M6:535 — آن زمان که حرص جنبید و هوس / آن زمان می‌گو کای فریادرس

Translation: That moment when greed and desire stir, / At that very moment, cry out: O Helper! Meaning: This verse advises that one should seek divine assistance the instant greed and desire emerge, rather than waiting until they have led to ruin.

Mowlana, in this profound verse, grasps at the heart of a vital ethical and mystical teaching: the necessity of pre-emptive action against temptation and error. This beyt is embedded within the story of a bird that, lured by grain, falls into a trap, and then, in its distress, begins reciting Ya-Sin and An'am. But Mowlana, with characteristic decisiveness, asserts that such supplications are ineffective once caught.

I place this beyt, unequivocally, among Mowlana's practical wisdom. He teaches us that true calling for a 'Helper' (Faryādras) is not after falling into the pit, but at the very first stirrings of 'greed (ḥirṣ) and desire (havas).' Before these internal urges seize the reins of our free will, we must cry out for aid. 'What good is regret and lamentation after being trapped? / That dark smoke should have arisen before then,' Mowlana's imagery is stark: the black smoke rising from the heart, a sign of burning and warning, must precede the event, not follow it.

This is precisely the Persian adage, 'The remedy for an event must be sought before its occurrence,' deeply rooted in our culture. Mowlana also employs the Arabic proverb, 'before the ruin of Basra,' to underscore this point: before it's too late, before the 'Basra' of our being—the flourishing of our intellect and volition—is devastated by greed and desire, a solution must be found.

Mowlana elevates this theme through the tale of the caravan's careless watchman. A guard who remains silent during the thieves' assault, and only after the caravan is plundered, begins to 'shout and beat his drum.' The caravanners tell him, 'At that moment, from fear, I sealed my mouth / Now, as much as you wish, I shall shout.' This is a precise example of acting after the opportune moment has passed. Greed and desire are the true 'robbers' of our existential caravan, and if we do not call upon the 'Helper' at the moment of their onslaught, lamentation after the plunder will be futile. Here, Mowlana warns us against the futility of post-action distress and calls us to moment-by-moment vigilance.

Key takeaways

• The critical importance of pre-emptive action against temptations and carnal desires.
• Seeking divine help must occur at the very moment greed and desire stir, not after falling prey to them.
• The ineffectiveness of delayed repentance and supplication in the face of the inevitable consequences of misconduct.
• Comparison with proverbs like 'prevention is better than cure' and 'before the ruin of Basra,' emphasizing early vigilance.
• The true danger lies not in external enemies, but in internal greed and desire that plunder the caravan of one's being.