M6:3978 — این بگفتند و روان گشتند زود / هر چه بود ای یار من آن لحظه بود

Translation: This they declared, and swiftly set forth. Whatever was, my friend, at that moment it was. Meaning: This verse asserts that the essence and truth of a spiritual journey reside in the instantaneous, decisive moment of commitment, rather than in its subsequent developments or ultimate arrival.

This verse is situated within the narrative of the three princes' journey to China, a story Rumi employs to articulate the fervor and yearning for the Beloved. "This they declared, and swiftly set forth" — this opening brims with immediacy and unwavering resolve. These were princes who, upon merely hearing a rumor of the Beloved, instantly cast aside all attachments and embarked on their path.

However, the central tenet of this verse lies in its second hemistich: "Whatever was, my friend, at that moment it was." This utterance speaks to the perfection and totality of the initial decision. It asserts that the truth of the matter is rooted in the quality of that very first moment. Not in the destination, nor in the hardships of the path, but in the resolute will to move. This is a profound existential lesson. As we observe, immediately after this movement, Rumi states: "They embraced patience and became sincere ones" (صدیقین). This patience is not passive waiting or inaction; rather, it is an active, steadfast endurance that elevates them to the station of siddiqin (the truthful and sincere). This is the same courage and self-sacrifice that, in the initial moment, dedicates the entire world to the quest for the Beloved.

This moment of inception is accompanied by the relinquishment of all worldly ties: "They abandoned their fathers and mothers, their kingdom, their princely status, and their inheritance." Rumi immediately connects this act to great historical exemplars to underscore its significance and depth. He recalls Abraham Adham, who renounced sovereignty; Prophet Abraham, who joyously cast himself into the fire for God; and Ishmael (or Isaac), who offered his neck to the knife of love. It is noteworthy that Rumi does not differentiate between the names Ishmael and Isaac; for him, what matters is the courageous act and complete surrender to love. This indicates that we are not dealing with a private, individual story; these are manifestations of a singular truth: absolute devotion and sacrifice in the initial, decisive moment.

We have seen elsewhere in the Masnavi that Rumi never considers the path to union as complete. The path of union, in his words, is not blocked, yet there is always a distance. "A hundred thousand stations lie on this path / Leave the summit, your summit is the path." This contrasts with Hafez's perspective, who declares: "We reached the sun, and the dust finally settled." But for Rumi, the sun and the destination are the path itself, and this continuous movement. Thus, "at that moment it was" refers to the perfection of that initial movement, which places the seeker on an infinite trajectory. This moment is the birth of the siddiqin; a moment in which the seeker's entire being turns towards the Beloved, and this orientation becomes their truth and existence. This is why Rumi emphasizes: all that truly mattered was realized in that very moment of decision and resolve.

Key takeaways

• The essence of the spiritual journey lies in the instantaneous, resolute commitment of its beginning, not in its final achievements.
• Sacrifice and detachment from all worldly attachments are prerequisites for entering the path of divine love.
• Patience (sabr) here signifies active steadfastness and perseverance in the initial resolve, elevating the seeker to the rank of the siddiqin (the truthful ones).
• The ultimate destination is perpetually embodied within the journey and continuous movement; the quest is unending.
• Rumi employs supreme historical exemplars (Ibrahim Adham, Abraham, Ishmael) to illustrate the profound significance of the sacrificial act in the initial moment of decision.