M6:2632 — هر دو تن مربوط میقاتی شدند / هر صباحی گوشه‌ای می‌آمدند

Translation: The two beings became bound by an appointed meeting place; Every morning, they would come to a corner.

Meaning: This couplet describes the inception of a friendship between the mouse and the frog, who would regularly convene at a designated spot to share their innermost thoughts and unburden their souls.

Mowlana, that surging ocean of gnosis, begins here with the tale of the mouse and the frog. When we read such verses, we must not be deceived by their apparent simplicity; behind each word lies a world of wisdom, even if, as he himself says, 'their meaning is clear.'

First, let us consider the phrase 'the two beings became bound by an appointed meeting place.' 'Bound' (marbūṭ) here signifies 'connected and related,' and 'appointed meeting place' (mīqāt) is simply the 'rendezvous' or the 'agreed time for a meeting.' Thus, these two friends pledged to each other to meet at a predetermined time, in a specific corner of this vast world, every day. This very act of making a 'covenant' for meeting signifies a profound respect for connection and intimacy.

But why were these meetings so crucially important? Mowlana explains in the following verses that they would 'play the game of hearts' (nard-i del bākhtand) and 'cleanse their breasts of anxieties' (az wasāwis-i sīna pardākhtand). This image is deeply psychological and mystical. 'Playing the game of hearts' means to share one's innermost being without mediation, and 'cleansing their breasts of anxieties' means to unburden the worries and preoccupations accumulated within. This is not mere confiding; it is a form of inner purification achieved through 'sincere friendship and genuine intimacy.' One cannot do this with just anyone; it is only in the presence of a true friend that one can pour out one's concerns and empty oneself of them. This emptying is not merely an exchange of information but a liberation from a hidden burden.

Mowlana continues that 'their hearts were expanded by this encounter,' meaning their spirits became 'open' and their minds found 'expanse.' This is a key insight that resonates with our daily experience; when we sit with some people, we feel sad and weary, as if a gloom settles upon our soul. But with others, our heart finds purity, as if light and warmth encompass our being. This distinction between companions who bring clarity and those who bring cloudiness is a recurring theme throughout Mowlana's mystical teachings. The companionship of these two friends was of the nature of openness and light. This companionship can be likened to the concept of 'assembly' in Eastern mysticism and even 'leisure' (skhole) in Greek philosophy; a space where the soul can free itself from daily bonds and return to its true self.

And the ultimate depth is revealed in the subsequent verse, stating they were 'confidants, with and without words.' This implies that a part of their heart's unspoken words was articulated, while another part was conveyed merely through presence, through gaze, through the hidden states of being. This 'wordless confiding' points to a bond so profound that thoughts and memories flow between two individuals without the need for language, and one perceives them from the 'gestures' and 'states' of the other. This transcends empathy; it is an existential connection that Mowlana often describes in the context of lovers and mystics, where the language of articulation (qāl) vanishes, and the language of spiritual state (ḥāl) becomes the sole medium. This is the manifestation of mercy; 'The assembly is mercy' (al-jamāʿa raḥma) is interpreted here.

Key takeaways

• True friendship is founded upon covenant and faithfulness to appointed meetings.
• Sincere companionship offers an opportunity to unburden internal anxieties and worries.
• Meetings with genuine friends lead to spiritual expansion and open-heartedness, unlike superficial encounters that bring disquiet.
• In deep connections, confiding transcends words, communicating through a 'silent language' of presence and intuition.