M6:2071 — من به بادی نامدم هم‌چون سحاب / تا به گَردی باز گردم زین جناب

Translation: I did not arrive by a mere wind, like a cloud, / To return from this sacred threshold as mere dust. Meaning: The speaker asserts a profound, resolute commitment to their spiritual path, emphasizing that their arrival was born of deep purpose, not fleeting influence, and thus they will not be easily swayed or depart.

This verse, uttered by a disciple in response to the slandering wife of Shaykh Abul-Hassan Kharraqani, testifies to a deep commitment and steadfastness on the path of spiritual journey. The disciple unequivocally states that his presence at this spiritual threshold is not a fleeting or flimsy one. I believe this utterance is both a claim of certain conviction and a rejection of any weakness or vacillation.

The metaphor of a 'cloud' (saḥāb) driven by every 'wind' (bād) symbolizes a mind and soul lacking firmness and independence, easily swayed by every thought, word, or external impulse. However, the disciple disavows being of this nature; he asserts that he did not come by a 'wind' (superficial influences, idle talk, terehāt) so as to depart from this 'sacred threshold' (jināb) by mere 'dust' (the slightest difficulty, triviality, or criticism). This 'jināb' here, I contend, is undoubtedly an allusion to the sacred precinct of the master's presence and his mystical path, into which the disciple has entered with his entire being.

In my view, this verse is a complete repudiation of what I have previously called 'abāḥat az havā' (permissiveness born of desire). 'Abāḥat az havā' describes a state where an individual, under false pretexts and out of self-interest, shirks spiritual obligations and considers themselves 'permissible' of all constraints. In contrast, this disciple vehemently emphasizes that his path was not one of whims and desires, to be abandoned by a slight breeze of caprice or the dust of false words. This itself highlights the fundamental difference between true seekers and those who wander aimlessly between doubt and certainty, or, as Akhavan Sales might say, 'wandering' like the 'wind,' coming and going.

With these words, the disciple not only declares his loyalty to Shaykh Kharraqani but also speaks from a position of profound knowledge, where truth has taken such deep root that departure from it is impossible. This is akin to the 'union' (wuṣūl) and 'certainty' (yaqīn) that the Masnavi promises; achieving it necessitates such firmness and perseverance. Here, the path of separation (in the sense of being cut off from one's origin) is not a catastrophe but rather a journey to be traversed with resolve and determination to attain reunion. Hence, this verse is not a lament of weakness but a declaration of spiritual and epistemic authority.

Key takeaways

• Presence on the path of truth stems from deep, inner resolve, not superficial, transient influences.
• A true seeker is not like a helpless cloud blown by every wind; they possess spiritual firmness and independence.
• Steadfastness and perseverance on the spiritual path are essential for attaining certainty and perfection.
• Rejecting idle talk and unfounded criticism; the disciple sees himself beyond worldly trivialities.
• The disciple's loyalty to the master's threshold and the mystical path is a manifestation of his unwavering resolve.