M6:4173 — بوک موقوفست کامم بر سفر / چون سفر کردم بیابم در حضر

Translation: Perhaps my desire is contingent upon travel; / When I have journeyed, I shall find it in presence (at home). Meaning: The seeker sometimes finds their true aim contingent upon a journey, only to realize after traversing the path that what they sought was, in fact, always present at their origin or within themselves.

This verse conceals a profound wisdom, one that pertains to the twists, turns, and delays inherent in the path of spiritual endeavor. You see, the hand of destiny sometimes plays games with us in this world. We may seek something in one place, only to find it not there, but rather in another, or after enduring the journey and the arduous path, we finally attain it. This method of destiny holds deep meaning, especially for those treading the spiritual path. It is the seeker who understands that these circuitous routes are born of expediency, that a hidden wisdom lies within them.

It is here that Mawlana alludes to the noble Quranic verse: "wa yarzuqhu min ḥaythu lā yaḥtasib" (Divorce, v. 3) – "and provides for him from where he does not expect." This provision is not merely material; it is also the provision of gnosis and union. Sometimes, a servant assumes they will reach their goal through a specific door, but God provides for them through another; or conversely, the servant, aware of this divine stratagem, predicts God will provide through another door, yet God grants them success through the very first door, so they may know that the reins of affairs are in His hand, and "al-ʿabdu yudabbiru wa Allāhu yuqaddiru" (The servant plans, and God decrees).

This often circuitous path to truth reminds me of the "Rule of Two Errors" (qāʿida-ye khaṭā’ayn) in ancient arithmetic; a rule discussed by Abū Rayḥān Bīrūnī and Shaykh Bahāʾī, and known in the West as the "Rule of Double False Positions." According to this rule, to find an unknown, one would make two incorrect guesses, and from the nature of the two resulting errors, one could deduce the correct answer. Mawlana applies this very rule to spiritual seeking, stating: "Chūn khaṭā’ayn ān ḥisāb-i bā-ṣafā / Gardadaš roshan ze baʿd-i do khaṭā" (Like the pure calculation of two errors, / It becomes clear to him after two mistakes). Do not fear error! Embark on the journey, even if you make mistakes. Perhaps after that error, you will discover a secret in your own home that you never expected. The journey itself, this movement, and these "errors," become your guide to the truth.

Ultimately, this verse reaches its zenith of meaning in the understanding of divine "sustaining togetherness" (maʿiyat-e qayyūmīya), that is, the truth that "wa Huwa maʿakum aynamā kuntum" (Iron, v. 4) – "And He is with you wherever you are" – does not so easily settle in the heart's ear. Mawlana says: "Ān maʿiyat kay ravad dar gūš-e man / Tā nagardam gard-e dowrān-e zaman" (When will that togetherness enter my ear / Until I roam the circuits of time?). And "Kay konam man az maʿiyat fahm-e rāz / Joz ke az baʿd-e safarhā-ye derāz" (How shall I grasp the secret of togetherness / Except after long journeys?). God says, "I am with you," but seals the heart so we do not easily reach this understanding. It is as if the Truth wills that His perpetual and eternal presence, that "presence (home)," should only be found and comprehended by us after our long and sometimes errant journeys. It is in this way that truth manifests itself, ripened and through suffering and seeking, not easily and immediately.

Key takeaways

• The true goal is sometimes attained only after a circuitous and unexpected journey; divine wisdom is embedded in these delays and detours.
• The provision of gnosis and union does not necessarily come through the path the seeker expects; God bestows gifts "from where one does not expect."
• The concept of the "Rule of Two Errors" in spiritual seeking: even apparent mistakes and deviations on the path can lead to the discovery of truth.
• Grasping the "sustaining togetherness" of God (His perpetual presence) is not easily achieved; this profound understanding requires "long journeys" and active seeking.