Khwaja Abdullah Ansari (1006 – 1088 CE) was from Herat in western Afghanistan. For more about him, see this post.

Between praying and nearness
is the same distance as between
acquaintance and friendship.

Those who worship for wages are but mercenaries.
They have claims: my prayers, my fast,
my donations, my faith and my patience
they declare.

The lover says:
Who am I
to carry the weight of this loyalty
or the burden of this sorrow?

When I speak to You
my lips are soul-perfumed
when I carry this Pain
granted by You, majesty blooms in my heart
like a spring shoot.

Translation Vraje Abramian