M6:4380 — اندرین فسخ عزایم وین همم / در تماشا بود در ره هر قدم

Translation: Amidst this undoing of resolves and shattering of intentions, He was in contemplation at every step of the path.

Meaning: This verse describes the state of a traveler returning from an unsuccessful journey, who, witnessing the collapse of his plans and aspirations, perceives how God has set him on another path, contemplating this divine wisdom at every moment.

Mawlana, in this profound verse, alludes to a crucial point in Islamic mysticism, one rooted in the sayings of Imam Ali (AS). Imam Ali stated: «عَرَفتُ اللهَ بِفَسخِ العَزائِمِ وَ نَقضِ الهِمَم» (I came to know God through the thwarting of intentions and the breaking of resolves). This verse of the Mathnawi precisely reflects this sublime truth, teaching us how divine wisdom is often hidden behind the unraveling of our plans.

This verse appears in the context of the story of the poor man from Baghdad who journeyed to Egypt in search of treasure, only to be guided back to Baghdad, where the real treasure lay beneath his own house. All his travels, all his ʿazāyem (resolves) to find treasure in Egypt, were ultimately faskh (undone) and naqdh (broken). This undoing of resolves and intentions, ostensibly a defeat for him, was in essence an opening to the true treasure. This is the very meaning of God's Lutf-i Khafi (hidden grace), which can turn poison into nectar in our mouths and place a great reward within the heart of error.

The traveler in our story, on his return journey to Baghdad—that is, on his path back to his own self—was in a state of tamāshā (contemplation) of this hidden wisdom. At every step of the way, he was reflecting on how the divine will had overridden his own and guided him to a different destination. This perspective points, on one hand, to Tawhid al-Afʿal (the unity of divine actions), meaning that no act in the world occurs without divine permission and will, and even our failures are a manifestation of His will. On the other hand, it demonstrates that we, with our superficial plans, may often be oblivious to a deeper wisdom. Thus, this verse invites vigilance and contemplation behind every event, even what appears outwardly unpleasant or like a failure.

This insight contrasts sharply with the views of some Western philosophers who perceive the world as a scene of loneliness and meaninglessness. Mawlana, even in the "undoing of resolves," sees a sign of divine presence and wisdom, never leaving humanity alone. He considers every setback a portal to a deeper understanding of oneself and of God, not a proof of absurdity or a cruel twist of fate. This in itself is a kind of "security" (amn) that mystics achieve by crossing the bloody sea of suffering and disappointments; a security that blossoms from the very heart of fear and despair.

Key takeaways

• Divine knowledge is attained through the "undoing of resolves and breaking of intentions" (faskh-e ʿazāyem va naqdh-e himam).
• What appears outwardly as failure or misfortune can be God's "hidden grace" (Lutf-i Khafi), leading to a greater good.
• The true seeker contemplates and "observes" divine hidden wisdom at every step of life, even amidst setbacks.
• This verse points to the unity of divine actions (Tawhid al-Afʿal): no action in the world occurs without divine will, and even failures are a manifestation of His purpose.
• In Mawlana's view, contrary to nihilistic perspectives, even in the collapse of plans, there is a sign of divine presence and wisdom.