M6:1911 — چون بدزدی آن ز وراق ای پسر / پس برون رو ز انبهی و شور و شر

Translation: O son, once you have taken that scrap from the stationer, then depart from the throng, the clamor and mischief. Meaning: This verse, part of a divine instruction given to a pure-hearted seeker in a vision, advises that once a hidden spiritual message is obtained, one must withdraw from crowds and commotion to find solitude.

In this verse, Rumi narrates a story where an unseen divine voice (hātif) gives instructions to a pure-hearted seeker (sālek) in a vāqeʿa—a true vision that transcends ordinary dreams and is free from falsehood. The hātif tells the Sufi: "Seek a roqʿa (a scrap of paper) among the scribblings of the varrāqān (stationers or booksellers)."

I view this act as akin to the Catholic cardinals gathering to elect a Pope, awaiting the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; this Sufi likewise receives a divine message. This divine message, or roqʿa, is to be taken secretly, away from the eyes of others. The phrase "چون بدزدی آن" (once you have stolen it) here does not imply theft in the conventional, sinful sense, but rather emphasizes the clandestine and confidential nature of the act. The Sufi must discreetly reach for the varrāq's papers, not to commit a crime, but to claim a secret meant solely for him, to be received unseen.

Crucial in this verse is the hātif's command following this action: "then depart from the throng, the clamor and mischief." Immediately upon obtaining this inner message, the seeker must withdraw from the crowd, from society, from the world's clamor, and from the commotion and mischief found in gatherings. This emphasis on khalwat (solitude) and departure from "انبهی و شور و شر" (throng, clamor, and mischief) is not merely to guard a secret, but to create the appropriate space for reflection and understanding of that message. Deep spiritual messages are not revealed amidst worldly noise; they require silence and solitude to settle within the seeker's consciousness and exert their influence. As Rumi himself later adds: "Read it yourself in solitude / Seek no partnership in reading it." This withdrawal into solitude indicates that true revelations emerge in a pure consciousness, far from desires and passions, and require this same purity and solitude for their comprehension.

Key takeaways

• Profound spiritual guidance is often received and understood in solitude, away from worldly clamor.
• The word "stealing" in this context is metaphorical, emphasizing the confidential and unique nature of a message intended for a specific seeker, not material theft.
• A vāqeʿa (truthful vision/revelation) is, in Sufism, a means of receiving direct divine inspirations.
• Purity of heart and freedom from passions are essential conditions for receiving and comprehending unseen messages.