M6:1478 — نه قبول اندیش نه رد ای غلام / امر را و نهی را می‌بین مدام

Translation: Neither think of acceptance nor rejection, O servant; / Continuously observe the command and the prohibition. Meaning: This verse advises the spiritual seeker to focus solely on performing their duties and adhering to divine commandments and prohibitions, thereby entrusting the outcome—whether their efforts are accepted or rejected—entirely to God.

This verse, undoubtedly, is one of the most brilliant in the Mathnawi, where Mawlana instructs us on the practical path of spiritual discipline. After discussing fikr (contemplation) and dhikr (remembrance), advising us that if our 'thought is frozen, turn to dhikr,' he immediately addresses the subtle point of how we ought to align ourselves with the outcomes and conclusions of our spiritual endeavors.

Mawlana unequivocally states: Neither think of acceptance nor rejection, O servant. O seeker, O servant, neither ponder whether your deeds will be accepted nor fear that they might be rejected and prove fruitless. This is a profound lesson in releasing attachment to the 'fruit of labor' and the 'result of action.' Divine grace (jadhba), as I have repeatedly emphasized, is absolutely unpredictable. We cannot, through our own formulas and calculations, predict when the 'bird of grace' will descend or guarantee the acceptance of our efforts. Therefore, preoccupation with acceptance or fear of rejection only creates anxiety and diverts one from their primary duty.

So what is our duty? The latter half of the verse clarifies: Continuously observe the command and the prohibition. You must constantly, continuously, and without interruption, focus on observing divine amr (commands) and nahy (prohibitions). This is the 'work' that Mawlana refers to in earlier verses: 'But, O toiler, continue to work / Do not be dependent on that grace.' The seeker must keep their lamp lit during the dark night of life and spiritual journey, and continue to work until dawn breaks: 'When you see the dawn, then extinguish the candle.' Until the dawn of union or the radiance of eternal grace appears, one must not cease striving. This 'observing of command and prohibition' does not merely mean being aware of them, but rather 'keeping them present,' 'being vigilant,' and 'persevering' in acting upon them.

This perspective creates an extraordinary balance between effort and reliance on God, and between action and surrender. On one hand, it calls the seeker to incessant activity and duty; on the other, it frees them from the bondage of human worries and calculations concerning the acceptance or rejection of their actions. In this path, focusing on the outcome itself becomes a veil between the servant and the Beloved; while sincerity and continuous presence within the orbit of divine command and prohibition are what pave the way.

Key takeaways

• Free your mind from the anxiety of whether your spiritual deeds are accepted or rejected.
• The primary focus should be on continuous and sincere adherence to divine commands and prohibitions.
• Divine grace (jadhba) is unpredictable; one must not halt effort while awaiting it.
• The seeker must persist in diligent striving until the 'dawn' of truth appears.
• This verse offers a profound balance between ceaseless effort and detachment from the outcomes of one's actions.