M6:3592 — جز نفخت کان ز وهاب آمدست / روح را باش آن دگرها بیهدست

Translation: Save for the breath that comes from the Bestower, be mindful of the soul; all else is vain. Meaning: Only the breath that God Himself instilled within you is lasting and permanent. Attend to your spirit; all other things are vain in comparison to it.

In this verse, Mowlana addresses one of the most fundamental ontological distinctions, stating that among all the 'commodities' bestowed upon you, encompassing your worldly existence, only one possesses intrinsic and lasting value: the nafkhat, or the breath and spirit, that has been breathed into your being by al-Wahhāb, the Bestower of existence. Attend to this spirit, he urges; foster it, for all else is vain and ephemeral.

However, Mowlana himself immediately qualifies this pronouncement. This 'vanity' is not absolute; rather, it is 'vain relative to the soul,' not in relation to God's 'firm creation' (ṣanīʿ-i muḥkam). This implies that nothing in God's creation is utterly worthless, and every object holds its unique place. Yet, when compared to the soul and spirit, the value of other beings and material attachments diminishes. This distinction is profoundly significant, reminding us not to disparage the physical body. While we are primarily spirit, we are embodied beings, and the body plays a crucial role in the soul's perfection.

I have consistently emphasized the adage, 'A healthy mind in a healthy body.' An ailing individual cannot think clearly, cannot worship properly, nor even truly comprehend the world. The soul operates through the brain, and without the instrument of the body, it ceases its activity. The body serves as a ladder, elevating the soul towards the peaks of perfection, or as a mount upon which the soul gallops on the path of gnosis. Should this ladder or mount be compromised, the soul's ascent will be hindered. Therefore, health and care of the body are necessary conditions for the soul's well-being and perfection, even though the ultimate goal remains spiritual flourishing, not mere physical pleasure.

This verse follows Mowlana's prior discussion concerning the 'borrowed' nature of many worldly attachments. He posits that much of what we perceive as ours is, in reality, a temporary loan or even a 'stolen' item, destined to be returned. The spirit, however, is an exception to this rule; it is a direct gift from the eternal and primordial spring of life. The mystic must disengage from the 'faithless springs of water'—the fleeting and perishable worldly attachments and endowments—and remain perpetually connected to the eternal fount of their own spirit. As Mowlana himself states elsewhere, 'A spring of water from within the house / Is better than a stream that comes from outside.'

Key takeaways

• Only the divine breath (spirit) in humans is lasting and essential; all other material attachments are perishable.
• The vanity of worldly affairs is relative, not absolute; they are insignificant compared to the invaluable worth of the soul.
• The body is the soul's instrument and vehicle for achieving perfection, and its health is essential for spiritual ascent.
• The soul's development ceases upon separation from the body, as its tools for action and growth are lost.
• The spirit is a direct gift from 'al-Wahhāb,' not a borrowed item to be returned; hence, it demands our utmost attention.