M6:551 — آن زمان بست آن دمم که دم زنم / این زمان چندانک خواهی هی کنم

Translation: At that time, it bound my breath when I was to speak; / Now, as much as you wish, I will shout 'hey!' Meaning: This verse speaks to the futility of acting out of time, specifically when one is silenced by fear during a real threat, but then vociferously expresses concern once the danger has passed and action is meaningless.

I, Abdolkarim Soroush, contend that this verse, like many of the Masnavi's parables, imparts a fundamental lesson on timeliness and responsibility. Here, Mowlana refers to the story of the careless caravan guard, whose duty it was to warn against thieves before they plundered the caravan. Yet, at the critical moment, when the brigands arrived with swords and daggers, he was silenced by fear: "At that time, it bound my breath when I was to speak." This silence in the face of danger is a sign of weakness and heedlessness. However, the very same guard, after the thieves had made off with the caravan's goods and the threat had passed, begins to beat the drum and shout: "Now, as much as you wish, I will shout 'hey!'" This narrative, I believe, is a symbol of the untimeliness and futility of an action not undertaken in its proper moment. Mowlana consistently emphasizes the wisdom of curing an ill before its onset. Greed, lust, and other inner demons are like highwaymen who must be guarded against with the cries of awareness and the drumming of vigilance before they plunder our spiritual assets. Shouting after the loot is gone, though perhaps a "tasteless lament" and better than utter heedlessness, can never replace timely action. This is the profound lesson the Masnavi teaches us through this story: the value of any action is determined by the time in which it occurs, and delay in confronting a threat is, itself, a greater peril.

Key takeaways

• The critical importance of timely action and prevention, rather than reacting after the fact.
• The futility of regret and lamentation after crucial opportunities have been squandered.
• A moral lesson on confronting inner vices like greed and lust before they gain control.
• An illustration of human weakness when fear silences one at a decisive moment.
• The Masnavi's emphasis on inner vigilance and responsibility in facing spiritual perils.
• This verse serves as a warning against losing the correct "state" (hāl) and "moment" (waqt) for action.