The Prophet said
that when you knock
on a door,
in the end
a head will emerge.

When you sit
at the entrance
to a person’s alley,
in the end
you will see
the face of that person.

When you dig
the dirt
out of a well,
in the end
you will reach pure water.

سایهٔ حق بر سر بنده بود Sayeh-ye Haqq bar sar-e bandeh buvad
The shadow of God is over the head of the servant
عاقبت جوینده یابنده بود
‘aqibat juyande yabande bovad
in the end, one who seeks, finds.

گفت پیغامبر که چون کوبی دری
goft payghambar keh chun kubi dari
The Prophet said that when you knock on a door
عاقبت زان در برون آید سری
‘aqibat zan dar borun ayad sari
in the end a head will pop out.

چون نشینی بر سر کوی کسی
chun neshini bar sar-e kuy-e kasi
When you sit at the entrance of a person’s alley
عاقبت بینی تو هم روی کسی
‘aqibat beeni to ham ruy-e kasi
in the end you will see the face of that person.

چون ز چاهی می‌کنی هر روز خاک
chun zi chahi mikani har ruz khak
When you dig dirt out of a well
عاقبت اندر رسی در آب پاک
’aqibat andar rasi dar ab pak
in the end you will reach pure water.
Rumi, Masnavi. Translation and translitteration

I’ve gotten permission from Dr. Alan Godlas (Abdul Haqq), who is a professor at the University of Georgia for Islamic and Sufi studies, to repost his Facebook postings on Islam and Sufism. All translations are done by Abdul Haqq Godlas unless otherwise noted.