; come, do not despair: through this death thou hast the way into Life.

یسر با عسرست هین آیس مباش ** راه داری زین ممات اندر معاش

(If) thou desirest (spiritual) peace, rend thy jubba, O son, that immediately thou mayst emerge pure.

روح خواهی جبه بشکاف ای پسر ** تا از آن صفوت برآری زود سر

The (true) Súfí is he who has become a seeker of purity: (it is) not from (wearing) the garment of wool and patching (it) and (committing) sodomy.

هست صوفی آنک شد صفوت‌طلب ** نه از لباس صوف و خیاطی و دب

With these base scoundrels Súfism has become patching and sodomy, and that is all.

صوفیی گشته به پیش این لام ** الخیاطه واللواطه والسلام

To wear colours (coloured garments) with the fancy of (attaining to) that purity and good name is good (commendable), but 365

بر خیال آن صفا و نام نیک ** رنگ پوشیدن نکو باشد ولیک

(Only) if, with the fancy thereof, you go on (till you attain) to its (essential) principle; not like those who worship (worldly) fancies manifold.

بر خیالش گر روی تا اصل او ** نی چو عباد خیال تو به تو

Your fancy is the baton of (Divine) jealousy (which prevents you from prowling) round about the curtained pavilion of (Divine) Beauty;

دور باش غیرتت آمد خیال ** گرد بر گرد سراپرده‌ی جمال

It (fancy) bars every seeker, saying, “There is no way (admission)”: every fancy confronts him (the seeker) and says “Stop!”—

بسته هر جوینده را که راه نیست ** هر خیالش پیش می‌آید بیست

Except, indeed, that person of sharp hearing and keen intelligence who possesses enthusiasm (derived) from the host of His (God's) helps (to victory).

جز مگر آن تیزکوش تیزهوش ** کش بود از جیش نصرتهاش جوش