M6:3896 — آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا / جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا

Translation: At that time when horses trod, / All severed heads beneath their feet. Meaning: This verse vividly depicts a harrowing battlefield scene where horses trample over severed heads. The elder prince recalls this imagery to remind his brothers of their past authority, when they would exhort their soldiers to unwavering courage amidst such horrors.

This verse emerges within the narrative of three princes, ensnared by the agony of love and now rendered helpless, unable to find a remedy for their own plight. The elder prince, filled with sorrow and astonishment, reflects upon his past self, asking, "Were we not once mighty in advising others?" He is questioning their previous display of power and steadfastness when offering counsel to others.

Here, through the prince's voice, Rumi touches upon a crucial distinction: the profound difference between theoretical advice-giving and practical, lived resistance. The prince recalls the horrific scene of battle: "At that time when horses trod, / All severed heads beneath their feet." In such an extreme situation, with heads severed and horses trampling them without mercy, he and his brothers would shout to their soldiers: "Come forth, powerful as spearheads!" — urging them not to fear death or decapitation, but to charge forward with the sharpness of a lance.

I view this as the very point Rumi addresses elsewhere when speaking of 'scholars without deeds' (عالمان بی‌عمل). It is as if the prince is asking: 'We, who so fiercely called others to patience, resilience, and fearlessness, why are we now so weak and agitated in the face of love's torment?' He laments, 'What has become of this key of patience now?' This is a foundational question that brings one to self-awareness: do we possess the capacity to act upon what we demand and advise others to do?

Rumi, in this context, directly points to the hypocrisy or inconsistency that arises between the claiming tongue and the inactive heart. How do fervent speeches on the battlefield or eloquent sermons from the pulpit stand up when confronted with personal, internal trials? This verse serves as a potent reminder to every unadmonished advisor and every scholar without deeds, urging them to test the truth of their words in the furnace of their own suffering.

Key takeaways

• The contrast between theoretical advice and the practical inability to follow it in personal suffering.
• A vivid depiction of wartime horror to highlight the extreme courage previously demanded of others.
• The absence of resilience in the face of inner turmoil, despite the power to inspire courage in others.
• An invitation to reflect on the inconsistency between the 'claiming tongue' and the 'inactive heart'.