M6:1354 — گرچه آن صوفی پر آتش شد ز خشم / لیک او بر عاقبت انداخت چشم

Translation: Though that Sufi became ablaze with rage, Yet he cast his eye upon the outcome. Meaning: This verse conveys that despite the Sufi's intense surge of anger, he prudently considered the consequences of his actions, thereby refraining from an impulsive reaction.

Here, Rumi introduces a profoundly significant and problem-solving theme: foresight, or ʿāqibat-bīnī (seeing the outcome). I contend, with absolute certainty, that this verse marks the commencement of a deep exploration into the vital importance of considering the end result of any action. The Sufi in this tale, as depicted by Rumi, became pur-ātash shod ze khashm—his entire being was engulfed by anger. Yet, the crucial point is that leek u bar ʿāqibat andākht chashm—he cast his eye upon the outcome. It is this foresight that saves one from perdition and futile regrets.

I regard foresight not merely as a moral virtue, but as the very bedrock of parhīz (abstinence or avoidance) and iḥtiyāṭ (prudence). Rumi had previously spoken of abstinence and prudence, but now he arrives at the root source of these virtues. This is the same far-sighted vision that Sa'di extols in the Gulistan: The wise one is he who contemplates the end. A person who perceives only the ḥāl (present moment) and lives solely in it cannot lay claim to reason. True intellect, ʿaql, is foresight; it is the capacity to see several steps ahead, several years hence, and to ponder the consequences of one's deeds.

If a human being attends only to the surface and appearance of things, there is no distinction between them and animals. What animals lack, and what differentiates humans, is precisely this faculty of far-sighted reason, which transcends wahm (delusion or mere imagination) and ḥiss (sensation). Wahm and ḥiss grasp only immediate and sensible realities, but ʿaql parts the veils of time and considers the ultimate outcome. The story of this Sufi is an excellent example of the triumph of this outcome-perceiving intellect over the raw, unbridled surge of emotions. Although I recognize that at times ʿishq (love) can arrive with such an inundation that even this far-sighted intellect flees, that is another discussion, and I shall address it in its proper context. Here, the triumph of foresight over anger offers a fundamental lesson in the etiquette of spiritual journeying.

Key takeaways

• Foresight (ʿāqibat-bīnī) is the foundational principle for prudence and caution in the spiritual path.
• True intellect (ʿaql) is a far-sighted faculty that perceives consequences beyond mere sensation and imagination.
• Overcoming anger and impulsive emotions is possible only by contemplating their potential outcomes.
• With this verse, Rumi introduces a profound new dimension to the meaning of intellect and judiciousness.