M6:1325 — این چنین رنجور را گفت ای عمو / حق تعالی اعملوا ما شئتم

Translation: To such a sick man, he said, "O uncle," (referring to) God Most High's (command) 'Do whatever you wish'. Meaning: The insightful physician, upon realizing the patient's condition was beyond remedy, told him to pursue all his heart's desires, invoking a divine decree from the Quran to emphasize this liberation from constraints.

This verse, drawn from the story of the sick man and the compassionate physician, illustrates the pinnacle of diagnostic insight and profound empathy. The doctor, after examining the patient (whom Rumi calls 'ranjoor' or 'afflicted'), concludes that "the hope of his recovery was futile" (امید صحت او بد محال). This means there is no longer any conceivable cure; in essence, the patient's fate is sealed.

In such a terminal state, the usual advice and restrictions prescribed for health and recovery are not only useless but would become an additional burden, a 'zoheir' (زهیر), causing further suffering. Hence, the wise physician, with utmost compassion, grants the patient an unusual permission: "Do whatever your heart desires / So that this ancient pain may depart from your body" and "Do not withhold anything your desire wishes." This is, in itself, a decree of liberation from all constraints that had hitherto been imposed upon the patient. Here, the discourse is no longer about rules of treatment or abstinence; it is about surrender to an inevitable destiny and finding peace in that surrender.

Referring to the holy verse "Do whatever you wish" (اعملوا ما شئتم) from the Quran, amplifies the philosophical depth of this counsel. In divine revelation, this verse can sometimes imply a threat; however, here, Rumi, through the voice of the physician, employs it in an entirely different context. This is no longer a threat, but an expression of absolute freedom for one who has nothing left to lose. It is as if God tells such individuals: since the path of return and change is closed to you, do not bind yourselves further by the particulars of action; do whatever your heart desires. This permission is not for recklessness, but for spiritual ease in the final moments. It demonstrates that, in Rumi's view, even Quranic verses can acquire varied meanings and functions depending on the state and context of the audience.

This verse teaches us that at times in life, when there is no recourse and destiny has set an irreversible course, wisdom lies in letting go and granting oneself permission. This liberation stems not from weakness, but from a profound understanding of reality and compassion for the human existential predicament.

Key takeaways

• Releasing from medical restraints and abstinences when facing an inevitable destiny is itself a form of solace.
• The compassion of an insightful physician can lead to prescriptions that appear unconventional but are profoundly wise.
• Rumi subtly embeds Quranic verses within narratives to reveal their multi-faceted meanings.
• "Do whatever you wish" here is not a threat, but a permission for spiritual ease in the face of bodily incurability.
• Intractable situations offer an opportunity for deeper understanding of human suffering and the necessity of liberation from futile pain.