M6:761 — در همه عالم اگر مرد و زنند / دم به دم در نزع و اندر مردنند

Translation: In all the world, whether men or women, / Moment by moment they are in agony and dying. Meaning: Rumi asserts that all human beings, men and women alike, are perpetually, moment by moment, engaged in the agony of dying, constantly experiencing a form of death with every breath.

Rumi, having expounded on profound mystical insights such as the necessity of 'dying' to 'understand' the truths of existence ('understanding comes through dying, not through intellect'), offers this verse as an ethical conclusion for a broader audience. He invites us to observe humanity, 'men and women' across the world, noting that they are 'moment by moment in agony and dying.' Nazʿ signifies the agony of the soul being wrenched from the body, literally, 'uprooting.' This is an ever-present truth of existence; no one is assured of the next moment. Each instant could be the last; every breath, a final one. This resonates with Islamic traditions, such as 'pray as one bidding farewell,' or 'assume you will not return.'

This perception of life—that every moment is potentially the last—leads Rumi to a fundamental ethical insight. He posits that if we regard one another through this lens, as if each individual is constantly on the verge of departure, then rancor, envy, and malice will vanish from our hearts. Why envy another when we know that neither they nor we will be here tomorrow? Positions, possessions, and deprivations all lose their significance in the face of this truth of 'dying moment by moment.' This perspective cultivates ʿibrat (admonition, lesson-taking) and raḥmat (compassion) in our hearts—admonition from transience and compassion for transient beings. Rumi himself suggests that we listen to others' words 'as if they are their last will and testament,' for we may never hear from them again. This approach, undoubtedly, draws hearts closer and undermines the foundations of moral vices.

Beyond its apparent simplicity, this verse also reveals Rumi's profound view on the nature of existence and time. For him, existence is a continuous flow of becoming and ceaseless dying; not stasis, but movement and decay in every instant. This 'agony and dying' moment by moment is a sign of the dynamism and instability of the world, emphasizing that the cosmos is constantly renewing itself while shedding its past. This is not a pessimistic outlook; rather, it is an invitation to live in the present, grasp the unstable truth of life, and from this instability, take heed and embrace the path of compassion.

Key takeaways

• Death is not a final event but a continuous, moment-by-moment process unfolding in all beings.
• Awareness of 'dying moment by moment' neutralizes moral vices such as envy, hatred, and malice.
• Viewing humanity through the lens of farewell and transience draws hearts together and fosters compassion and empathy.
• Rumi distinguishes between 'dying for understanding' (for mystics) and 'dying moment by moment' (for the general populace); this verse addresses the ethical-social aspect for all.
• This insight encourages living in the present and appreciating each moment, free from attachment to an uncertain future.