M6:4182 — آنچنان که وجه وام شیخ بود / بسته و موقوف گریهٔ آن وجود

Translation: Just as the shaykh's debt-credit (wajh-i vām) Was tied to and dependent on the crying of that existence (ān vujud). Meaning: This verse suggests that a spiritual seeker's (shaykh's) ultimate spiritual capital or credit is intrinsically linked to their sincere tears and profound inner lament, without which this capital remains inaccessible.

This verse, embedded deeply within the Mathnawi, unveils a crucial truth about the spiritual journey: how the 'wajh-i vām,' the spiritual capital or credit of a seeker or shaykh, is truly acquired. I believe Rumi here alludes to a kind of 'economy of love,' where one's true wealth resides not in material possessions but in 'the crying of that existence' (gīryeh-ye ān vujūd). This crying, of course, is not a sign of weakness or despair; rather, it is the zenith of focus, yearning, and soul-wrenching devotion. These tears attest to a life centered and immersed in love, a life that 'circles one Kaaba.' Unlike those whose 'intellect is dispersed in all directions,' scattering their being, the lover achieves wholeness in the presence of the Beloved, gathering their 'parts together through love.' This crying is the manifestation of this very unity and single-mindedness in pursuit, which is never achieved without sacrifice.

Sometimes, as Rumi himself explains, the hand of destiny 'plays' with the seeker in this world; it leads them in twists and turns, granting what they directly seek through unexpected avenues. This 'wisdom of delays' is, in fact, meant for the seeker to attain deeper insights. The crying and soul-burning of that existence are precisely the responses to these very twists and delays. The striving seeker (mujāhid) does not abandon the quest, even when obstacles and trials confront them, for they know that the 'divine bounty' is vast and provision and union arrive 'from where one does not expect' (Quran 65:3). This crying is, in essence, that inner struggle and perseverance which generates spiritual sustenance; it is not merely weeping, but every form of steadfastness, surrender, and endurance on the path.

This crying is a means to achieve an understanding of God's 'All-Encompassing Companionship' (maʿīyat-i qayyūmīyeh). We often assume God is distant and that to reach Him, we must undertake long journeys. Yet, the Almighty declares, 'He is with you wherever you are' (Quran 57:4) and is ever-present with us. However, this companionship is often 'sealed' for our hearts and does not reach the ear of the heart directly or 'plainly' (tard). It is necessary for the seeker to undertake long journeys and traverse many paths, even if they commit 'two errors' (khatā’ayn) along the way, so that ultimately, from the heart of these errors and sufferings, the truth of companionship is revealed. They then realize that there was no need to search, for the desired one was always with them. That 'crying of that existence' is, in fact, those long journeys and successive errors that eventually unseal the heart from negligence, leading to 'the knowledge of that journey's profound understanding'; a knowledge not gained through sharpness of intellect, but through soul-wrenching devotion and the bittersweet experiences of the path. Thus, this crying is not a cry of helplessness, but the very essence of the journey and the capital for ultimate union.

Key takeaways

• The 'crying of that existence' (gīryeh-ye ān vujūd) symbolizes soul-wrenching devotion and passionate yearning, not weakness or despair.
• This 'crying' is the seeker's spiritual capital (wajh-i vām), upon which their union with the Beloved is built.
• A life of love is focused and unified; the 'crying' symbolizes this singularity of purpose in pursuit.
• God sometimes introduces 'delays' and 'twists' in the spiritual path; crying is the response to this 'wisdom of divine delays.'
• Understanding God's 'All-Encompassing Companionship' (maʿīyat-i qayyūmīyeh) often comes after experiencing hardships and even apparent 'errors.'
• This crying is not a cry of helplessness, but the essence of the spiritual journey and the capital for ultimate union; one should not shy away from it.