M6:586 — کار او دارد که حق را شد مرید / بهر کار او ز هر کاری برید

Translation: The true work belongs to him who became God's devotee; For His work, he cut himself off from every other task.

Meaning: The essence of true endeavor lies in becoming a devout disciple of God. To achieve this supreme aim, one must sever ties with all other occupations and distractions that might impede this singular pursuit.

This couplet, in my view, encapsulates one of Rumi's most profound and foundational messages—a message that, despite its apparent simplicity, instigates a revolution in our perspective on work and life. Rumi here provides a criterion for "true work," contrasting it with "peripheral and false endeavors." He distinguishes between individuals who orient themselves toward various "qiblas" (directions of devotion): some are devoted to weaving, others to guarding for a salary, yet there are also those who are "bīkār" (workless) and turn their faces toward the Placeless (Lāmakān). This "worklessness," in Rumi's lexicon, does not signify idleness or sloth, but rather a complete focus on one essential task.

I have frequently elucidated this concept through the story of Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke. There, Jesus (PBUH) tells Martha, who is busy with countless hosting duties: "You are anxious and troubled about many things… but your sister (Mary) has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Jesus, in that moment, underscores the superiority of "one essential work" over "a hundred peripheral ones." Mary, though seemingly inactive, performs the highest work: her entire being is attentive to Him. This is precisely the "worklessness" Rumi speaks of – devoting oneself wholly to the only task that truly matters: becoming God's devotee.

This beyt, in essence, interprets this very perspective: The true work belongs to him who became God's devotee; / For His work, he cut himself off from every other task. This means that only those who, out of devotion and love, become disciples of God are engaged in genuine work. And the prerequisite for this discipleship is to cut oneself off from all other tasks. This detachment does not imply renouncing the world or withdrawing from social life; rather, it means not being attached to or making these worldly affairs central to one's life. Worldly tasks are secondary and should not divert one from the primary work.

Rumi explicitly criticizes those who are engrossed in "bīkārī" (in the sense of peripheral tasks), even if they are "scholars of many arts" (ʿālimān-i dhūfunūn). He remarks: "His soul is drowned in idleness up to his throat; / He says people steal his time / He has no profitable time." These scholars believe they are working, yet their souls are immersed in fruitless pursuits. The Almighty God, concerning them, said: "They know not" (lā yaʿlamūn), meaning they are ignorant of what true work entails. However, this perspective in no way condones laziness or burdening others. Rumi emphasizes: "Be alive and walk the earth like a steed, / Not like a corpse to be carried on shoulders." One who is God's devotee is active and dynamic, but all their actions are organized around that single "essential work," not scattered and dispersed amidst a labyrinth of unproductive endeavors.

Key takeaways

• True work is becoming God's devotee and severing attachment from all other pursuits.
• The concept of "worklessness" (bīkārī) in the Masnavi does not imply laziness, but rather singular focus on the primary goal (divine unity and gnosis).
• The story of Martha and Mary from the Gospel serves as a prime example of the superiority of "one essential task" over "a hundred peripheral ones."
• Even for scholars, preoccupation with secondary tasks, if it hinders the primary work, is considered a form of "idleness."
• Humans should be dynamic and active, like a galloping steed, but their actions must be aligned with their ultimate devotion to God.
• This couplet is not an invitation to reclusion or world-renunciation, but a call to prioritize and detach from non-essential engagements.