M6:3323 — حق کشیدت ماندم در کش‌مکش / می‌روم نومید ای خاک تو خوش

Translation: The Truth (God) drew you (the deceased accountant) away; I remained in this tug-of-war (kash-makash). Disheartened I leave, may your earth be pleasant (khush). Meaning: Spoken by the debtor at the grave of the deceased accountant, this verse expresses his despair at failing to collect enough money for his debt. He laments that the deceased has gone to God, leaving him caught in a worldly struggle, before offering a blessing for the grave.

This verse, uttered by the desperate debtor in the story of the accountant and the debtor, marks a turning point: the zenith of worldly despair and the dawn of spiritual awakening. The debtor, who has come to the grave of the deceased accountant to beg for assistance with his debt, articulates the peak of his helplessness at this moment. He observes that "the Truth (God) drew you (the deceased)," implying that the Eternal Beloved and God have drawn the accountant to themselves, taking him from this transient world. This "drawing" towards the Truth is a subtle reference to the spiritual union and the soul's return to its origin, a theme Rumi frequently revisits.

In contrast to this divine pull, the debtor describes himself as "I remained in this tug-of-war (kash-makash)." This "kash-makash" signifies a struggle between earthly needs and ultimate realities. On one hand, he is burdened by heavy debt and his reputation; on the other, with the accountant's passing, he is left alone and without support. This "kash-makash" is precisely the existential crisis that places a person on the threshold of a profound transformation. The debtor finds neither solace in the world nor a clear path to the hereafter.

The phrase "disheartened I leave" portrays his absolute despair at resolving his worldly problems. He has collected a mere hundred dinars and made no progress. This disappointment with worldly means becomes a prelude to turning towards supra-natural ones. Yet, this despair is only the first part of the story. Immediately after this verse, a sudden awakening occurs. The debtor, who until this moment had sought help from the deceased, turns to the divine, declaring, "You went towards God, esteemed one / So I too shall go towards the Truth."

This verse precisely delineates the boundary between despair in creation and hope in the Creator. "May your earth be pleasant (khāk-i tu khush)" is also a common prayer for the deceased, but here it is laden with the debtor's deep despair, which itself is a prelude to his spiritual opening. Rumi beautifully illustrates how worldly impasses can open gateways to higher truths.

Key takeaways

• The verse marks the peak of the debtor's worldly despair, serving as a prelude to his spiritual awakening.
• The phrase "the Truth drew you" refers to the soul's return to its origin and divine union.
• The debtor's "tug-of-war" is a struggle between earthly needs and ultimate realities, positioning him on the verge of transformation.
• Disappointment with worldly solutions prompts the debtor to seek God directly.