M6:408 — در تردد مانده‌ایم اندر دو کار / این تردد کی بود بی‌اختیار

Translation: We have remained in hesitation between two tasks; / When could this hesitation be without free will? Meaning: This verse asserts that the very act of hesitating and deliberating between multiple choices is irrefutable evidence of human free will and agency.

This verse, indeed, serves as one of Rumi's conclusive arguments for human free will. I have consistently emphasized that in the Masnavi, particularly in Book Six—composed during Rumi's final years—the weight of free will becomes more pronounced. Here, Rumi explicitly states that our hesitation and indecision when choosing between two or more courses of action is an unmistakable sign of our inherent free will. If there were no free will, hesitation would be meaningless.

I have previously referred to a point made by Iqbal Lahori, who questioned why we so often perceive only God's overpowering might and remain oblivious to His will. We, as humans, are created in the image of God, and the very first attribute we inherit from Him is this free will. God is endowed with free will, and thus we are too. Free will is the most mysterious aspect of human existence, yet its presence cannot be denied; this very hesitation stands as an undeniable witness to its truth.

Rumi clarifies his argument with further vivid examples: How could he say, 'Should I do this or that?' whose hands and feet are bound? A person whose hands and feet are bound makes no such choices or deliberations. Such an individual has no options and therefore no hesitation. Similarly, we do not hesitate about actions we are incapable of performing. For instance, no one hesitates about flying into the sky or diving to the bottom of the sea, because these are beyond their capacity. But we do hesitate, 'Should I go to Mosul / Or for magic, should I go to Babylon?' This hesitation arises precisely because both options lie within the sphere of our power and choice.

Ultimately, Rumi concludes: So hesitation requires power / Otherwise, it would be a laugh at one's mustache. This signifies that deliberation and the capacity for choice are meaningless without the existence of power and free will; otherwise, it is self-mockery. This is a profound expression that compels every human being to reflect on their existence and responsibilities. Such contemplation prevents one from falling into the trap of fatalism and projecting one's wrongdoings onto 'luck' or 'destiny.' In this vein, Rumi states: Do not place your guilt upon another, young man / Give your ear and attention to this recompense. The consequences of our actions, like a child born from our very soul and body, cling to us, and their good or ill ultimately falls upon us. To deny free will is, in essence, to deny oneself; for the acceptance of self-responsibility emerges from the recognition of our own agency.

Key takeaways

• Hesitation and deliberation are irrefutable proofs of human free will.
• Free will is a divine attribute, bestowed upon humans by virtue of being created in God's 'image'.
• Responsibility and repentance only gain meaning through the acceptance of free will; otherwise, blame is shifted to others or 'fate'.
• Denying free will implies denying the 'self' and the independent existence of human agency; every action has direct consequences for its doer.
• Against determinism, Rumi emphasizes the importance of human power and ability to choose and shape one's destiny.