M6:2741 — تا توانم من درین خشکی کشید / مر ترا نک شد سر رشته پدید

Translation: As long as I can pull [the string] in this dryness (on land), For you, behold, the end of the string will become visible. Meaning: Spoken from the perspective of an earthly being (a mouse or the human seeker), this verse asserts that as long as a terrestrial means of connection (pulling a string) exists, a sign of this bond will reach the aquatic being (the frog or the Beloved). It's a lesson on forging immediate connection and presence between two distinct realms.

This verse is embedded within the sagacious tale of the mouse and the frog, who wish to establish a string as a means of communication, to stay connected despite their separate realms. The mouse dwells on land, the frog in water. This string thus becomes a bridge between two worlds. Through this story, culminating in this very verse, Mowlana intends to impart a profound lesson: one about the relationship between soul and body, and between the servant and God.

I have emphasized for years that the Masnavi teaches the philosophy of 'naqd' (cash, or the present moment), not 'nasiya' (credit, or future promise). 'A present slap is better than a promised gift,' and this wisdom reaches its pinnacle here. This verse must be understood as 'the cash of this moment' (naqd-i īn zamān). The earthly seeker, symbolized by the mouse in the story, asks the aquatic frog (the symbol of the soul or divine presence) to accept the string of connection. It says, 'As long as I, this earthly being, can pull this string, you, who dwell in the watery realm of meanings, will see the end of it.' This signifies that communication is immediate, present, and actual, not deferred to an uncertain future.

The mouse here symbolizes the 'body' (tan), trapped in the 'dryness' (khushkī) of this world, while the frog symbolizes the 'soul' (jān), immersed in the boundless ocean of truth. Yet, the soul is imprisoned within the body; 'The body is like a rope tied to the soul's foot, pulling it down to earth from the heavens.' This connecting string between the two is, in fact, 'life' itself – that perpetually flowing communication that signifies the immediate presence of the Divine. The mystic, in contrast to the ascetic who promises a future paradise, seeks his present paradise in this very world, in this very moment. 'I am a disciple of the master of Magian fire, do not resent me, O Sheikh, for you made promises, but he delivered them.' The mystic's paradise is the joyful spiritual states obtained right now.

Mowlana's insistent philosophy of 'the present moment' (naqd-i zamān) is a central teaching of the Masnavi. 'The Sufi is the child of the moment, O friend; to speak of tomorrow is not part of the path.' The Sufi belongs to the now. This string of connection is the 'sign' (nishāna). It is like the 'intoxicated green grass' (sabza-yi mast) signaling the presence of flowing water in a stream, or 'their sign is on their faces' (sīmāhum fī wujūhihim) indicating the sincere devotion of the believer. This string is a tangible, unmediated sign that makes one being, in one realm, aware of the presence of another. The mystic embraces not only the Beloved's kindness but also their wrath, for both are signs of His presence. 'Especially that slap that comes from your hand, for its back-of-the-neck blow and its slap are intoxicating for you.' This slap is a 'cash payment' of presence, invalidating a thousand deferred promises for the lover.

Unlike many Western philosophers who arrive at 'existential loneliness,' Mowlana consistently emphasizes the unbreakable connection of the soul to its origin. The separation Mowlana speaks of is a separation from a present Beloved, not loneliness in a meaningless world. This string is a symbol of this unbreakable bond. The string is pulled, even if the Beloved is in the water and the lover on land. This very pull, this very sign, is itself presence. This is 'narration' (ḥikāyat), not 'complaint' (shikāyat); a narration of a path to union, even in the heart of separation.

Key takeaways

• The paramount importance of 'present moment' (naqd-i hāl) and immediate presence, rather than relying on distant promises.
• The string of connection symbolizes the bond between the earthly soul and the aquatic, divine Truth.
• A true lover cherishes every sign from the Beloved, whether grace or wrath, as a precious gift of presence.
• Mowlana's spiritual experience is founded on continuity and presence, rejecting existential loneliness.
• The world is replete with signs; one must, like the mouse in the story, find the string of connection and pull it.