M6:427 — جرم بر خود نه که تو خود کاشتی / با جزا و عدل حق کن آشتی

Translation: Place the fault upon yourself, for you yourself have sown (the seed). Make peace with God's retribution and justice. Meaning: This verse urges humanity to accept full responsibility for their actions, recognizing that consequences are direct outcomes of one's own choices, not fate or chance. Therefore, one must reconcile with divine justice.

In this verse, Mowlana addresses humanity directly, calling for the full acceptance of personal responsibility for one's actions. Book Six of the Masnavi, composed in Mowlana's later years, places particular emphasis on affirming human free will, a theme I have repeatedly highlighted. Mowlana declares with certainty that whenever suffering befalls you or an undesirable outcome arises, do not blame fate or destiny. This injunction to "place the fault upon yourself, for you yourself have sown" mirrors Adam's confession, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves," in contrast to Iblis's retort, "You led me astray." It is an existential choice: to acknowledge oneself as the agent and responsible, or to attribute agency to others and external forces.

Mowlana further presents several reasons to substantiate free will, which I have expounded upon. One of the clearest indicators is the phenomenon of 'hesitation' in humans. If we were not free, and everything predetermined, we would never find ourselves in doubt or contemplation between two or more courses of action. Hesitation is only meaningful for actions within our power and possibility; no one hesitates about going to the moon or plunging into the earth if it's beyond their capability. Thus, this very hesitation is decisive proof of free will.

Therefore, when Mowlana advises, "Make peace with God's retribution and justice," he is, in fact, urging us to reconcile with the consequences of our deeds. These consequences are not arbitrary punishments but the natural and logical results of the seeds we ourselves have sown. This acceptance signifies peace with the divine system of justice. This justice is not conventional but intrinsic and formative; every action, as Mowlana says, "is given a form in the Unseen," as if it inherently contains the image of its own retribution. While accepting this point may seem challenging, it profoundly points to the inseparable link between action and its recompense.

A crucial and profound point I emphasize is that "the denial of free will is the denial of the self." A human who accepts being unfree has, in effect, denied their own existence as an active and influential being. Such a person, amidst countless factors influencing them, does not see themselves as one hundred and first factor; rather, they are merely a passive observer. However, if we accept our own existence, if we are 'someone,' we cannot shirk responsibility for our actions. Taking responsibility is an affirmation of the self.

In this vein, 'repentance' (Tawba) is also a decisive proof of free will. Repentance involves regret for the past and a firm resolve not to repeat the action in the future. One who believes themselves coerced, what would they repent for? They would not place the fault upon themselves to seek amends. Hence, Tawba, in its true sense, is a distinct sign of belief in free will. Mowlana tells us here that our deceptive ego always tries to shift blame to others or external factors, but "the sun of Truth does not conceal a speck"; in the presence of divine truth, no action, not even the smallest thought or intention, remains hidden. Therefore, the path to salvation is to accept responsibility, repent, and make peace with the eternal justice of Truth.

Key takeaways

• Full Accountability: Humans must accept their faults and wrongs, as consequences are direct results of their own actions.
• Human Free Will: Hesitation and choice serve as decisive proof of human free will, countering determinism.
• Reconciliation with Divine Justice: The outcomes of actions are not arbitrary punishments but inherent parts of divine justice and cosmic order.
• Denial of Free Will is Denial of Self: One who denies their free will effectively negates their own existence as an agent.
• Repentance as Proof of Free Will: Repentance (regret and resolve to abstain) is meaningless without belief in free will and is a testament to it.
• No Concealment: Before divine truth, no action remains hidden, and the deceptive self must not prevent one from accepting responsibility.