M6:1324 — صبر و پرهیز این مرض را دان زیان / هرچه خواهد دل در آرش در میان

Translation: Regard patience and abstinence as harmful for this illness; whatever the heart desires, bring it forth. Meaning: This verse advises that in certain severe spiritual or physical conditions, restraining one's desires through patience and abstinence can be counterproductive, and instead, one should allow the heart to pursue what it truly yearns for, as this can be the actual cure.

This verse is drawn from Rumi's profound parable of the ailing man and the astute, discerning physician. After examining the patient and realizing that "his hope for health was naught" (meaning, there was no possibility of his recovery), the physician grants him absolute freedom to pursue his heart's desires. It is here that Rumi states with certainty: "Regard patience and abstinence as harmful for this illness; whatever the heart desires, bring it forth."

This pronouncement, at first glance, appears contrary to common ethical and mystical teachings. We are consistently enjoined to patience, self-restraint, and abstinence from desires. Yet, Rumi here makes a profound pivot. He asserts that for this particular "illness" – which could be an incurable physical pain or a severe, irreversible spiritual state – resistance and suppression of desires not only yield no benefit but themselves become a zahīr (causing shortness of breath or becoming another ailment). As he says: "Do not hold back whatever your mind desires, so that patience and abstinence do not become a torment for you."

This is not a general prescription; it is a specific remedy for a specific patient. Rumi even connects this decree to a noble verse in the Quran: "Do what you will" (اعملوا ما شئتم). This verse, too, is undoubtedly addressed to a particular group or an exceptional state where an individual has reached a point of no return, and there is no longer room for ascetic discipline or obligation. In such circumstances, perhaps liberation and freedom themselves become a form of healing, or at least solace; it is as if the patient is left to their own devices to find a way to endure or conclude their suffering through their desires. Rumi teaches us here that there is not always one single rule for all states; it is the precise understanding of the patient's condition that determines the type of treatment, even if that treatment overtly contradicts all conventional rules. This perspective demonstrates Rumi's deep psychological insight and his understanding of the complexities of the human soul, necessitating different prescriptions for different conditions.

Key takeaways

• Healing is not monolithic; sometimes, disregarding conventional rules becomes the very cure.
• Patience and abstinence, usually virtues, can become detrimental in certain unique spiritual or physical states.
• A deep understanding of the patient's condition is the primary guide for diagnosis and prescription, even if it contradicts appearances.
• Rumi grasps the complexity of the human soul, offering unique remedies for distinct situations.