M1:429 — دامن او گیر زوتر بی‌گمان / تا رهی در دامن آخر زمان

Translation: Seize his skirt sooner, without doubt, So you may be saved within the skirt of the End Times.

Meaning: This verse advises us to immediately and with full conviction grasp the hem of the Divine manifestations—the Friends of God—to find salvation amidst the tribulations and difficulties of the End Times.

This verse is a decisive and unequivocal invitation to seek refuge in the Friends of God, the Awliyā-i Ḥaqq. Rumi instructs us to grasp the hem of "Him," which unequivocally refers to God and His manifestations in this world—the spiritual Friends. In the view of mystics, the Friends of God are everything; it is as if God has appeared in this world and revealed Himself to us. The truth is that prophets and divine Friends, through their proximity to God, become so imbued with the Divine that everything that flows from them is divine. Their speech is the very word of Truth, their command is the very divine decree. This is not an exaggeration but a profound understanding of the essence of prophethood and sainthood; one must not separate the Friends of God from God Himself, as this constitutes a misunderstanding and ill-conception.

To "seize His skirt" means to grasp the skirt of God, which is made possible through the skirt of His Friends. But why "sooner" and why "within the skirt of the End Times"? This is where the concept of the Ākhar-e Zamān (End Times) becomes crucial. The End Times is a religious concept referring to the linear conclusion of time, in contrast to figures like Nietzsche, who advocated for cyclical time and eternal recurrence. Abrahamic religions believe that the world will reach a specific end, though the quality and timing of this conclusion remain obscure. In esoteric narratives, even Ibn al-ʿArabī speaks of barrenness appearing in China as a sign of the End Times' onset. More importantly, it is debated whether the End Times unfolds in physical time or in the "imaginative world" ( ʿālam-i khiyāl ) mentioned by Suhrawardi.

With the advent of the Prophet of Islam, there was a widespread feeling that the Day of Judgment (Qiyāmah) was imminent. The Prophet himself stated, "I and the Hour are like these two [fingers]," signifying their close proximity. This does not merely imply physical closeness but suggests that with the appearance of every prophet, a tremendous spiritual revolution occurs in the world. The Quran also refers to the people of the End Times as "few of the latter ones" (qalīlun min al-ākhirīn), implying that virtuous individuals are fewer in this era, and this distance from the Origin brings forth numerous tribulations (fitan).

These tribulations of the End Times have always been present in the Muslim imaginary and even in Hafez's poetry (e.g., "Seized by these tribulations that have gripped the hem of the End Times" ). These tribulations, commotions, and confusions lead humanity astray. Therefore, Rumi emphasizes that in such an era, one must cling to the hem of the Friends of God, for they are the "image of the Friends" who are the "proof of God's sun-light." In this perilous valley, journeying without the guidance of the Friends is like walking in darkness, and only by clinging to them can one escape perdition; just as Abraham, the Friend of God, said, "I love not those that set" (lā uḥibbu al-āfilīn), refusing to rely on anything that wanes. The Friends, themselves, are light and never set.

Key takeaways

• The Friends of God (Awliyā-i Ḥaqq) are divine manifestations in this world and the saviors and guides during times of tribulation.
• Rumi's understanding of the "End Times" (Ākhar-e Zamān) is not merely a physical event but an era fraught with spiritual chaos where true guidance becomes scarce.
• Clinging to the hem of the divine Friends is the sole path to salvation from the confusions and calamities of difficult times.
• The words and commands of the Friends of God, stemming from their proximity to the Divine, are considered synonymous with God's own speech and decree.
• By emphasizing "sooner," Rumi stresses the importance of immediate and decisive action in seeking spiritual guidance during perilous times.