M6:201 — من ز دستان و ز مکر دل چنان / مات گشتم که بماندم از فغان

Translation: From the stratagems and deceit of the heart, I became so checkmated, That I was left utterly unable to cry out in lament. Meaning: Rumi expresses how he is profoundly bewildered and paralyzed by the deceptive machinations of his own heart, to the point where he cannot even utter a cry of complaint. This verse reflects the overwhelming challenges and intricate dilemmas inherent in the exercise of free will.

In this verse, Rumi vividly portrays the apex of his helplessness in the face of what he calls the 'two-branched free will.' He declares: "From the stratagems and deceit of the heart, I became so checkmated, / That I was left utterly unable to cry out in lament." He is utterly bewildered and paralyzed by the heart's hidden stratagems and deceptive machinations, which constantly steer us towards choices. This is not merely an intellectual bewilderment, but an existential 'checkmate' – a state of profound inertia and utter stillness where even the capacity to voice one's pain is extinguished.

I interpret this as the 'agony of soul' in facing dilemmas. Free will, though noble and a source of human dignity, carries 'bone-breaking' consequences. It engenders immense and formidable doubts and confusions, ensnaring individuals in crossroads where their ultimate salvation or damnation may hinge on difficult and perilous choices. This is why Rumi uses the potent phrase 'vicious choices' (اختیارات خبیث); not that free will itself is inherently vicious, but rather that it can lead to vicious outcomes, plunging one into 'soul-searing' hesitation and bewilderment.

This lament, however, is not merely Rumi's personal complaint. With profound humility, he states: "Who am I? The cosmos itself, with its hundred tasks, / Cried out from this ambush of free will." He considers himself insignificant compared to the vast cosmos, implying that even the entire creation (apart from humanity) recoiled from the burden of free will. This is an allusion to the Qur'anic verse of the 'trust' (amanat), which God offered to the heavens and the earth, but they declined, and only humankind accepted it. Rumi interprets this 'trust' as precisely free will and the power of choice. Humanity, unknowingly, cast itself into a 'bottomless pit' (چاه ویل) by accepting this trust; it did not realize that through this power of choice, it might fall prey to misjudgment and the deceit of its own heart. Hence, Rumi raises his hands in supplication to God, begging to be granted refuge from this 'two-branched free will,' or to be guided to a state beyond the realm of choice, to a straight path free from hesitation and doubt.

Key takeaways

• The heart, with its stratagems and deceit, leads one to an impasse when facing choices.
• Being 'checkmated' here signifies spiritual paralysis and helplessness before the heart's deceptive power.
• Rumi perceives this helplessness as so profound that he loses the capacity to even cry out (express pain).
• Rumi sees free will as a tremendous trust that can lead to 'vicious choices' and soul-searing doubts.
• Rumi's lament reflects his empathy with all of creation that declined the burden of free will.
• This verse expresses Rumi's yearning for liberation from the indecision of free will and for a 'straight path' (Sirat al-Mustaqim).