M6:569 — سبلتان توبه یک یک بر کنی / توبه سایه‌ست و تو ماه روشنی

Translation: You (O bright Lord) pluck out one by one the mustaches of repentance; repentance is but a shadow, and You are the bright moon. Meaning: This verse asserts that human repentance, without divine grace and succor, is ultimately futile and appears as a mere shadow before God's illuminating presence.

Here, I must draw your attention to a profound and subtle point: Rumi states, "Your repentance without divine succor, O lofty light, what is it but a mockery of repentance itself?" This preceding verse immediately sets the stage for the beyt under discussion. Human repentance, no matter how sincere or earnest, if devoid of divine towfīq, becomes nothing but a travesty of repentance. This is a powerful assertion: repentance becomes ineffectual, leaves no impact, and may even transform into a ridicule of its own intended purpose.

Now to the main verse: "You (O bright Lord) pluck out one by one the mustaches of repentance; repentance is but a shadow, and You are the bright moon." The word subulatān (سبلتان) is the plural of sabīl (سبیل), meaning mustache. In our culture, to 'pluck out someone's mustache' or 'play with someone's mustache' signifies mocking or ridiculing. Thus, to 'pluck out the mustaches of repentance' means to turn repentance into an object of scorn, rendering it ineffective. The verse implies, O God, You Yourself pluck out the mustaches of repentance one by one and invalidate it, for repentance, in the face of Your grandeur and light, is merely a shadow, while You are the bright, illuminating moon.

Here, Rumi intends to convey that every action and endeavor from us, even repentance—a sacred and spiritual act—remains fruitless without divine towfīq. What then is towfīq? It signifies harmony, accord, and the creation of auspicious synchronicity. When I speak to you now, and my voice reaches your ears, and you see my face, this is an instance of towfīq. Countless cosmic harmonies must align for this small event to occur: from mechanical and electronic devices to the movement of planets and cosmic waves. If any of these alignments falters, towfīq dissipates.

Therefore, repentance without towfīq means repentance for which the necessary conditions and factors for acceptance and impact on the human soul are not met. I might repent verbally or in my heart, but if this repentance leaves no lasting effect on my future and I relapse into sin, it becomes evident that those 'auspicious conjunctions' and necessary harmonies have not transpired. One of the most crucial factors actualizing these conjunctions is the fervent seeking and noble aspiration of the individual, coupled with the prayer we offer for towfīq. We pray for all cosmic elements to align so that we may tread the right path and reach our destination without deviation.

Rumi employs this concept also in the story of Pharaoh. Pharaoh exerted every effort to prevent Moses' birth, yet, according to the narrative, Moses' parents ultimately conceived under Pharaoh's very throne. Rumi says: "Pharaoh's endeavor, since it was without towfīq, whatever he stitched was torn apart." Taftīq (تفتیق) means tearing apart. Whatever Pharaoh stitched, it was torn, because his effort lacked divine towfīq.

The Quran also alludes to this: "Say, 'Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in respect of their deeds? Those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing good work.'" This refers to those whose efforts in this world are wasted and yield no fruit, yet they believe they are performing the best deeds. This is precisely the endeavor without towfīq; an effort that remains futile and, before the light of the divine bright moon, is nothing more than a lifeless shadow.

Key takeaways

• Repentance, without divine towfīq (succor), is a mere mockery of itself and remains ineffective.
• The concept of towfīq extends beyond individual effort; it is the cosmic and divine harmony required for any action to bear fruit.
• Repentance has no independent existence; it is a shadow cast by divine light, dependent on God's grace.
• Human endeavors, however grand, ultimately fail without alignment with divine will (as seen in the story of Pharaoh and Moses).
• The verse emphasizes God as the ultimate agent; every action, even if initiated by humans, ultimately gains or loses efficacy by His will.