In Book Three, Section 53 of the Masnavi, Rumi presents an allegory of a lover who, finally in the presence of his beloved, takes out a letter and begins reading verses of praise and longing. The beloved rebukes him, stating that reading a letter (seeking signs or indirect knowledge) when the beloved is physically present is a waste of the precious moment of union.

This narrative illustrates the Sufi epistemological distinction between indirect knowledge ('ilm) and direct experiential realization (ma'rifa or 'ayn al-yaqin). Seeking a 'proof' when the 'proved' is already manifest is considered a distraction and a veil. True spiritual union requires abandoning the tools of the search—such as words, books, and formal knowledge—once the Divine presence is attained, as engaging with representations in the face of reality is a sign of spiritual immaturity.