M6:3628 — عزم ره کردند آن هر سه پسر / سوی املاک پدر رسم سفر

Translation: Those three sons resolved upon the road, Towards their father's lands, the custom of travel.

Meaning: This verse introduces the narrative of the three princes who embark on a journey to explore and manage the territories belonging to their royal father.

This verse marks the beginning of one of the most symbolic tales in the Masnavi, through which Mawlana portrays the journey of the human soul in existence. The king's three sons decide to embark on a journey, according to the custom of travel and management, to visit their father's domains. This is the start of a journey ostensibly undertaken to understand and govern the earthly king's material possessions, but Mawlana never lingers on the superficiality of events; he perceives a deeper meaning embedded within every occurrence.

The phrase "their father's lands" (amlak-i pedar) here is highly significant. In Mawlana's era, "realm" (mamlakat) did not carry the modern meaning of "country," but rather implied the king's personal property and possession. It was regarded as the domain of earthly sovereigns, much like how Iran was once called "the Realm of Iran." I recall Dr. Shahidi, may God have mercy on him, relating how in Iraq, after the fall of the monarchy, one was no longer permitted to use the word mamlakat, because Iraq was no longer the property of any king, but the "country" of its people. This semantic distinction highlights the profound depth of Mawlana's perspective. These lands, although ostensibly belonging to an earthly king, are in truth the property of God, the absolute sovereign, and no one else. This brings to mind the story of Reza Shah and his extensive land acquisitions, how he sought to make the entire country his personal property, yet ultimately, "What became of that wretched one's lot? / A mere piece of earth in a foreign land." This illustrates that there is no true proprietor but God.

Thus, these three sons, each potentially symbolizing an aspect of human existence or its faculties and potentials, set out towards "their father's lands." This journey is a form of return to origin and roots, even if outwardly for "managing the court and livelihood" (tadbir-i divan va ma'ash). In fact, this verse reminds us of the mystic's aspiration to receive sustenance and grace directly from God's hand, not through the "spout" (navadan) of intermediaries. It is a journey to transcend intermediaries and perceive the truth that all things belong to the True Owner, and everything that exists is from Him. This is an allegory of the soul's journey to understand and manage its own self and the world of existence, under the sovereignty and ownership of the true Father, namely God.

Key takeaways

• The sons' journey symbolizes the human soul's odyssey through existence.
• "Their father's lands" outwardly refers to earthly domains, but inwardly to God's dominion.
• The concepts of "realm" (mamlakat) and "ownership" (mulk) are critiqued through historical examples (e.g., Reza Shah) from Mawlana's perspective.
• The journey's purpose is knowledge and governance, not merely material administration, but self-governance and world-governance under true divine ownership.
• The mystic's aspiration for direct divine grace, without intermediaries, is echoed in this journey.